AP GOV TERMS

Declaration of Independence

"Certain unalienable rights" = natural rights "to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men" = social contract "deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed" = popular sovereignty

Articles of Confederation

States were sovereign; each state had 1 vote in Congress; No executive or judicial branch; states could impose tariffs on other states, create their own currencies, and ignore federal treaties; Congress couldn't tax. Intentionally created a very weak national government

Constitution

Established a limited government with key features such as republicanism, federalism, separation of powers, and checks and balances.

Federalist No. 10

A large republic is the best way to control faction and protect minority rights while maintaining majority rule. Multiple groups (factions) compete for power and in a large republic there will be so many groups that no single group will dominate policy making.

Brutus No. 1

Argues against ratifying the Constitution and wishes for power to be held by the people in smaller, more local, governments, more democratic, and allow citizens to more directly influence public policy

Federalist No. 51

Argues for checks and balances and separation of powers. We need a government because people aren't perfect and we need to limit government because people in the government aren't perfect either.

Federalist No. 70

A single executive can act more decisively and quickly; will also be held more accountable by the public and be more responsive to public opinion since public will know who to assign blame or credit unlike if the executive power was shared among a council, each would blame the other and the public wouldn't know who to blame.

Federalist No. 78

Life terms for federal judges establishes an independant judiciary that can engage in judicial review. Judiciary is the least dangerous branch, lacking budget or war power, rely on others to enforce their decisions.

Letter from a Birmingham Jail

MLK demands fulfillment of Declaration of Independence and 14th Amendment's equal protection clause for African Americans

Marbury v. Madison Main Idea: Judicial review

Established judicial review: the power of the Court to rule on the constitutionality of congressional laws, executive actions, and state laws

McCulloch v. Maryland Main Idea: Necessary and proper clause, supremacy clause

Expanded federal power, Congress has implied powers. Congress can establish a national bank based on on necessary and proper clause; a state cannot tax the federal government based on the supremacy clause

United States v. Lopez Main Idea: Commerce clause

Limited Congress' commerce clause powers; struck down federal Gun Free School Zones Act; 10th Amendment creates a federal system that protects state power, the commerce clause does not give Congress endless power

Baker v. Carr Main Idea: One person, one vote, reapportionment

Banned malapportionment; established "One person, one vote" principle of equal representation

Shaw v. Reno Main Idea: Gerrymandering, redistricting, Equal protection clause

Banned racial gerrymandering; held that race-conscious redistricting violates the equal protection clause even if the purpose is to help minorities; held that the Constitution is color blind

Engel v. Vitale Main Idea: Establishment clause

States cannot hold prayers in public schools, even if participation is voluntary and the prayer isn't tied to a specific religion

Wisconsin v. Yoder Main Idea: Free exercise clause

Compelling Amish students to attend public school beyond 8th grade violates the free exercise clause

Tinker v. Des Moines Main Idea: Protected speech

Students have free speech; symbolic speech is pure speech; schools can only limit speech if interferes with the operation of the school

Schenck v. U.S. Main Idea: Unprotected speech

Speech can be limited if it creates a clear and present danger. Upheld the Espionage Act

New York Times v. U.S. Main Idea: Freedom of press, prior restraint

Because of the First Amendment's freedom of press there is a heavy presumption against prior restraint; government couldn't block publication of the Pentagon Papers

McDonald v. Chicago Main Idea: 2nd amendment through the 14ths due process clause

Incorporated an individual right to bear arms

Gideon v. Wainwright Main Idea: Right to an attorney, 6th amendment through the 14ths due process clause

Incorporated the right to an attorney

Roe v. Wade Main Idea: Right to privacy, 14th Amendment's due process clause

Established and incorporated a right to an abortion

Brown v. Board of Education Main Idea: 14th Amendment, Equal protection clause

Racially segregated public schools violate the 14th Amendment

Citizens United v. F.E.C. Main Idea: Free speech for corporations

Struck down soft money and ad timing bans in BCRA. Held that corporations are people, therefore corporations have free speech to engage in unlimited independent political expenditures, led to the creation of Super PACs

1.Change in resource quantity or quality 2. Change in technology 3. Change in trade

Production Possibilities Curve shifters

1.Tastes and preferences 2. Number of consumers 3. Price of related goods: substitutes and complements 4. Income 5. Future expectations 6. Price/Quantity demanded = no shift, only movement

Demand shifters

1.Prices/availability of input (resources) 2. Number of sellers 3. Technology 4. Government actions: taxes and subsidies 5. Expectation of future profit 6. Price/Quantity supplied = no shift, only movement

Supply shifters

1.Change in Consumer spending 2. Change in Investment spending 3. Change in Government spending 4. Change in Net Exports

Aggregate Demand Shifters

1.Change in Resource prices 2. Change in Actions of the Government 3. Change in Productivity

Aggregate Supply Shifters

1.Change in resource quantity or quality 2. Change in technology

Long Run Aggregate Supply Shifters

1.Change in price level 2. Change in income 3. Change in technology

Money Demand Shifters

1.Reserve requirement/ratio (Limited) 2. Discount rate (Limited) 3. Open market operations (Limited) 4. Interest on Reserves (Ample)

