AP Gov. Review

Public Policy

an intentional course of action followed by government in addressing some problem or concern.

Participatory/direct democracy

Most people are very participatory in society (ex. Athens)

Pluralist democracy

Non-governmental groups organize to try to exert influence on political decision making (ex. civil rights movement)

Elite democracy

elected representatives make decisions and act as trustees for the people who elect them.

Limited Government

Different branches of government can limit each other (checks and balances).

Social Contract

People and the government make a compact in which people give up some rights to protect others, such as how we give up the right to skip school in order to learn.

Natural Rights

All people are born with rights that cannot be interfered with or given up.

Popular Sovereignty

Power to govern is in the hands of the people

Republicanism

People elect leaders to represent them and create laws in the public interest (ex. Senate)

Confederation

A union of sovereign states under a central government.

Confederate

An individual state power

Shay’s Rebellion

Exposed weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation because the government couldn’t provide security to the people.

The Great Compromise

Representation in the federal government over big and small states - The more populated states wanted a stronger voice, the less populated states wanted an equal voice.

House of Representatives → based on population

Senate → equal representation

3/5’s compromise

Non-slave states wanted no representation from slaves since they didn’t have the right to vote, while slave states wanted slaves to count towards representation in the House of Representatives. The compromise was that slaves counted as 3/5 of a person in population.

Electoral College

Arguments on how the president would be elected. There were debates over when Congress, states, or individuals should vote for the president.

Each state has a number of electors equal to its representatives.

Article V

Amendment Process: An amendment can be proposed by a 2/3 vote in each house of Congress or a 2/3 vote by each of the states. 3.4 of the state legislature or ¾ or state conventions to ratify.

Advice and Consent Clause

The president must seek advice from the Senate and receive consent before signing treaties or other decisions like declaring war.

Separation of Powers

The executive, legislative, and judicial branches were created with their own powers and responsibilities.

Checks and balances

The limiting powers each branch has on the others.

Federalism

The balance of power among a central, national authority and/or regional authorities.

Enumerated powers

Powers given to congress given in article I section 8.

Implied Powers

Powers that are not explicitly listed in the Constitution but are considered necessary for carrying out enumerated powers.

Given in the Elastic Clause.

The Elastic Clause

The Congress has the power to make any laws that are necessary to fulfill enumerated powers.

Reserved Powers

Powers that aren’t given to any branch of the government are reserved for the states and the people. Found in the 10th Amendment.

Dual Federalism

A system where the state and federal governments have completely separate powers that don’t overlap.

Cooperative Federalism

A system of government in which the powers are shared between the state and federal governments.

Devolution

The transfer of power from a large central government to a smaller regional government (federal to state).

Mandate (unfunded mandate)

A federal requirement states that one must follow. (unfunded mandates are not funded)

Categorical grant

Money given if states comply with specific standards

Block grant

Money given to be spent on a broad category

10th amendment

States are given more powers; powers not given to the federal government are reserved to the states.

14th amendement

Requires states to provide equal protection under the law and grants anyone born in the US citizenship.

Commerce Clause

Gives power to the federal government to regulate interstate and foreign trade.

Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)

Grants the federal government enumerated powers.

Supremacy Clause

Establishes national supremacy and makes certain that all states must adhere to the Constitution.

Bicameral

Having two houses

House

apportioned by congress, connected to voters, elected every 2 years, 435 total.

Senate

apportioned by president, less connected to voters, elected every 6 years, 100 members,

Speaker of the House

The presiding officer of the chamber in the house.

Vice President role in the Senate

Has the power to break a tie vote in the Senate

President Pro Tempore

In the absence of VP can administer all oaths and legislation

Senate Majority Leader

Leads all business in the Senate

Standing Committee

Committee that endures for a while

Joint Committee

Committee that has members from both the House and the Senate

Select Committee

A temporary committee that was created for a specific purpose.

