AP GOV UNIT 1

Hobbes

17th century philosopher, known for his work “Levithan” which argued that humans are selfish in nature (state of nature). Believed in social contract.

John Locke

Believed that people were born with natural rights; life, liberty, and property. Ppl form gov to protect natural rights. Went against divine right. Power comes from the consent of the governed.

Payne

Wrote the Common Sense and convinced the colonies to gain independence from Britain. Argued again monarchy and believed that power comes from the consent of the governed.

Natural Rights

Rights every human is born with and that is unalienable; life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.

Social Contract

Agreement between the people and the government about rights and responsibilities

Elite Theory

Wealthy individuals hold the most power in a government. Civilians have no power. Policies favor the interests of the powerful, rather than majority

Pluralist Theory

Power is spread among many competing interest groups. Policy outcomes are the result of bargaining and compromise.

Direct Democracy

Citizens vote directly for laws & policies instead of electing representatives to make decisions for them.

Democratic theory

Goverment powers comes from the consent of be governed & ppl should have a say in political decisions: Elite, pluralist

Authorian

Power is in the hands of a single person or a small group; the people have no political power. Ex: dictatorship, monarchies

Majoritarian

Policies and leaders are determined by the preference of the majority; majority overrides minority. — Federal 10

Aristocracy

Power is in the held by a small, privileged class, usually based on wealth or social class. Ex: Bridgerton + old Britain

Republic

Citizens elect goverment officials to make decisions and laws on their behalf rather than voting directly.

Usually has a constitution to protect rights and limit the goverment’’s power.

Democratic Republic

Principles adopted from democracy and republic — citizens vote for leaders and have free speech, voting rights

Socialism

Goverment controls major industries + recourses to promote equality + social welfare. — provides services like healthcare, education, and welfare.

Conservatism

Belief in limited government, tradition, and personal responsibility — Advocates for lower taxes (right leaning + republicans)

Liberalism

Prioritizes individual rights & equality, and wants the government to be more involved and address social and economic inequalities. Wants social reforms like civil rights, healthcare, and education (left leaning + democrat)

Indirect (representative) democracy

Citizens elect offices to make laws for them — great 4 large populations

Autocracy

One person holds all political power and makes decisions. Citizens have little to no control in the government — minimal influence.

Oligarchy

A small group of wealthy individuals hold all power. Citizens have little influence and rulings often favor the group — Trump’s millionaire cuts

Unitary

Strong central gov. controls the whole country; states have limited authority & can be overruled.

Federal

Power divided and shared with a national goverment and a state goverment

• have authority over education — states cannot be overruled.

Confederate

States hold majority of the power and the national goverment is weak.

• America under articles of confederation

Democracy

Goverment power comes from the people: they can vote directly or choose representatives

Ex: Ancient Greece (direct) America (representative)

Bureautic Theory

Appointed officials, not elected leaders hold the real power by controlling daily operations of gov.

Ex: FDA: they impact millions

Hyperpluralism

An extreme form of pluralist theory where there’s so many interest groups that’s the goverment becomes overwhelmed and cannot act effectively.

Ex: congress can’t pass gun regulations laws bc of interest groups

Articles of confederation

1781-1789. It establishes a weak central gov. & emphasizes state power & independence — was more like a treaty amping the 13 states rather than a national gov.

Shay’s rebellion

A response to the economic injustices including high taxes and agressive debt collection practices that affected rural farmers; highlighted a weakness of articles of confederation.

Weakness of articles of confederation

1) states act as independent countries

2) no power to tax

3) no executive branch

4) all states has to agree to make changes

5) 9/13 states must agree to make laws

6) no judicial branch

7) no power to regulate commerce

8) only 1 vote per state no matter size

Bicameral legislature

The legislature has two houses — congress has the lower house, and the senate has the upper house = slow but safe

Unicameral

A government with only 1 house

1st continental congress (1774)

A meeting w/ 12/13 states. They all met due to the british’s unfair actions after the British tea party.

• agreed to boycott goods & form militias (1st United colonial action)

2nd Continental Congress

United in support of the American revolution and war. Which established American independence from Britain — Met after Lexington & Concord

Issued declaration (1776) and drafted articles (1781)

Declaration of Independence

A document declaring independence from Britain — justified the revolution

Constitutional Convention

A meeting called to originally revise the articles of confederation, but instead drafted the US Constitution > the base of American government today

Virginia Plan (proposed James Madison)

Three branches: executive, legislative, judicial

Bicameral legislature: representation based of state population

A. 1 house by population

B. 1 house by the amount of taxes a state paid

New Jersey plan (William Paterson)

•Unicameral legislature

•Equal representation per each state

Connecticut (Great) Compromise

Three branches (executive, legislative, judicial)

Bicameral legislature

A. One house by population (house of representatives)

B. One house w/ equal rep (senate) each state has 2 states

3/5 compromise

A slave will be counted as 3/5 a person (vote) when determining the amount of reps. from the state.

Slave trade compromise

Congress could not ban the slave trade until 20 years later, but it could tax slave imports.

Federalist

Supporters of the ratification of the constitution — wanted a stronger central gov, and weaker state gov.

Anti - federalist

Favored a strong state goverment and a weaker national gov. They were concerned about the concentration of power in a central gov under the constitution.

Fed/Anti federalist

Federalists advocated 4 a strong central goverment & the ratification of the constitution. Anti federalists opposed it, fearing that it would undermined individual liberties and state rights

Federalist 10

Factions are inevitable but a large republic will control it.

