AP GOV UNIT 1 REVIEW

holy shit I waited too late to study

natural rights

rights people are born with outside of governmental power

• mentioned in declaration of independence

popular sovereignty

ultimately it’s up to the people who rules them- can over throw a power

• mentioned in declaration of independence

social contract

citizens give up some freedoms to the government in order to protect their natural rights

• mentioned in declaration of independence

republicanism

people elect the form of government

participatory democracy

almost everyone involved in political process- more direct voice/ impact (like town hall meetings…)

pluralist democracy

people find groups they associate with and then those groups compete to influence policy making

• gives the people a voice

• INTEREST GROUPS (NAACP)

Elite democracy

only impacted by select few bc government is too complicated so only the smartest should run/have a say

• def weakened over time through reforms

• shows up in an electoral college (really even though people vote for reps, they still end up voting for pres/ their party)

Federalist 10

• MADISON

• argued for a strong central government

• addressed concern of too many factions

• thinks that a national gov could MANAGE the effects of factions and listen to both the larger side and minority groups.

  • PLURALIST DEMOCRACY

• Large gov= solution for so many factions

• pro constitution

Brutus 1

• anti federalist

• argued that with a strong central gov personal liberties would be jeopardized

• disliked the constitution and wanted to keep articles of confederation

factions

when one interest group thinks they’re better than the other

order of how America got to its constitution after/during revolution

1. articles of confederation

articles of confederation

• only one branch of fed government (congress)

• no president/ federal court

• congress had no power to raise revenue through taxes

• too scared after being British subjects that they made central gov too weak and didn't enforce anything (cough cough taxes?")

• no power to raise an army

• all 13 colonies had to agree to change a law/ article

great compromise

• one of the agreements at constitutional convention when changing from articles to constitution

• changed how people would be rep in congress

• Virginia plan vs New Jersey Plan

• bicameral congress

  • senate - each state= equal vote (2 notes)

  • house- rep by pollution

electoral college

• another compromise at constitutional convention

• each state gets number of electors that corresponds to number of reps they have in the house

• state legislatures have power to decide who these representatives are

• those reps elect the president

how to add an amendment to the constitution (ARTICLE 5)

• two steps (proposal and ratification)

• Proposal:

  • proposed by congress or states at a convention

  • needs TWO THIRDS vote to become official

• ratification

  • then sent to the states for ratification

  • THREE QUARTERS of leg or state ratifying conventions need to agree

federalism

sharing of power btw national and state governments

exclusive powers

only things fed gov can do

reserved powers

only by states

concurrent powers

powers that both fed and state govs have (taxing people)

fiscal federalism

• distribution of money

• grants

• mandates

block grants

• block grants- give state more freedom, broad purpose

categorical grants

very specific needs where congress decides where/how that money is going to be spent

mandates

requires all states to do something (national requirements)

• sometimes give money to each state to meet these mandates

• unfunded mandate

  • fed gov issues mandate but provides no funding

10th amendment

lays down the basis for the powers kept by the states

14th amendment

applies the bill of rights/ first 10 amendments to the states

commerce clause

allows congress to regulate commerce among the states

necessary and proper clause (elastic clause)

congress can make any other law that is necessary/proper in order to uphold any of the laws that are explicitly listed

(i.e. saying gov could get involved in money, leading to the federal bank)

MUCULLOCH V MARYLAND

• rules in favor of fed power

• Necessary and proper clause implied certain powers given to fed government (even if not explicitly mentioned)

• federal trumps state law

US V LOPEZ

• rules in favor of states

• congress bans guns in school

  • but is not a federal power given through the constitution

• congress overstepped into state power so state wins