Conference Committee

A committee that is used to reconcile two versions of a bill.

House Rules Committee

Decides when and how a bill will be debated and revised.

Committee of the Whole

A meeting where all of a legislative body gathers to discuss legislation. Could be used for debating bills, facilitating debate.

Discharge Petition

Can for a bill on the floor if it has been in the committee for 30 days.

Filibuster (only in senate)

A bill can be debated for an unlimited amount of time, which can sway people’s opinions.

Cloture Rule (only in senate)

With 60 votes, a filibuster can be stopped.

Unanimous Consent/Hold

Restricts the rules to get things done faster if there is unanimous agreement on a law/bill.

Riders

Points that are added to a law (can be unrelated) can lead to more agreement

Pork Barrel Spending

Riders that just help a congress member's individual district

Logrolling

Promise to vote for someone else’s bill if they vote for yours.

Mandatory Spending

Payments required by law

Discretionary Spending

Money that is allocated yearly by congress

Deficit

More is spend that received

Divided Government

Either house of congress or the president are of different parties → slow downs law making because there is more disagreement

Lame Duck

President nearing the end of their term who has less of an influence over congress

Trustee Model

A representative that has been entrusted with a voter’s faith that they will do what is best according got to the representatives judgement

Delegate Model

A representative that believes that they should bot the will of their voters even if it goes against their judgment

Politico/mixed model

A representative that blends the other 2 models based on the situtation

Gerrymandering

Districts carved out to guarantee safe seats and one party rule

Informal Powers of executive branch

Bully pulpit, executive orders, signing statement, executive agreement

Veto vs pocket veto

A pocket veto, the president doesn’t sign anything; a normal veto, the president just says no.

Treaty vs. Executive Agreement

Executive Agreements are less formal and do not require Senate approval.

Treaties are formed more with Congress.

Law vs. Executive order

A law is created by Congress, while an executive order is created by the president alone.

Signing statement

Can change a law to the presidents interpretation

22nd Amendement

Limits the president to 2 terms

Cabinet Secretary

Someone who heads the executive department

Agencies

Work to accomplish the goals of each department

Functions of the bureaucracy

1. Create and enforce regulation

2. Issue fines for breaking rules

3. interact with Congress

Delegate discretionary authority

The process by which decision-making power is assigned to lower-level officials.

Compliance Monitoring

Ensuring all members of an industry are following the rules.

Iron Triangle

Congressional Committee → Bureaucracy → Interest rate

Department of Veterans Affairs

Manages Veterans’ hospitals and the welfare of American Veterans.

Department of Homeland Security

Protects the US from terrorism and controls national borders

Department of Transportation

Manages many types of transportation including highways and air travel

Department of Education

Oversees states and their implementation of federal education standards.

Environmental Protection Agency

Works to protect the environment and human health through regulation

Federal Elections Commission

Administers and enforces campaign Finance Laws

Security and Exchange Commission

Regulates the stock market and prevents financial fraud.

How can the executive brand check

Appointments, executive orders

How can the legislative branch check

Committee hearings, power of the purse

How can the judicial branch check

Judicial review

Patronage System

The practice of giving government appointments based on connections

Merit System

Giving government jobs based on abilities.

US District Court

Bottom of the pyramid

94 courts

type of jurisdiction: original

US Circuit Court of Appeals

Middle of the pyramid

13 Courts

Type of jurisdiction: Appellate

Supreme Court

Top of the pyramid

9 justices

Appellate and original

Precedents

Ensure fairness and guide the judicial decision-making because they establish the common law.

Judicial Activism

Supreme Court justices can boldly apply the Constitution to social and political questions.

Judicial Restraint

The Supreme Court should avoid constitutional questions when possible and uphold acts of Congress unless they clearly violate the Constitution.

Article I

Legislative Branch

Article II

Executive Branch

Article III

Judicial Branch

Article IV

State Rights

Article V

Amendment Process

Article VI

Supremacy Clause