Federalist 51

Seperation of powers and checks and balances prevent tyranny

Federalist 71

Argues for a single, energetic executive for accountability and decisive leadership

Federalist 78

The judicial branch is the least dangerous, and it needs judicial review (determine the actions of the other branches)

Brutus No. 1

The constitution gave the National government too much power & a large republic would result in tyranny and a loss of liberty.

Bill of rights 1)

1) freedom of speech, religion, and assembly

Bill of rights 2)

Right to bear arms

3) bill of rights

Quartering soliders

4) bill of rights

Search and seizure: can't be searched w/o a warrant

5) bill of rights

Right to accused

6)

Rights to a fair trial

7) bill of rights

Right to jury in civil cases

8) bill of rights

Cruel and unusual punishment

9) bill of rights

Rights retained to the people

10) bill of rights

State rights

Six basic principles of the constitution

1) Popular sovereignty

2) limited government

3) seperation of powers

4) checks and balances

5) judicial review

6) federalism

Seperation of powers

The goverment is separated into 3 branches so no single branch is too powerful.

Checks and Balances

1) congress makes a law

2) president (executive checks)

3) congresss (legislative checks)

4) judicial review (judicial checks)

Informal amendment process

Changes to the constitution that do not involve altering the text itself

1) courts decide what the constitution means

2) congress passes laws that expand the meaning

3) executive uses powers in new ways

4) custom/traditon: practice becomes accepted

Federalism

Power is divided between a national government. And state gov.

• us federal sets laws for immigration/ states decide immigration

Delegated (enumerated or expressed)

Powers written explicitly in the constitution for a national government

Ex: declare war, maintain armed forces

Implied powers

Powers not written word 4 word, but suggested by the constitution

— comes from nesacarry and proper clause

Ex: congress creates IRS, implied by power to tax

Inherent powers

Powers the national gov has just because it’s a sovereign state

Ex: controlling borders, recognizing foreign states, deporting illegals

Concurrent powers

Shares by both federal and state goverments

ex: taxation, building roads, borrowing money

Reserved powers

Powers kept by the states, not given by the federal government

— based on the 10th amendment

• marriage/divorce laws, regulating education, police

Prohibited (denied) powers

Powers the constitution forbids either to the federal government or state governments.

Necessary & proper clause

Grants congress the power to make laws deemed necessary and peripher for executing its delegates powers

— article 1, section 8

> constitution didn’t say make national bank, but congress did

Vertical checks and balances

Horizontal checks and balances

Between the 3 branches of gov

Full faith and credit clause (article 4)

States must respect public acts; redirect and judicial rulings of other states

ex: a marriage license or drivers

Privileges and immunities clause (article 4)

States cannot discriminate unreasonably against citizens of other states

Extradition

If someone accused of a crime flees to another state, that state must return them.

Interstate compact:

Agreements between two or more states w/ congress’ approval

ex: New York & Jersey manage bridges together

Supremacy clause

The constitution & federal laws are the supreme law of the land

ex: if state law conflicts w/ federal law > fed. Law wins

Commerce laws

Congress has the power to regulate trade between statues and foreign nations.

Nullification

States can ignore federal laws they think are unconstitutional

Preemption

Federal law overrides or takes precendence over state laws in the same area

ex: fed. Safety standards override weaker state safety laws

Mcculloch vs. Maryland

• could Maryland tax the national bank? Did Congress even have the power to create a bank?

1) congress can create a bank (implied power via necessary and proper clause)

2) states cannot tax federal institutions (supreme clause)

impact: expanded federal power over states

Gibbons v. Ogden

issue: who controls ferry license — New York or Congress

Decison: Congress controls interstate commerce (commerce clause)

Impact: greatly expanded federal power in regulating the economy.

Madison v. Marbury: Marbury didn’t get his judge commission, sued Madison

Decision: Supreme Court said they couldn't force delievery, but declared part of the judiciary act unconstitutional

impact: established judicial review > courts can declare laws unconstitutional

Article 1 of Constitution

THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

• creates Congress (house + senate)

-explains members - makes laws, tax, and regulate commerce

> includes nesscsey & proper clause

Article 2 - the executive branch

• Establishes presidency & executive powers

• explains the electoral college process

Article 3 - The judicial Branch

•established the Supreme Court & allows Congress to create lower courts

> judges serve 4 life

— explains jurisdiction (what kind of cases courts can hear)

Article 4 - relations among states

•states must respect each other (full faith & credit)

> states must treat citizens equally (privileges & immunites)

Article 5 - National supremacy

Includes SUPREMACY CLAISE, requires officials to take oaths

Forbids religious tests 4 public office

Article 6 - Ratification

Expands that the constitution needs 9/13 states to agree

• will replace articles of confederation

Dual federalism (1789 to 1930)

State & federal goverment had seperate, clearly defined powers — later cake

• ex: states = education, fed = Defence

Cooperative federalism = categorical grants (1930 - 1960)

Federal and state goverment mjxed and shared responsibilities (marble cake)

> social security: state & federal goverment worked together

New federalism (devolution) (Nixon & Reagan) = block grant

Power shifted back to the states

ex: welfare = ran by state themselves

Fiscal federalism

Federal goverment uses money

ex: Congress gives highway funds If only states change the drinking age to 21

Devolution > New federalism

Transfer of power from federal > state government

Ex: block grants or state getting control of Medicaid

Grants in aid program:

Federal money given to states for specific purposes

Categorical grants

federal Money w/ strict conditions; states must spend as told.

Block (broad) grants

Federal money w/ broad flexibility

Revenue sharing

Federal uses to give money to states w/o strings attached

Electoral college

All representatives + senate = 530, 270 votes required to win > follow their states popular vote