AP gov semester one exam

pluralism theory

Healthy competition amongst groups; best idea for public policy will prevail, is a model of democracy in which no one group dominates politics and organized groups compete with each other to influence policy.

elitism

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

representative democracy

Republican form of government. We vote for people to make the rules. We don’t directly vote on the rules.

Marxist Theory

Model of democracy in which those who make the decisions about the economy are the ones controlling the political system

Direct Democracy

is a model of democracy in which citizens have the power to make policy decisions.

Bureaucratic Theory

Model of democracy in which those who are employed by the government (those who work in the bureaucracy) are controlling the political system

hyperpluralism

Theory of democracy that asserts that hyperpartisanship produces gridlock in the political system

federalist

A supporter of the proposed Constitution who advocated for a strong national government and a system of checks and balances. supported constitution. Fed 10 and federalist papers

Anti - Federalism

Opposition to the proposed Constitution, advocating for stronger state governments and less centralized power. liked the articles of confederation. Brutus one and the anti-federalist papers.

article one

legislative branch

article two

executive branch

article three

judicial branch

article four

states and there obligations to each other

article five

formal amendment process

article six

supremacy clause

article seven

ratification

VA plan

One chamber, each state’s vote in Congress is based on population

NJ plan

One chamber, each state’s vote is equal

Great compromise

Connecticut Compromise/VA Plan will be House, NJ Plan will be the Senate

3/5th compromise

enslaved counted as 3/5th a person for reps in house

Importation of the enslaved

International slave trade is prohibited in 1808 but domestic slave trade will continue until 1865

electoral college

President will be elected with electors instead of popular vote

Habeas corpus

This guarantee to know why you are being detained or arrested was believed by Federalists to be solid protection for the accused.

Ex post facto

This provision ensures that you cannot be arrested for doing something before it was illegal - and therefore Federalists felt it was a reason to not worry about ratifying the Constitution. 

Bill of attainder

This guarantee that you would not be imprisoned without a trial was supported by Federalists.

Freedom of Speech

1st amendment

Rights of the Accused

Anti-Federalists felt that these needed to be protected for the most in the Bill of Rights

Trial by a jury

6th amendment

No religious qualifications to hold office

Federalists felt this original part of the constitution protected for religious freedom

Supremacy Clause

the Constitution is the “supreme Law of the Land.”

Article One Section 8

outlines the specific powers granted to Congress, including the ability to declare war, regulate commerce, and raise and support armies

Necessary and Proper Clause

can pass any law deemed necessary or proper

Commerce Clause

rants Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, among the states, and with the Indian tribes

McCulloch v Maryland

the Supreme Court held that Congress has implied powers derived from those listed in Article I, Section 8

Marbury v Madison

set up judicial review

Brown v Board of Education

ending segregation in schools

Gibbons v Ogden

establishing the principle that states cannot, by legislative enactment, interfere with the power of Congress to regulate commerce

Categorical Grants

federal funds provided to state or local governments for specific purposes

Mandates

an authoritative command or instruction that directs a government or agency to take specific actions or implement policies

Unitary System

a form of governance where a single central government holds the primary authority, with any administrative divisions deriving their powers from this central authority

Federal System

System of government in which the national government and state governments share power and derive all authority from the people

Cooperative Federalism(Marble Cake)

model of federalism holds that the local, state, and national governments do not act in separate spheres, but instead have interrelated policy goals and administrative duties

Dual Federalism (Layer Cake)

the powers and policy assignments of the layers of government are distinct

Reserved Powers Clause

those that are not specifically granted to the national government in the Constitution and are therefore reserved to the states

articles of confederation

The first constitution of the United States, ratified in 1781, which established a confederation of sovereign states and a weak central government.

weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Included lack of a strong federal government, inability to levy taxes, no executive to enforce laws, no national judiciary, and difficulty in amending the document as all states had to agree.

