Chapter 3- Federalism | POLS 1101 - American Government, Quizzes of Local Government Studies

Download Chapter 3- Federalism | POLS 1101 - American Government and more Quizzes Local Government Studies in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 Block grant DEFINITION 1 A broad grant of money given by the federal government to a state government. The grant specifies the general area (such as education or health services) in which the funds may be spent but leaves it to the state to determine the specific allocations. TERM 2 Cutthroat competition DEFINITION 2 Competition among states that involves adopting policies that each state would prefer to avoid. For example, states engage in this when they underbid one another on tax breaks to attract businesses relocating their facilities. TERM 3 Duel federalism DEFINITION 3 A system of government in which the federal government and state governments each have mutually exclusive spheres of action. TERM 4 Electoral College DEFINITION 4 A body of electors in each state, chosen by voters, who formally elect the president and vice president of the United States. Each states number of electoral votes equals its representation in Congress; the District of Columbia has three votes. An absolute majority of the total electoral vote is required to elect a president and vice president. TERM 5 Enumerated powers DEFINITION 5 The explicit powers given to Congress by the Constitution in Article I, Section 8. These include the powers of taxation, coinage of money, regulation of commerce, and provision for the national defense. TERM 6 Externality DEFINITION 6 Public goods or bads generated as a byproduct of private activity. Air pollution is an example (public bad) because it is, in part, the byproduct of the private activity of driving a car. TERM 7 Federalism DEFINITION 7 A system of government in which power is divided between a central government and several regional governments. In the United States the division is between the national government and the states. TERM 8 Grants-in-aid DEFINITION 8 Funds given by Congress to state or local governments for a specific purpose. TERM 9 Matching grant DEFINITION 9 A grant of money given by the federal government to a state government for which the federal government provides matching funds, usually between one and two dollars, for every dollar the state spends in some area. TERM 10 Nationalization DEFINITION 10 Shifting to the national government responsibilities traditionally exercised by the states.