AP Gov (Unit 1)

democracy

A system of government in which the power of the government is vested in the people, who rule directly or through elected representatives.

participatory democracy

A form of democracy that emphasizes broad, direct participation in politics and civil society, in which most or all citizens participate in politics directly.

• Referendums

• Initiatives

pluralist democracy

A form of democracy in which political power rests with competing interest groups so that no one group dominates political decisions.

• Competition between PACs, such as the NRA

elite democracy

A form of democracy in which a small number of people, usually those who are wealthy and well-educated, influence political decision making.

• Electoral College

Federalist No. 10

• James Madison

• Argues that a large, strong, representative government can control factionalism

• Instability stems from bickering rival parties which leads to the dictatorship of the majority

• Participatory democracies lead to this harmful majority rule, vulnerability to uneducated statemen as rulers

• Large Republics are more adept to handle large populations, regulate the views of the people with wise representatives

  • However, a pure elite democracy can lead to a selfish oligarchy, so a balanced number of representatives is needed

  • Therefore, the best form of government is a pluralist democracy in which there are many different views which prevent the absolute rule of a majority

Constitution

• Fundamental laws and principles of the USA

• Result of several compromises from Federalists and Anti-Federalists

  • Refer to APUSH for examples of compromise

Brutus No. 1

• Anti-federalist essay

• Argues against a strong, centralized government as it would not be able to adequately represent all citizens in such a large society

  • Pluralism in such a government would also be inefficient, indecisive due to many factions

• A large government would also eventually become tyrannical

Articles of Confederation

The first government system of the United States, which lasted from 1776 until 1789.

The Articles placed most power in the hands of state governments.

Government under the Articles lacked an executive or a judicial branch.

Confederation Congress

• The weak central government created by the Articles of Confederation

• Made of delegates from each state, with each state as a whole having just one vote regardless of population

• High requirements for enacting anything (nine states in general, thirteen to amend articles) made the gov inefficient

Shays’ Rebellion

• Uprising of Revolutionary War veterans in Massachusetts, who had not been paid for their military service as the federal government lacked the power to raise funds through taxation.

• Demonstrated the weaknesses of the federal government under the Articles, as it could neither raise the money to pay the veterans nor raise an army to put down the uprising.

Article V

• Part of the Constitution that outlines amendment process

• Through a congressional proposal (with a 2/3 majority) or a convention of the states (2/3 of states who propose)

• Final ratification from three-fourths of the states (To prevent Congress from empowering themselves)

How can the government bypass the need for amendments

• Presidential action

• SCOTUS cases

• Legislation

• A new constitution (states change theirs quite often, Jefferson also - unsuccessfully - wanted to have the Constitution changed every 19 years; every generation)

Great Compromise

• Also known as the Connecticut Compromise between the New Jersey (unicameral, equal rep.) and Virginia (bicameral, both proport. rep)

• a major compromise at the Constitutional Convention that created a two-house (bicameral) legislature, with the Senate having equal representation for all states and the House of Representatives having representation proportional to state populations.

Electoral College

A body of representatives from every state in the United States who formally cast votes to elect the president and vice president (usually based off of the people’s vote)

3/5 Compromise

An agreement added to the Constitution that would count each enslaved person as three-fifths of a white person for purposes of representation in the House of Representatives.

Championed by slavers who wanted their slaves to count towards their state’s population so they could have more representatives and therefore more power

access point

A point in the policymaking process where ordinary citizens or interest groups can influence government.

(e.g: The three branches, you can influence the President, local representatives, or the courts)

checks and balances

Aspects of the Constitution that require each branch of the federal government to gain the consent of the other two in order to act

• 3 independent but self-regulating branches

• Congress passes a law, the President can veto, Congress can override veto, Supreme Court can declare it unconstitutional

• Know all relationships between the 3 branches

faction

An interest group seeking to influence government for the benefit of its members

The Framers sought to prevent any one faction from gaining too much power

impeachment

The bringing of formal charges against a government officer for alleged crimes or abuses of power

• The House indicts —> impeachment

• The Senate convicts —> removal (not impeachment)

separation of powers

Aspects of the Constitution that ascribe different elements of power to different branches of the government, which act independently. This keeps one branch of government from controlling the others

stakeholder

A person with an interest or a concern in a political issue.

Federalist No. 51

• Outlined Checks and Balances; Separation of Powers

• Important in keeping the government from becoming too powerful or under the absolute control of one faction

• A complex policy process (requiring majorities in two houses, approval from two other branches) as a whole is needed to prevent the dangers listed above

US Federalism

• “Layered cake” = federal, state, local gov.

• Certain powers are shared (concurrent), others are exclusive to certain layers

• Outlined in Article IV

How can the federal government override certain powers exclusive to the states (in regards to federalism)

• Categorical Grants

  • Grants given to states that can only be used in a specific way

• Block Grants

  • Federal grants issued to states or local governments to support broad programs

• Mandates

  • Withholding funds from states that do not comply

• Article I: Commerce Clause

  • Federal has the power to regulate interstate commerce, therefore if state action interferes with it, the gov. can intervene

• Generally, the gov. will only fund states that do its bidding in certain circumstances (strongly encourage adoption of certain policies it can’t implement on its own)

Article IV and Federalism (All 4 clauses)

• Framers wanted a strong federal government, but gave powers to states in order to have vertical checks and balances which ensured neither became too powerful

  • Also meant to ensure states acted collectively, and not as individuals as under Articles of Confed.

• 1. Full Faith and Credit

  • States under one system

  • Legal rulings (such as marriage) recognized in all states

• 2. Privileges and Immunities

  • Citizens of one state can travel/work in other states, entitled to same rights as local citizens

  • Saenz v. Roe (1999) - SCOTUS deems California’s restriction of welfare to new citizens unconstitutional

  • Fugitive Slave Clause

• 3. New States

  • Territories must appeal to Congress for statehood

  • States cannot join or split (parts or whole) without universal consent

• 4. All states guaranteed a republican government and defense from foreign powers

  • States cannot have hereditary governments, monarchies, etc.

Examples of exclusive and concurrent powers in federalism

• Exclusive

  • Federal: foreign affairs, coining money

  • States: Conducting elections, intrastate commerce

• Concurrent

  • Taxation

  • Law enforcement

federal revenue sharing (fiscal federalism)

The practice of sharing federal income tax revenue with state and local governments

Necessary and Proper Clause (Article 1 Clause 18)

• Implied power

• Federal government can enact any law it deems necessary to carry out its enumerated powers, as long as these laws are appropriate and to a justifiable end (proper)

  • It can create a bank to regulate interstate commerce

  • It cannot ban people from carrying guns on school property in the name of interstate commerce (not proper, the ends are not legitimate)

10th Amendment

all powers not given to the federal government are reserved to the states or the people (federalism)

14th Amendment

Grants citizenship, equal protection, and due process under the law to all people born in the United States. (expanding power of federal government, preventing states from having complete control over elections, legal processes, etc.)

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Guaranteed the supremacy of federal laws over state laws and declared that Congress has implied powers not listed in the Constitution in order to fulfill their enumerated powers (necessary and proper).

Federal power

US v. Lopez (1995)

• Supreme Court case which stopped Congress from using the commerce clause to ban guns in schools (limiting Necessary and Proper)

• State power

What are Articles I, II, III, and IV of the Constitution?

• 1. Defines legislative branch/government as a whole

• 2. Defines Executive branch

• 3. Defines Judicial Branch

• 4. Defines federalism