-
Articles of Confederation
Formed the weak precursor to the US Constitution and empowered the States. Did not allow congress any basic administrative powers such as taxation or raising anf army. Leaving the US with a weak central army and no way to protect out freedoms. -
Supremacy Clause
States that the Constution is the supreme law of the land and gives any federal law supremacy over state laws. This gives the federal government grounds to over rule any state law or decision. -
Constitutional Convention
Delegates from amny of the newly formed states gathered to revise the Articles of Confederation. They ended up writing a new constitution that gave more power to the Federal government and fixed the problems that were caused by the Articles of Confederation. The Constitution itself set up the modern US government and led to the creation of the Bill of Rights. -
Commerce Clause
Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 of the Constitution that allows Congress to regulate commerce between states and also nationally. Has allowed Congress to influence many different aspects of the interstate commerce increase it's power greatly. -
Elastice or Necessary and Proper Clause
Allows Congress to expand its power and create laws that are "Nessart and Proper" for executing the powers expressed in the Constituiton for example many of the parts of the New Deal were said to be "Necessary and Proper" and allowed them to be passed in order to further regulate state commerece. -
10th Amendment
Expresses the idea of Federalism. Gives all powers not stated in the constitution to the states and the people. Also lays the frame work for the later advancement of federalsm by protecting the rights of the states and preventing the removal of states rights. -
McCulloch v. Maryland
Maryland tried to tax the Second Bank of the US and because of the Necessary and Proper Clause the Second Bank of the US is considered a US power and could not be taxed by the state of Maryland. This increased Federal Power by overruling a state. -
Gibbons v. Ogden
Under the Commerce Clause Congress was able to regulate navigation. This increased federal power by expanding Congress's control over interstate trade. -
Civil War
Southern states seceded form the union over the issue of states rights. Actually ended up being a war over slavery and the Union won forcing the southern states back into the union and then freed the slaves. This expanded federal power. -
14th Amendment
Defines citizenship and equal protection under the law. Also states that Federal law over rules states on the grounds of equality and access to rights. States can not restrict a persons rights to life, liberty, and property with out due process. -
Sherman Anti-Trust Act
Increased Federal power by giving the government grounds to break up companys that are part of a monopoly or other conglomerate. Any company or conglomerate that is potentially harming competition or free trade is suspect to be broken up into smaller companies in the prevention of trade restriction -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Ruled that "seperate but equal" was constitutional. Lent support to state laws that inforced segregation and seperation. This greatly increased state power, but was overturnes in Brown v. Board of Education. -
16th Amendment
Allows Congress to levy an income tax with out it having to be equal across the board. Congress can specifically tax certain groups of people. This expands the Federal government's power allowing it to have extensive taxing powers. -
Gitlow v. New York
Expanded the limitations of the 14th amendment through the idea of selective incorportation. States can not enact laws that take away the rights of US citizens. This reduced state power by empowering the 14th amendment. -
The New Deal
Expanded the influence of the federal government on the people. Directly created jobs for the people during the economic recession and also set the precedent for the future care of the american people by the federal government. Set into motion a huge progressive reform for the american people from the federal government. -
Korematsu v. United States
Ruled that Executive Order 9066 was constitutional and that the internment of US citizens was constitutional during a time of war. This case gave major support to the federal government and greatly increased the federal governments power. It has since been considedered and error but has not been overturned. -
Brown v. Board of Education
Overruled the Plessy v. Ferguson and declared that "Seperate but equal" was unconstitutional and that state-sponsored segregation was unconstitutional. This increase federal power and decreased state power while being a major landmark for the civil rights movement. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Ended unequal voter registration requirements and segregation in schools, workplacse, and places that served the general public. Increased Federal power through legislation that forced states to follow the national law. -
Roe v. Wade
Overruled the basis in which states could decide whether or not abortion is illegal. This overruled a majority of states. This increase federal power showing that a states decision could be overruled by the federal government at anytime. -
Election of Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan was elected President of the United States of America beating Jimmy Carter in a landslide victory. His election marked the begining of the Reagan Era in which the US took a sharp conservative turn and the federal government power was increased but the states were also given more power through block grants. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
Protects US citizens with disabilitys from discrimination. Requires that employers provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities and set requirements for usage of these benefits and increases the federal power over the states regulations. -
United States v. Lopez
It was ruled that it is not with the power of congress to regulate the possesion of firearms on school property. Regulating commerce has nothing to do with regulating guns on school property therfore it was deemed unconstituitonal and decreased federal power. -
104th Congress
First time since the 1950's that both the house and senate had a Republican majority while a democratic president was in office. Led to the devolution of power to the states and repeal of Nixon era legislation that handed over to much power to the Federal government. -
Printz v. United States
Ruled that the interim provisions of the Brady Act, in which background checks were required and also that a five day waiting period was imposed on those trying to purchase firearms, are unconstitutional. This was a reduction of the power of the commerce clause and Federal power, reducing the federal regulation of guns. -
United States v. Morrison
Declared that parts of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 were unconstitutional because they exceeded the power of congress under the Commerce Clause. This decreased federal power by reducing what congress could control or implement under the commerce clause and the 14th amendment.