ALL AP Gov Terms

3 Ideals of Democracy

- Natural Rights

Fundamental Rights of all humans. NOT received by the government

- Social Contract

an implicit agreement among the members of a society to cooperate for social benefits, for example by sacrificing some individual freedom for state protection.

- Popular sovereignty

People are the source of governmental power and authority

Natural Rights

Fundamental Rights of all humans. NOT received by the government

Social Contract

an implicit agreement among the members of a society to cooperate for social benefits, for example by sacrificing some individual freedom for state protection.

Popular sovereignty

People are the source of governmental power and authority

Limited Government

Government power is restricted by the Constitution

Republicanism

A representative form of democracy; people choose representatives to make policy

Articles of Confederation Issues

Complete State Rights

Could not tax

No enforcement powers

Could not regulate powers

Shays Rebellion

A series of attacks on courthouses by a small band of farmers led by Revolutionary War Captain Daniel Shays to block foreclosure proceedings.

Electoral College

A group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president

3/5th Compromise

slaves count three fifths of a person for population representation and taxation

Amendment Process

⅔ of congress and ¾ of states to ratify

Federalists

supporters of the Constitution

Anti-Federalists

people who opposed the Constitution

Checks and Balances

Legislative

- Creates Laws

Executive

- Enforces laws

Judicial

- Interprets Laws

Delegated Powers

Powers specifically given to the federal government by the US Constitution, for example, the authority to print money.

Reserved Powers

Powers given to the state government alone

Concurrent Powers

Powers held jointly by the national and state governments.

Federalism

The division of powers between federal and state governments

Dual Federalism

States and Federal government each have clear powers in their own spheres of influence.

(Layered Cake)

Cooperative federalism

Federal and state governments share roles and powers and administration of policies

(Marble Cake)

Categorical Grants

Federal money to states for a specific purpose, may have conditions involved

Block Grants

Federal money to states for a more broader purpose

Mandates

Rules states HAVE to follow. Federal government does not have to give financial aid to implement the rules.

Supremacy Clause

Federal Government takes priority over states

Enumerated Powers

Directly stated in the constitution

Implied Powers

Congress has powers not written as well

Powers Of Congress

- Pass legislation (Create Laws)

- House

Based on population

Represent districts

2 year terms

435 members

- Senate

Represent States

2 senators per state

6 year terms

100 members

- Enumerated/Expressed Powers

Budget

Taxation

Borrow Money

Declare War

- Implied Powers

Economic, Environmental, Social Policies

Speaker of the House

Top Spot in Congress/The House

Held by majority leader

Senate Majority Leader

Leader of the Senate

Vice President

Vice President

The technical leader of the Senate

House

More Rules

Germaneness requirement

- Must stay on topic

Time Limit for debate

Senate

Much less formal

No time limit

Filibuster

- A long speech intended to delay action and prevent a vote

Cloture

- Vote to cut off debate on a bill

- Requires ⅗ majority

Delegate Model

Vote how the constituents want, even if they disagree

Trustee Model

Vote on what they believe instead of constituents

Reapportionment

Alters the number of seats each state has in the house

- Every 10 years

Redistricting

Redrawing congressional districts... done by legislature

Gerrymandering

Redrawing districts in bizarre shapes to benefit a political party

Divided Government

When Different parties control White House, House of Representatives, and Senate

Presidency

Head of the Executive Branch

Enforce Laws

Role has expanded throughout history

Formal Powers (Pres)

Veto

Pocket Veto

- President takes no action and congress is not in session in 10 days

Commander and Chief

Makes Treaties

Informal Powers (Pres)

Executive Orders

- Have the power of law/Does not need congressional approval

Executive Agreements

- Similar to orders, but does pertains to foreign affairs

Appointing (Pres)

Judicial Appointments

- Must be approved by senate

Presidency Communication

Social Media and Technology

Bully Pulpit

A position of authority that allows the president to speak out on any issue

Pushes policy and agenda

State of the Union Address

National televised speech delivered to Congress

Bully Pulpit

A position of authority that allows the president to speak out on any issue

Pushes policy and agenda

State of the Union Address

National televised speech delivered to Congress

Marbury vs Madison

Established judicial review

udicial Review

SCOTUS can rule on the constitutionality of federal laws, executive orders, and state laws.

Stare Decisis

"Let the decision stand" Follow precedents

Judicial Restraint

Courts should defer to democratic elected branches whenever it is possible

Follow precedents

Judicial Activism

The court can and should be free to overrule other branches and set new precedents

Bill of Rights

First 10 amendments

Protectects individual liberty by limiting the federal government

Should know these

14th Amendment

Most important amendment for this unit

"Due Process Clause"

- Selective Incorporation

- States now follow Bill of Rights

Establishment Clause

No official religion or preferential treatment for a religion.

