AP Gov Final

Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition

1st Amendment

Right to bear arms

2nd Amendment

No quartering (housing) of soldiers

3rd Amendment

No unreasonable search or seizure

4th Amendment

No double jeopardy, no self incrimination, right to due process

5th Amendment

Right to a speedy trial by jury and counsel

6th Amendment

The right to a jury trial in civil cases

7th Amendment

No excessive bail or cruel punishment

8th Amendment

The rights of the people are not limited to those expressly listed in the Constitution

9th Amendment

All powers not delegated to the National Government by the Constitution is reserved for the States

10th Amendment

An individual cannot sue a state in federal court

11th Amendment

Separate election/ballots for President and Vice President

12th Amendment

Abolished slavery

13th Amendment

Establishes US citizenship by birth or naturalization, grants due process and equal protection to all citizens

14th Amendment

Right to vote cannot be denied on the basis of race

15th Amendment

Congress has the power to collect an income tax

16th Amendment

Popular election of US Senators

17th Amendment

Prohibition of intoxicating liquors

18th Amendment

Right to vote cannot be denied on the basis of sex or gender (woman’s suffrage)

19th Amendment

Presidential terms and events upon death of a president

20th Amendment

Repeal of prohibition (18th Amendment)

21st Amendment

Limits Presidential tenure in office to two terms or ten years

22nd Amendment

D.C. has the same number of Electoral votes as the least populated state

23rd Amendment

Outlawed poll tax

24th Amendment

Rules for Presidential succession/disability, who fills office if President resigns/dies

25th Amendment

Must be 18 years old to vote

26th Amendment

Congress cannot accept a pay raise until next term

27th Amendment

Outlines the powers and establishment of the Legislative branch, creates the two houses of Congress

Article 1

Establishes the Executive branch and jobs/powers of the President

Article 2

Establishes the Judiciary Branch and Supreme Court as well as outlining cases and trial by jury

Article 3

Outlines States’ rights, creates states equal to one another, and ensures “power by the people”

Article 4

Process to change the Constitution and change/add an Amendment

Article 5

Supremacy Clause (Constitution and all laws/treaties of the US to be the supreme law of the land)

Article 6

Ratification of the US Constitution

Article 7

Commerce Clause, Necessary and Proper Clause, outlines the enumerated powers of the legislative branch

Article 1, Section 8

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordained and establish this Constitution for the United States of America

Preamble

Established judicial review, allowing courts to declare laws unconstitutional

Marbury v Madison (1803)

Affirmed federal supremacy and implied powers under the Necessary and Proper Clause

McCulloch v Maryland (1819)

Declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause

Brown v Brown of Education (1954)

Guaranteed the right to legal counsel for defendants in criminal cases under the 6th Amendment

Gideon v Wainwright (1963)

Protected students’ right to symbolic speech under the 1st Amendment

Tinker v Des Moines (1969)

Limited the ability of state and local governments to regulate firearms

McDonald v City of Chicago (2010)

Limited Congress’ power under the Commerce Clause, striking down the Gun-Free School Zones Act

US v Lopez (1995)

Held that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts cannot be limited under the 1st Amendment

Citizens United v FEC (2010)

Established the principle of “one person, one vote,” allowing federal courts to review redistricting issues

Baker v Carr (1962)

Prohibited school-sponsored prayer in public schools under the Establishment Clause

Engel v Vitale (1962)

Protected the freedom of the press against prior restraint by the government

New York Times Co v US (1971)

Established the “clear and present danger” test for speech restrictions under the 1st Amendment

Schenck v US (1919)

Ruled that racial gerrymandering violates the Equal Protection Clause

Shaw v Reno (1993)

Protected the right to free exercise of religion, exempting Amish children from compulsory education

Wisconsin v Yoder (1972)

Explains the importance of checks and balances and the separation of powers

Fed 51

Highlights key weaknesses such as the lack of power to tax, no executive authority, and inability to regulate commerce

Failures of the Articles of Confederation

Discusses the judiciary’s independence and the necessity of judicial review

Fed 78

Warns against the proposed Constitution, focusing on potential federal overreach and loss of state power

Brutus 1

Defends the strategy of nonviolent resistance against racial injustice

Letter from Birmingham Jail

Addresses the dangers of factions and the benefits of a large republic

Fed 10

Advocates for a strong, single executive to ensure accountability and efficiency

Fed 70

Concern: “The necessary and proper clause is a blank check to Congress”

Brutus 1

Example: Shay’s Rebellion exposed the inability of the government to maintain order

Failures of the Articles of Confederation

Quote: “Liberty is to faction what air is to fire”

Fed 10

Quote: “If men were angels, no government would be necessary”

Fed 51

Quote: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”

Letter to a Birmingham Jail

Quote: “The judiciary…. will always be the least dangerous to the political rights of the Constitution”

Fed 78

Quote: “Energy in the executive is a leading character in the definition of good government”

Fed 70

Quote: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal”

Declaration of Independence

Powers not explicitly listed but inferred from the Constitution

implied powers

The division of powers between national and state governments

federalism

A principle that government is restricted in its powers and cannot infringe on individual rights

limited government

A clause allowing Congress to make laws required to carry out its enumerated powers

necessary and proper clause

An agreement among individuals to create a government and abide by its rules

social contract

A procedure for creating and approving the federal budget

the budget process

a House committee that allows all members to debate bills with a lower quorum

Committee of the Whole

A Senate agreement to proceed without objection, speeding up processes

unanimous consent

A tactic for delaying legislation in the Senate and the procedure can be ended with a 60-vote majority

filibuster

a powerful House committee that controls the flow of bills and sets debate rules

rules committee

The president’s power to reject a bill passed by Congress

veto

Directives from the president that have the force of law without congressional power

executive orders

The president’s use of their position to promote policies directly to the public

bully pulpit

Debate over the scope of presidential powers

limited executive vs expanded executive

Previous case or legal decision that may be or (binding precedent) must be followed i. subsequent cases

precedent

The principle of adhering to precedent in judicial decisions

stare decisis

Alliance of various interest groups and individuals who unite in order to promote a single issue in government policy

issue networks

Ensuring that laws and regulations are followed by individuals and businesses

compliance monitoring

The power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional

judicial review

Protections from government infringement on individual freedoms

civil liberties

Protections against discrimination and ensuring equal treatment under the law

civil rights

Nonverbal expression protected by the 1st Amendment, such as flag burning

symbolic speech

Government prohibition of speech or publication before it occurs (censorship)

prior restraint

A law prohibiting gender discrimination in federally funded education programs

Title IX of 1972

Types of elections for selecting party nominees, either open to all or only party members

primaries

Shifts in party loyalties that change political landscapes

realignments

The percentage of eligible voters who cast ballots in an election

voter turnout

Committees that raise money for candidates or issues

PACs

Parties outside the two major ones, influencing policy and elections

third parties

The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power

separation of powers

An agreement that created a bicameral legislature with representation by population in the House and equal representation in the Senate

Great Compromise

A 1786-87 uprising by farmers in Massachusetts protesting economic injustices, showing the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Shay’s Rebellion

A model of democracy where no one group dominates politics and organized groups compete to influence policy

pluralist democracy

A model of democracy in which citizens have the power to decide directly on policy

participatory democracy

A Senate agreement to proceed without objection, speeding up processes

unanimous consent