A calculation that describes what percentage of the people surveyed may not accurately represent the population being studied. Increasing the number of respondents lowers the sampling error.

(1963) The ruling that a defendant in a felony trial must be provided a lawyer free of charge if the defendant cannot afford one.

A more refined and realistic form of cooperative federalism in which policy makers within a particular policy area work together across the levels of government.

First (and flawed) constitution of the US

(1824) Held that Congress, rather than the states, has broad power to regulate interstate commerce

Part of Article VI, Section 2, of the Constitution stating that the Constitution and the laws and treaties of the United States are the law of the land, meaning national laws take precedent over states laws in the two conflict

The Supreme Court uses this test to determine whether a practice violates the First Amendment's establishment clause

(1819) Upheld the national government's right to create a bank and reaffirmed the idea of 'national supremacy.'

The Slave trade cannot be banned before ____________ (year)

Groups of like-minded people who try to influence the government. American government is set up to avoid domination by any of these groups

A plan proposed by the larger states during the Constitutional Convention that based representation in the national legislature on population. The plan also included a variety of other proposals to strengthen the national government

Establishes Judicial Review

A voting system in which the candidate who receives the most votes within a geographic area wins the election, regardless of whether that candidate wins a majority (more than half) of the votes

(1995) Carrying a gun in a school did not fall within "interstate commerce," thus Congress could not prohibit the possession of guns on school property

A form of federalism in which federal funds are allocated to the lower levels of government through transfer payments or grants

A system in which the national, centralized governments holds ultimate authority. It is the most common form of government in the world

Part of Article IV of the Constitution requiring that each state's laws be honored by the other states. For example, legal marriage in one state must be recognized across state lines

A landmark case in the area of U.S. criminal procedure, in which the United States Supreme Court decided that evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment protection against 'unreasonable searches and seizures' may not be used in criminal prosecutions in state courts, as well as federal courts.

Part of Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution that grants Congress the power to pass all laws related to one of its expressed powers; also known as the elastic clause

Part of Article IV of the Constitution requiring that states must read non state residents within their borders as they would treat their own residents, This was meant to promote commerce and travel between states

An opinion formed on the spot, when it is needed (as distinct from a deeply held opinion that is stable over time)

The most common way for a case to reach the Supreme Court. A losing party appeals a lower court ruling A minimum of four of the nine Justices on the Supreme Court is required to grant a writ of certiorari, referred to as the "rule of four"

As defined in the____________ powers that are not given to the national government by the Constitution, or not prohibited to the states, are reserved by the states or the people

The powers of Congress to regulate the economy granted in Article I, section 8, of the Constitution

The form of federalism from 1787-1937 in which national and state governments are seen as distinct entities providing separate services. This model limits the power of the national government