Unit 1 AP Gov Review

Limited Government

wants gov, but needs to be limited based on Constitution

Natural Rights

liberty, life, and property; these rights cannot be taken away

John Locke

believed in limited government

Thomas Hobbes

wanted people to be ruled by one monarch to ensure security

Popular Sovereignty

Government based on consent of people; people give government power

Social Contract

• A contract between the gov. and people based on security and protection for obedience

• Jean Jacques Rousseau

Republicanism

• people elect their own leaders

• Monestquieu proposed separations of power

Participatory Democracy

broad participation from various statuses

Elite Democracy

Elite members vote and make decisions

Pluralist Democracy

activist groups protest and act on what they want to happen

Anti-Federalist

• disliked U.S. Constitution; preferred power to be at state levels only

• led to establishment of the Bill of Rights

Brutus 1

the Constitution threatened the rights and freedoms of the people, therefore the bill of Rights should not be ratified

Federalists

Wanted Constitution and central government

Federalist 10

• A large republic is the best way to control factions, meaning groups, that could threaten to harm the nation and it’s people

• proposed power should be dispersed between state and federal government

Article of Confederation

• established a weak, unicameral legislature where each state had one vote

• No executive or judicial branch

Article of Confederation Allowed Congress to:

• declaration of war

• coin money

• make treaties

• borrow money

• appoint military officers

Articles of Confederation Restricted Congress from:

• lay and collect taxes

• regulate interstate commerce

Shay’s Rebellion

Government decided to increase taxes to pay off debt instead of printing more money causing an uprising

Constitutional Convention

wanted to make minor changes to Article of Confederation, but instead made a whole new Constitution

Virginia Plan

• Wanted bicameral legislature

• houses are appointed based on states population

• more representation for larger states

New Jersey Plan

• maintain the Articles of Confederation

• Overall both New Jersey and Virginia Plans wanted whats best for themselves

Great Compromise

• bicameral legislature

• House of Rep: based on state population

• Senate: 2 people per state

Grand Committee

formed the Great Compromise

Electoral College

group of representatives from states to elect president

3/5 Compromise

every 5 slaves counts as 3 people for congress representation

Amendment Process

• 2/3 of both houses of Congress propose amendment, then ¾ of states to ratify

• works vice versa

Roles of Each Branch

Congress:

Executive:

Judicial:

Makes Laws

Enforces Laws

Interprets Laws

Checks and Balances between branches

Congress: impeach power

President: Veto Power

Judicial: rules actions as unconstitutional

Federalist 51

it’s hard to protect peoples rights, but not strong to the point they can remove peoples rights.

• Solution: separations of power and checks and balances

Full Faith and Credit Clause

States must honor the legal decisions of other states

Example: marriage

Privilege and Immunities Clause

States cannot discriminate against residents of another state

Delegated Powers

Powers given to federal government

• declaring wars

• making treaties

• coining money

Reserved Powers

Powers given to states

• education

• health

• welfare

• license

• police power

Concurrent Powers

Both state and federal powers

• taxing

• borrowing money

• making laws

• building roads

Dual Federalism

layered cake example; powers are clearly distinguished between federal and state levels

Cooperative Federalism

marble cake example; hard to distinguish powers between federal and state levels

Grants-in-aid

federal government provide money to states

Categorical Grants

federal government gives money for specific reason, instructs the state to use money on one specific thing

Conditions-in-aid

requirements states must satisfy to get the grant

Mandates

the states must do it, no acceptions.

Doesn’t matter if federal government provides money or not

Block Grants

federal government provides money for broad purposes like making new schools

Revenue Sharing (doesn’t exist anymore)

federal government gives money to states with no strings attached; states can use money freely

Enumerated Powers

Powers directly written in the Constitution

Implied Powers

Powers not written in the Constitution, but understood

Necessary and Proper Clause

Must make laws that are necessary and proper (must be related to enumerated powers to make law)

Supremacy Clause

Federal Government is superior when states and federal policies conflict with each other

McCulloh Vs. Maryland

The court decided that the Federal Government had the right and power to set up a Federal bank and that states did not have the power to tax the Federal Government.

Maryland was trying to tax the national bank and Supreme Court ruled that federal law was stronger than the state law (result/significance: Congress has IMPLIED powers to create a necessary and proper bank)

Commerce Clause

Allows Congress to control Interstate Commerce

U.S. v. Lopez

the Supreme Court ruled that Congress had exceeded its constitutional authority under the Commerce Clause when it passed a law prohibiting gun possession in local school zones.

Congress may NOT use the commerce clause to make possession of a gun in a school zone a federal crime

• also uses 10th amendment

Federalism Pros

• multiple opportunities for political participation

• states can make policies concerning themselves

• states can make policies if they collectively choose to do so

• can make federal laws

• states can make laboratories before passing it to the rest of the states

Federalism Cons

• tougher for federal government to implement unified laws

• diversity can lead to poor policies

• problem with coordination between state, federal, and local government