Shifters of Money Supply

1.Changes in borrowing by consumers 2. Changes in borrowing by businesses (investment spending) 3. Changes in borrowing by government (ex. deficit spending)

Loanable Funds Market Demand Shifters

1.Changes in private savings behavior 2. Changes in public savings 3. Changes in foreign investment

Loanable Funds Market Supply Shifters

1.Aggregate demand shifts 2. Aggregate supply shifts

Philips Curve Shifters

1.Change in tastes 2. Change in relative income 3. Change in relative price level 4. Change in relative interest rates

FOREX Shifters

Advice and consent

Formal approval on presidential appointments

Anti-federalist

Argued for a truly federal government, feared strong executive and Congress' power to tax

Articles of Confederation

Series of statements that defined the initial national government and redefined the former colonies as states

Bicameral

Two house legislature

Bill of Rights

Includes many essential rights, most of which were violated under the oppressive British regime

Checks and Balances

Limiting powers each branch can use on the others

Commerce clause

Empowers Congress to regulate commerce with other nations and among the several states

Declaration of Independence

Official statement to summarize the colonists' views that justified the break from Britain and proclaimed reasons for independence

Electoral College

Each state would have same number of electors as representatives and people who vote for electors to choose the president

Elite democracy

Elected representatives to make decisions and acts as trustees for the people who elected them. Elites, people with power and money, dominate

Enumerated powers

Power to tax, borrow money, raise an army, create a postal system, address piracy on the seas, and define the immigration and naturalization process and a few others

Extradition

Return fugitives to states where they had committed crimes and runaway slaves to states they had fled

Federalist Papers

Authors writing to assure citizens that they had created a federal system and that states had not lost their importance. Allay fears that the Constitution would subject people in the states to abuses by the new government

Federalism

Balance of power among a central/national authority/government and state/regional authority. Assures a limited government

Federalist

Endorsed the Constitution

Full faith and credit clause

Requires states to be open about their laws and encourages states to respect one another's laws. States cannot favor their citizens over others

Grand Committee

The matter of representation was referred to a committee made up of one delegate from each state at the convention

Great Compromise

Created a two-house Congress composed of a House of Representatives and a Senate

House of Representatives

From Congress, seats awarded based on population and those wanting equal representation

Impeachment

Accusation, an indictment of wrongdoing

James Madison

Influenced the creation of the Constitution, strong supporter of Constitution, wrote Federalist Papers, nickname is Father of the Constitution

Judicial review

Courts can deem an act of legislature unconstitutional when deciding a case

National supremacy/supremacy clause

Makes certain all states must adhere to the Constitution

Natural law

Law of God and acknowledge through human sense and reason. People were born free and equal. Right to rebel when rulers did not respect consent of governed

Necessary and proper (elastic) clause

Congress shall have power to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers

New Jersey Plan

States would retain sovereignty, national legislature would have only limited and defined powers, no national courts

Participatory democracy

Direct participation of many. People vote directly for laws and other matters that affect them

Pluralist democracy

Nongovernmental groups organize to try to exert influence on political decision making in interest groups

Pocket veto

When a president refuses to sign a bill at the end of a legislative session

Popular sovereignty

The people as ultimate ruling authority

Preamble

Constitution's mission statement that starts with "We the people" and outlines the purpose of the new government including "establishing justice" and providing for a "common defense"

Representative republic

A collection of sovereign states gathered for the national interest, national needs, and nation defense

Republicanism

People elect representatives who are responsible to make and carry out laws

Reserved powers

Not specifically listed and thus any powers not mentioned remain with the states

Senate

Two senators from each state regardless of the state's size

Separation of powers

Defining the distinct responsibilities and limits of each branch to keep any one branch from becoming to powerful

Social contract

Contract between a democratic government and the people. If a government violated the contract, people take power back

Three-Fifths Compromise

Northern and southern delegates agreed to count only three of every five slaves to determine representation in the House

Two-thirds override

If a president vetoes a bill, Congress, each house acting separately, can reverse the veto with a two-thirds super majority vote in each house

USA PATRIOT Act

Law covered intelligence gathering and sharing by executive branch

Veto

Presidential power to reject a bill

Virginia plan

Created a three-branch system of government by 15 resolves, becomes blueprint for the Constitution

Article I

Legislative branch, Congress, make laws

Article II

Executive branch, President, enforce laws

Article III

Judicial branch, Supreme Court, interpret laws

Article IV

States and their relationship with national government

Article V

How to add amendments

Article VI

Constitution is the supreme law of the land

Article VII

How to ratify the Constitution

1st

5 Freedoms: Speech, Petition, Religion, Assembly, Press

2nd

Right to bear arms

3rd

Against quartering troops

4th

Against unlawful search and seizure

5th

Rights of accused: formal charges, against double jeopardy and self-incrimination

6th

Right to speedy, fair trial and lawyer

7th

Right to civil suits (suing but not criminal)

8th

Against unreasonable bail or punishment

9th

Any other rights reserved to the people

10th

Powers reserved to the states

11th

States sued in own courts

12th

President and Vice President on separate ballots

13th

Abolished slavery

14th

Defines citizens, right to due process for all, equal protection for all

15th

No racial discrimination for voting