Unit 2 Study Guide: American Government – Flashcards

-Ratified by three fourths of the state legislatures (most common) - Ratified by conventions in three fourths of the states

-It's too difficult to do -Constitutional change without clear cut expression by the people (you) - Easier ways to change the constitution making the amendment process comparatively inefficient

Congress: -Congress can pass laws to clarify aspects of the constitution and has used this method to increase it's own powers Political: -Political parties have changed the function of the electoral college (was: a way to ensure that voters acted responsibly ; now: serves as absolute stamp for each state's popular state) Customs: -political customs have most affected the executive branch and presidential influence -"informal" changes to the constitution are frequent

-Grants of federal money or other resources to state and local governments -Promote cooperative federalism (national government helps the states)

-Made for more broadly designed purposes -Fewer strings attatched

-Fund specific projects or the delivery of specific services for a fixed period of time

-Made for specific, clearly defined purposes -Strings attached for state as determined by the federal government - Use federal money only for specific purpose involved

-States cannot enter into: treaties, alliances, confederations -States can enter into: interstate compacts, agreements among themselves with other states

-Legal process by which a fugitive from justice in one state can be returned to that state (prevent a person from escaping justice by fleeing a state)

-Constitution protects citizens who move between states -Buy, own, rent, sell property -State can deny: -A person's voting rights until they live within a state for a predetermined period of time -"nonresident voting" - States must allow Americans to : travel uninhibited, become residents of new states

Treaty- a formally concluded and ratified agreement between countries Executive agreement- international agreement, usually regarding routine administrative matters not warranting a formal treaty, made by the executive branch of the US government without ratification by the Senate

National government must: -protect each state against invasion ; therefore, there is also a guaranteed protection against internal disorder ; when does the federal government step in (rarely) ; request from governor or legislature

-Powers the constitution does not grant to the national government, but also does not deny to the states -Most of what government gets done in this country is done by the states

Enumerated powers - Powers granted to the national government Implied powers - Not directly stated in the constitution Inherent powers - Powers that belong to the national government because it is a government of a sovereign state.