The Ultimate Guide to AP United States Government and Politics

Social contract

Some freedoms sacrificed (respecting government) in exchange for government protection

Natural rights

Described by John Locke; life, liberty, and property; must be protected by the government

Republicanism

Supports individualism and natural rights, popular sovereignty, encourages civic participation

Representative democracy

Elected officials representing a group of people

Popular sovereignty

The idea that government power derives from the consent of the governed

Participatory democracy

Broad participation in politics/society by people at various statuses

Pluralist democracy

Group-based activism by citizens with common interests who seek the same goals

Elite democracy

Power to the educated/wealthy, discourages participation by the majority of people

The Declaration of Independence (1776)

A formal declaration of war between America and Great Britain written by Thomas Jefferson, including a list of grievances

Articles of Confederation (1777)

Outlined the first US government, predecessor to the Constitution

Accomplishments of the Articles of Confederatoin

created federalismended the Revolutionary War on favorable terms for the United Statesestablished the Northwest Ordinance

Federalism

The way in which federal and state/regional governments interact and share power

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Could not impose taxesNo national militaryNo national currencyNo Supreme CourtNo executive branchNo control over taxes imposed between states and could not control interstate tradeNeeded unanimous votes to amend it and 9 states to approve legislation before it was passed

The Constitutional Convention (1787)

A meeting of the framers in Philadelphia during which the government’s structure was debated and decided

Unicameral legislature

Legislature with one house

Bicameral legislature

Legislature with two houses

Virginia Plan

Bicameral legislature based on population size; supported by larger states

New Jersey Plan

Unicameral legislature with one vote per state; supported by smaller states

The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)

Created a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives (based on population) and Senate (equal representation)

Three-Fifths Compromise

Enslaved people would be counted as 3/5 of a person when deciding seats in the House of Representatives

Federalists

Supporters of the Constitution; advocated for a strong central government

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the Constitution; preferred smaller state governments

The Federalist Papers

Written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay; a collection of articles supporting the Constitution

The Bill of Rights (1791)

Written by James Madison and supported by Anti-Federalists; the first 10 amendments of the Constitution which protects the rights of citizens from the government

Electoral College

Composed of elected officials from each state based on population (each given 2 votes + 1 vote per member of House of Representatives) with a total of 538 electors

Brutus No. 1

Argued that the national government had too much power, an army could prevent liberty, and representatives may not truly be representative of the people

Federalist No. 10 (Madison)

Addresses dangers of factions + how to protect minority interest groups in a nation ruled by majority, argues that a large republic keeps any single faction from taking control

Federalist No. 51 (Madison)

Argued that separation of powers would make the government efficient, dividing responsibilities and tasks

Federalist No. 70 (Hamilton)

Argued that the executive branch should only have one member: the president, proposed term limits as another way to limit the president’s power

Federalist No. 78 (Hamilton)

Addressed concerns about the power of the judicial branch, argued that the judicial branch would have the least amount of power under the Constitution but would also have the power of judicial review

Article I

Described the legislative branch

Article II

Described the executive branch

Executive order

Same effect as law, bypasses Congress in policy-making, not mentioned in the Constitution but used as part of the enforcement duties

Executive agreement

Similar to treaties between country leaders, bypass ratification power of the Senate

Article III

Described the judicial branch

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Supreme Court increased its own power by giving itself the power to overturn laws passed by legislature (judicial review)

Judicial review

The power of the Supreme Court to overturn laws passed by legislature which are unconstitutional

Necessary and proper clause (Article I, Section 8)

Aka the elastic clause; allows Congress to make any legislation that seems “necessary and proper” to carry through its powers

Supremacy clause

Supremacy of Constitution and federal laws over state laws

Confederation

A system in which decisions are made by an external member-state legislation; decisions on daily issues are taken by special majorities, consensus, or unanimity

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Court ruled that states could not tax national bank because of the supremacy clause (issues between state and federal laws should be ruled in favor of federal) and necessary and proper clause (banks were necessary to implement federal powers)

United States v. Lopez (1995)

Held that the Gun-Free School Zones Act was unconstitutional because the commerce clause didn't allow regulation of carrying guns

Delegated/enumerated powers

Powers that belong to the national government

Reserved powers

Powers that belong to the states

10th Amendment

Any power not given to the national government nor denied to the states in the Constitution belongs to the states