14th Amendment

all persons born or naturalized in the United States were entitled equal rights regardless of their race, and that their rights were protected at both the state and national levels

US v Lopez

the federal Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 was unconstitutional because the U.S. Congress, in enacting the legislation, had exceeded its authority under the commerce clause of the Constitution

Printz v US

Court held that certain interim provisions of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act violated the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

US v Morrison

parts of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 were unconstitutional because they exceeded the powers granted to the US Congress under the Commerce Clause

Block Grants

money given to governor to fix problems

formula grant

money only given if you fit the formula

Devolution

federal programs that are given to the states

Confederal System

a political system where multiple independent states or entities come together to form a union but retain significant autonomy and power

agents of socialization

family, friends, school, media, social environments, geography

Liberal

being open to the government to act flexibly and expand beyond established constraints

Libertarian

generally oppose government intervention or regulation, oppose censorship, conservative on economic issues and liberal on social issues

Populist

Liberal on economic issues, conservative on social issues

Conservative

following tradition and having reverence for authority, government should do less and allow more freedom

the seven things to consider when evaluating a public opinion poll

question order, framing, method, Bradley effect, bandwagon effect, random sample, margin of error

Literacy Test

Pass a test in order to vote

poll tax

Pay a fee in order to vote

grandfather cluase

If your grandfather was able to vote in elections then you were able to as well

white primary

Only white people could vote in a primary election - so only white people would have a say in the nominee

15th Amendment

All men could vote regardless of race, color or previous condition of servitude

17th Amendment

Senators are elected by popular vote, rather than by state legislatures

19th Amendment

Women could vote

23rd Amendment

DC has 3 Electoral votes

24th Amendment

No poll tax

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Removed barriers from voting, no more Jim Crow laws

Shelby County v Holder (2013)

No more preclearance for districting in states like VA

26th Amendment

18 year olds can vote

List the 7 tasks of political parties

Mobilize Voters, Choose party platforms, Pick/recruit  Candidates, Fundraise, serve as a linkage institution, coordinate policy making, campaign management

Steve Scalise - republican party leader in the house

Patty Murray - President Pro Tempore

Mike Johnson - speaker of the house

Lara Trump - RNC co chair

Kamala Harris - VP- president of the senate

Chuck Schumer - democratic party leader in senate

Michael Whatley - RNC Co Chair

Mitch McConnell - republican party leader in senate

Jaime Harrison - DNC Chair

Hakeem Jeffries- democratic house leader

What are 5 obstacles for Third Parties in our Electoral System?

Single Member District,Winner Take All System, Fundraising, Ballot Access, People feel it is a wasted vote

Inside Strategies

Testifying before Congressional Committee

Amicus Briefs

Class Action Lawsuits

Lobbying

Drafting Legislation/Regulations

Lobbying

Research

Outside Strategies

Going Public

Donating

Grassroots Lobbying

Primary Elections

Goal is to win the most votes in state primaries, the person who wins the most votes in the primaries will become the party nominee

National Convention

Goal is to win the most delegate votes at the national convention. Delegates attend the convention to vote how their state votes. The person with the most delegate votes at the convention is the party nominee.

General Election

Goal is to win office

Letter from a Birmingham Jail

 “Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. It seeks so to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored.”Unjust laws are meant to be tested through civil disobedience. 

Brutus No 1

The national government will grow unchecked; selfish men will remain in leadership regardless of our desire to see them unelected

Federalist No 10

“Liberty is to faction what air is to fire.”

Articles of Confederation

The states hold the power; national government needs the consent of the states to tax

The Constitution

 This governing document was created as a response to the failing governing document that gave too much power to the states. laws and treaties are the supreme law of the land.

The Preamble

The purpose of the federal government is to provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, secure the blessings of liberty, establish justice and preserve domestic tranquility.

The Declaration of Independence

When a government loses the consent of the people it is the right and duty of the people to rebel.