AP Gov. Unit 1 Review

What was Thomas Hobbes known for?

Hobbes was known for his Social Contract theory, which held that people relinquish all their rights in exchange for government protection.

Who was known for the Social Contract theory?

Thomas Hobbes

What was John Locke known for?

Locke was known for his Natural Rights theory, which held Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness as inalienable human rights.

Who was known for the Natural Rights theory?

John Locke

What was Shay's Rebellion?

A rebellion of farmers to protest unjust taxes and political corruption of the state legislature

What were the effects of Shay's Rebellion?

The rebellion exposed the weakness of the Articles of Confederation and led many to call for strengthening the Federal Government

What was the goal of the Constitutional Convention?

To establish a strong central government with the power to rule over its citizens without infringing upon citizens' individual liberties

Which document did the Federalists support and why?

The Constitution, because it gave the federal government more power

Which document did the Anti-Federalists support and why?

The Articles of Confederation, because they gave the state governments more power

What did Brutus No. 1 argue?

A strong centralized government would threaten state sovereignty and state constitutions, and a single federal government could not accurately represent the will of the people

What did Federalist No. 10 argue?

A strong centralized government would control the effects of inevitable factions and protect the minority from tyranny by the majority

What was the first compromise of the Constitutional Convention, and what did it do?

The Great (Connecticut) Compromise introduced a bicameral legislature, creating the House of Reps. and the Senate to appease both large states and small states.

What was the second compromise of the Constitutional Convention, and what did it do?

The Electoral College system takes presidential electors from each state, where the number of electors for each state equals the number of senators and representatives that the state has in Congress.

How many electoral votes are needed to win the presidency?

270

What happens if no candidate receives the majority of the Electoral College vote?

The House of Representatives decides the election.

What was the third compromise of the Constitutional Congress, and what did it do?

The 3/5ths compromise held that every 5 slaves would count as 3 people for representation and tax purposes

What was the fourth compromise of the Constitutional Congress, and what did it do?

A compromise on the importation of slaves meant that Congress could not ban the slave trade for the next 20 years.

What ideas is the U.S. government based on?

Limited government, natural rights, popular sovereignty, republicanism, and social contract.

How does Participatory Democracy work?

Most or all citizens participate in politics directly

How does Pluralist Democracy work?

Political power rests with competing interest groups so that no one group dominates political decisions

How does Elite Democracy work?

The top fraction of a percentile of the population with education and wealth influences political decision-making.

Which form(s) of democracy did Brutus No. 1 support?

Participatory Democracy

Which form(s) of democracy did Federalist No. 10 support?

Pluralist Democracy and Elite Democracy

What does LEJSASR stand for?

Legislative, Executive, Judicial, States, Amendments, Supremacy Clause, Ratification

How many times has the Constitution been amended?

27

What are the first 10 amendments called?

The Bill of Rights

How is a Constitutional Amendment proposed?

2/3 of a vote of both Houses of Congress or the request of 2/3 of the States

How is a Constitutional Amendment ratified?

3/4 of the State legislatures or 3/4 of conventions called in each State for ratification

What is Federalism?

Sharing of powers between the Federal and State governments

Federal, Concurrent, or State Power: Regulating Foreign/Interstate Commerce

Federal

Federal, Concurrent, or State Power: Coining/Printing Money

Federal

Federal, Concurrent, or State Power: Providing an Army/Navy

Federal

Federal, Concurrent, or State Power: Declaring War

Federal

Federal, Concurrent, or State Power: Establishing Lower Federal Courts

Federal

Federal, Concurrent, or State Power: Conducting Foreign Relations

Federal

Federal, Concurrent, or State Power: Making all laws "necessary and proper"

Federal

Federal, Concurrent, or State Power: Levying Taxes

Concurrent

Federal, Concurrent, or State Power: Borrowing Money

Concurrent

Federal, Concurrent, or State Power: Spending for General Welfare

Concurrent

Federal, Concurrent, or State Power: Establishing Courts

Concurrent

Federal, Concurrent, or State Power: Enacting and Enforcing Laws

Concurrent

Federal, Concurrent, or State Power: Chartering Banks

Concurrent

Federal, Concurrent, or State Power: Regulating Intrastate Commerce

State

Federal, Concurrent, or State Power: Establishing Local Governments

State

Federal, Concurrent, or State Power: Establishing Public School Systems

State

Federal, Concurrent, or State Power: Administering Elections

State

Federal, Concurrent, or State Power: Establishing Licensing Requirements for Certain Regulated Professions

State

What type of delegated power is specifically expressed in the Constitution?

Expressed (Enumerated)

What type of delegated power is not expressed, but reasonably suggested or inferred from the Constitution using the Necessary and Proper Clause, AKA the Elastic Clause?

Implied

What type of delegated power exists for the national government because the government is sovereign?

Inherent

Summarize: McCulloch v. Maryland

The U.S. put the National Bank in Maryland, which tried to tax the bank in return. It was ruled that Maryland could not tax the National Bank, and the Federal Govt. had the power to establish the bank in Maryland due to the Necessary and Proper Clause. Federal power increased.

Summarize: U.S. v. Lopez

Lopez was charged under TX law with firearm possession on school premises, a charge that was dropped in favor of a federal charge under the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990. The Gun-Free School Zones Act had been passed under the Commerce Clause, but was ruled to be unconstitutional after it was established to have nothing to do with commerce. State power increased.

What is the Full Faith and Credit Clause?

States are required to recognize the laws and legal documents of other states.

What is the Privileges and Immunities Clause?

States are prohibited from unreasonably discriminating against residents of other states.

What is Extradition?

Within the U.S., a state returning a fugitive to the state from which they have fled to avoid criminal prosecution at the request of the governor of the latter state.

What was the significance of Marbury v. Madison?

It established Judicial Review.

What is Judicial Review?

The Supreme Court can review legislative and executive acts and declare their constitutionality.

What is Dual Federalism?

Where each level of government is seen as separate from the other, with each having authority over its own matters. Layered Cake

What are examples of Dual Federalism?

States have sole responsibility for educating their citizens, while the national government. has the sole responsibility for foreign policy issues

What is Cooperative Federalism?

National and state govts. share responsibility in policymaking and cooperate in solving problems. Marbled Cake

What is an example of Cooperative Federalism?

The cooperation of the national and state governments. to build the national interstate highway system in the 1950s

What was New Federalism?

An attempt by the national government. to reverse cooperative federalism and place more responsibility back on the states with a goal of devolution.

What is Devolution?

A transfer of power/responsibilities from the federal government to the state governments

What is an example of New Federalism?

Welfare reform legislation; it has returned more authority over welfare programs to the states.

What is Fiscal Federalism?

The national government's patterns of spending, taxing, and providing grants to influence state and local governments

What are Categorical Grants?

Grants from the federal government that have a specific purpose defined by law, such as school lunch programs. Federal Power Increased.

What are the types of Categorical Grants?

Project grants, which are awarded through competitive applications, and formula grants, which are based on an established formula, like Medicaid.

What are Block Grants?

Grants from the federal government that can be used for a variety of purposes within a broad category. State Power Increased.

What is Revenue Sharing?

A no-strings-attached form of aid to state and local governments that was popularized during the Nixon administration and eliminated during the Reagan administration.

What are Federal Government Mandates?

Requirements imposed by the federal government on the state and local governments.

What are the types of Federal Government Mandates?

Funded, wherein the federal government funds the mandate, and unfunded, wherein the state or local government needs to meet the requirement at their own expense.

What is an example of an unfunded government mandate?

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990