Engel vs Vitale

Free Exercise Clause

The right to practice the religion of your choice

Wisconsin vs Yoder

Schenk vs US

Clear and present danger

Time, Place, Manner

Tinker vs Des Moines

Symbolic speech is free speech

Unprotected Speech

Libel, slander, obscenity speech intended to and likely to incite imminent legal action.

NY Times vs US

Heavy presumption against prior restraint

Prior Restraint

Form of censorship that allows the government to review the content of printed materials and prevent their publication.

2nd Amendment—Right to bear arms

Mcdonald vs Chicago

Incorporated and INDIVIDUAL right to bear arms

4th Amendment—Protects against unreasonable searches

Warrant

Probable cause

Consent

Miranda Rule

Suspects in custody must be informed of their 5th and 6th amendment rights

Equal Protections Clause

Cannot treat people differently under the law

Social Movements

Civil rights, Women's rights, LQBTQ rights are all supported and motivated by the equal protection clause.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Banned discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, or national origin in public accommodations or employment.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Banned literacy tests and other obstacles to vote

Jim Crow Laws

State laws that legalized racial discrimination and segregation.

Separate but equal

Affirmative Action

Preferential hiring and admission policies for minorities

Colorblind Constitution

Equal protection clause bans any policy that makes racial distinctions, even if they're intended to help minorities.

Race Conscious

Equal protection clause only bans policies designed to harm, not help, minorities.

Equality of Outcome

The concept that society must ensure that people are equal, and governments must design policies to redistribute wealth and status so that economic and social equality is actually achieved.

Equality of Opportunity

The ideas that each person is guaranteed the same chance to succeed in life.

Core Values (Of U.S.)

Individualism

Equality of Opportunity

Free enterprise

Rule of Law

Limited Government

Political Ideology

A consistent set of ideas and beliefs about the purpose of government

Conservatives=?

Republican

Liberals=?

Democrat

Conservatives

Less economic regulation

Lower Taxes

Cut government spending on entitlement programs to promote equality

Increase defense spending, more police, more punishment of crime.

Government should protect traditional values even if it intrudes on individual freedom

Will attend private and religious schools

Favor social order and economic freedom

Liberals

More economic regulation

Higher taxes on those with higher incomes

FAVOR government spending on entitlement programs to promote equality

Decreased defense spending protecting the rights of the accused

Believes government should not regulate personal and private matters

Support public education

Favor social liberty and economic order

Libertarians

Little to no regulation except for property rights

Minimal taxation

Dramatic decreasing on all government spending

Believes government should not regulate private, personal matters

Favor private school, and school of choice

Favor social and economic liberty

Keynesians

Government should stimulate the economy during recessions by increasing government spending

Fiscal Policy

Government tax and spending policies

Conducted by congress and the president

Political Socialization

The process by which people obtain their political beliefs:

Family (Most significant)

Friends

Schools

Religion

Media

Generational Effects

Different voting patterns and political beliefs for people in different generations

Life cycle effects

People focus on different issues at different points in their lives

Opinion Poll

Poll to measure public opinion on a particular issue

Benchmark Poll

Used to find out where a candidate stands before any campaigning, strengths, weaknesses, what issues to focus on

Tracking Poll

A continuous poll to chart changes in opinion over time

Entrance/Exit Poll

Taken on election day; used to predict election results, to gain insight into voting behavior

15th Amendment

Race can't be a barrier

19th Amendment

Sex can't be a barrier

26th Amendment

Voting age 18

24th Amendment

Banned poll tax

Party-Line Voting

Supporting a party by voting for one political party for all public office positions

Retrospective Voting

Backwards-looking... Vote based on how the incumbents party has done

Prospective voting

Voting based on predictions of how a party or candidate will perform in the future

Rational Choice

Voting on what is in your best personal interest

Demographics More Likely To Vote

More educated

Higher Income

Middle-Aged/Older

Religious

Most Influential Voting Decisions

Party Identification

Political Ideology

Race, gender, religion

Candidate characteristics

Political Issues

Linkage Institutions

Channels that allow individuals to communicate their preference to policymakers.

Link from people to government

- Political Parties

- Interest Groups

- Elections

- Media

Political Parties

Primary Goal: Gain power, and win elections

Party Functions

Educate Voters

Create Party Platform

Recruit/Nominate Candidates

Campaign Management

Raise Money

Media Strategy

Parties change and adapt