AP GoPo Unit 1 Exam Review

Name the 3 models of representative democracy

1. Participatory - broad citizen participation in politics and civil society

2. Pluralistic - group-based activism by nongovernmental interests striving for impact in political decision making, interest groups challenge each other, groups are more effective than emails/phone calls

3. Elite - limited citizen participation in politics and civil society, ruled by identifiable groups who possess a disproportionate share of political influence and power

What are majoritarian politics?

A system of policy making where the government must make decisions to benefit the majority of the population

John Locke and The Declaration of Independence

Major influence on American beliefs about government, idea of natural rights

Articles of Confederation and its failures

Favored a weak central government, states were an alliance and governed themselves

Failures include the inability to impose taxes; tariffs; regulate commerce; raise an army, there was no judicial system, each state had one vote (unequal representation) and the Articles couldn’t change without a unanimous vote

What were the Federalist arguments

The Articles were too weak to control faction, there would be more uprisings under small governments, checks and balances would ensure government does not become corrupt

What were the Anti-Federalist arguments?

States would be stripped of their power, government would tax citizens too much, the Necessary and Proper clause would lead to unfair laws being made, small governments represent the people better, a large government would threaten citizens with violence

What were the major plans of the Constitutional Convention?

The 2 major plans were the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan:

The VA Plan called for a bicameral legislature, representation based on population, and a strong central government

The NJ Plan favored a unicameral legislature, equal representation without regard to size/population, and power stays within state governments

What were the compromises of the Constitutional Convention?

The Great Compromise - bicameral legislature, equal and population based representative

The Three-Fifths Compromise - counted every five slaves as 3 people for legislative representation

Slave Trade Clause - prevented international slave trade for 20 years

The Bill of Rights - 1st 10 amendments listing liberties and rights of citizens

Popular sovereignty

The democratic idea that political power comes from the consent of the people

Separation of powers

Divides the governments power into 3 distinct branches: judicial, legislative, executive

Checks and balances

Gives each branch of government the powers to block, slow, or limit the actions of other branches

Majority rule/minority right

a balancing act which public decisions follow a larger, majority group, but fundamental freedoms protect everyone from oppression

Federalism

A system of government where a constitution divides/shares power between a central/national government and regional (state) governments

Judicial Review

The power of federal courts to declare legislative laws, executive actions, and state actions unconstitutional

The amendment process

A two-step process for making written changes to the constitution: an amendment must be proposed and then ratified

The Bill of Rights: Purpose and how does it protect individuals?

Outlines and protects individual civil liberties, persuaded the Anti-Federalists to ratify the constitution

How are powers organized in federalism?

Powers are shared between the national government and state governments: enumerated, concurrent, reserved, implied/denied

10th Amendment

States that any powers not delegated to the federal government or prohibited to the states, are reserved for the states

14th Amendment

Anyone born in the US is a citizen and has the right to equal and fair protection under the law

Dual Federalism vs Cooperative Federalism

Dual - every government has its own sphere of influence and have little interaction with each other, protects the liberty of states

Cooperative - intertwining powers, the national government cannot promote policies for all citizens, the states have access to federal tax revenue, states can focus on localized issues and solutions

Categorical Grant

Passed as part of law by Congress, has a narrowly defined purpose

Block Grant

States apply to get them, Congress provides the money and states use it for broadly defined purposes (healthcare, public transit, education)

Revenue Sharing

Based on state populations and Congress gives states a percentage of the total tax revenue

McCulloch vs Maryland

Maryland opposed a national bank in its borders, attempted to tax the national bank, the cashier McCulloch refused to pay the tax, courts ruled that Congress can put a bank is Maryland and that Maryland cannot tax that bank

What clauses are relevant to McCulloch vs Maryland and Why?

The Necessary and Proper Clause - a national bank is necessary and proper to safely circulate money into the economy

The Supremacy Clause - Banks are a creation of Congress and Federal property is un-taxable. Federal laws are superior to state laws

U.S. vs Lopez

A Texas high school student brought a firearm to his school, he was arrested for violating the Gun-Free School Zone Act, the courts ruled 5-4 that Congress cannot use the Commerce Clause to regulate the areas that firearms are brought into

What are the relevant clauses in U.S. vs Lopez?

The Commerce Clause - It is not in Congress’ power to regulate where firearms are carried

Nullification

If a state thinks a law is unconstitutional, the are allowed to ignore it within its borders

Devolution

Powers from the central government are delegated to the smaller subnational units

Orders of Devolution

1st Order - Federal programs are replaced by state programs

2nd Order - State programs are replaced by local autonomy

3rd Order - Governments stop providing a service, privalization may replace it

The Elastic Clause

AKA The Necessary and Proper Clause, gives Congress the power to make any law it deems necessary to carry out its constitutional duties

The Commerce Clause

Gives Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and states

The powers of the states vs powers of the federal government

Reserved - govern marriage laws, maintain state militias, determine qualifications of voters, regulate intrastate commerce, conduct elections, set up traffic standards

Enumerated - declare war, print & coin money, admit new states, set up rules for immigration, regulate interstate and foreign commerce, set up a post office

Concurrent - provide for public safety, punish lawbreakers, levy/collect taxes, protect the rights of citizens, protect public health