Concurrent powers

Powers shared by federal and state government

Federal government programs

Paid for by federal government through grants-in-aid, mostly administered by states

Categorical grants

Aid with strict rules from the federal government about how it should be used

Block grants

Aid that lets the state use the money how it wants

Separation of powers

Assigns different tasks to each branch of government Legislative makes lawsExecutive enforces lawsJudicial interprets laws

Checks and balances

Each branch checks the other; designed to prevent any branch of government from becoming dominant, requires different branches to work together and share power

Veto

The power of the president to reject laws

Amendment

The addition of a provision to the Constitution

Ratifying convention

Delegates elected to vote on an amendment

Main amendment process

Proposed amendment approved by 2/3 of both houses3/4 of state legislatures must ratify the amendment

21st Amendment

Ended prohibition, used a ratifying convention

Gubernatorial veto

A governor’s veto

Line-item veto

The power to reject specific parts of a bill; denied to presidents by Supreme Court

Congress

The bicameral legislature for writing laws

House of Representatives

A 435-member house with members apportioned by each state’s population

Senate

A 100-member house with 2 members per state

Census

A survey taken every 10 years to count population and determine the number of congressional districts each state has

Redistricting

The redrawing of district boundaries to ensure each district has an equal population, done by state legislature

Gerrymandering

Drawing district boundaries to give the majority party a future advantage

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Charles Baker sued Tennessee for not redrawing its state legislative districts because his county’s population had grown but not gained representation, violated 14th Amendment

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

White voters living in North Carolina’s 12th district sued the state for gerrymandering to isolate African Americans into the 12th district, violated equal protection clause because the state was using racial bias in redistricting

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Encouraged state to increase minority representation Congress

Hijacking

Redrawing two districts in a way that forces two incumbents to face each other in a single district

Kidnapping

Moving an incumbent’s home into another area after redistricting

Taxing and spending clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause I)

Gives Congress much control over budgetary spending

Power of the purse

Gives Congress power to influence others by preventing access to funds or addint conditions

House of Ways and Means Committee

Oversees spending laws and taxing

Delegate model (representational view)

Congress members consider themselves delegates who mirror the views of their districts

Trustee model (attitudinal view)

Congress members consider themselves trustees who should think about constituents’ views but use their judgement when making decisions

Bill sponsor

A Congress Member who proposes a bill

Rules Committee (House)

Determines how long a bill will be debated and whether open or closed rules are used for amending

Open rules

Allow amendments; decided by Rules Committee

Closed rules

Forbid amendments; decided by Rules Committee

Filibuster

Used to delay bill’s vote and tie up Senate’s work, usually by a senator making a very long speech

Cloture

The vote which is the only way to end a filibuster, required votes of 60 Senate members

Riders

Amendments that are not relevant to a bill

Pork barrels

Riders created to get money to a home state

Earmark

Provisions in legislation that allot money to a project, not allowed by House

Conference committee

Temporary committees made up of members from committees of both houses who wrote a bill, try to create compromise bills and submit to both houses

Pocket veto

A veto which occurs if president doesn’t sign a bill into law and congressional session ends during 10 days

Line-item veto

The ability of a president to veto certain parts of a bill, struck down by Supreme Court

Committee chair

A member of the majority party and oldest/most experienced member of majority party

Markup sessions

A meeting in which committees amend and rewrite parts of bills after investigations

Pigeonholed

A bill stuck in committee

Discharge petition

The way to force a bill out of committee for a floor vote

Standing committee

Permanent, specialized committee

Joint committee

A committee made of members of both houses, normally used for investigations or communicating with the public

Select committee

Temporary committee created in each house for a special reason, usually carry out investigations to write special bills

Speaker

The leader of the house, chosen by majority party in an election; directs floor debate, has influence over committee assignment and Rules Committee

Majority leader

The member of the majority party who is in charge of party members and determines party policy and agenda

Minority leader

The member of the minority party who is in charge of party embers and determines party policy and agenda

Whips

Help leaders keep members loyal to agenda, coordinate members, and get support for legislation

President of the Senate

Vice president, only votes to break a tie

President pro tempore

Temporary Senate president when the vice president is absent; mostly honorary position given to most senior member of majority party

Logrolling

Congress members agreeing to help each other by voting for each other’s bills