AP Government Semester Exam 2022

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Article 4 of the Constitution

Outlines the rights and expectations for all states and citizens including the adding of new states

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

The Supreme Court upheld broad congressional power to regulate interstate commerce. The Court's broad interpretation of the Constitution's commerce clause paved the way for later rulings upholding expansive federal powers.

Silent Generation (1925-1945)

youth of the 50's that seemed to conform to middle class culture without question. born between two World Wars

Episcopalians tend to vote

Republican (biased)

3/5 Compromise

\-each slave would count for 3/5 of a person for taxation and representation purposes

John Locke

English philosopher who advocated the idea of a "social contract" in which government powers are derived from the consent of the governed and in which the government serves the people; also said people have natural rights to life, liberty and property.

Social Contract

An agreement between the people and their government signifying their consent to be governed

electorate

\n All of the people entitled to vote in a given election

3rd Amendment

\n No quartering of troops

4th Amendment

Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures

10th Amendment

Powers Reserved to the States

11th Amendment

One State cannot be sued by another state \n federal courts from hearing cases lodged against a state

16th Amendment

Allows the federal government to collect income tax

17th Amendment

Established the direct election of senators (instead of being chosen by state legislatures)

23rd Amendment

gave residents of Washington DC the right to vote

27th Amendment

congressional pay raises are not begun until the next election

Article 3 of the Constitution

Judicial Branch

Article 7 of the Constitution

Ratifying the Constitution

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

the Supreme Court upheld the power of the national government and denied the right of a state to tax the federal bank using the Constitution's supremacy clause. The Court's broad interpretation of the necessary and proper clause paved the way for later rulings upholding expansive federal powers

Baker v. Carr (1962)

"One man, one vote." Ordered state legislative districts to be as near equal as possible in population; Warren Court's judicial activism.

Equal Protection Clause

\n Constitutional guarantee that everyone be treated equally-14th amendment

Republican Party

Political party tend to be conservative, rights of Business

Independents

a term used to describe people who have no party affiliation

Dark Money

political money where the donors of the money do not have to be disclosed

general election

a regular election of candidates for office, as opposed to a primary election; have better voter turnout

Reasons to vote

* Choose your leaders
* Assess performance of elected officials
* Express opinions on public issues

Protestants tend to vote

Republican; conservative (biased)

Cases on the AP Test that deal with Voting

Baker v Carr, Citizens United v FEC

First President to have fireside chats to talk with People over the radio

President Roosevelt

First President to have White House Website/Internet

President Clinton

First President to have a Cellphone

President Bush

First President to be blocked from Social Media Platform

President Trump

Articles of Confederation

1st Constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788 (weaknesses-no executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade)

Great Compromise

Compromise made by Constitutional Convention in which states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature and representation based on population in the other house

Electoral College

A group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president

strict constitutionalist

one who argues a narrow interpretation of the Constitution's provisions, in particular those granting powers to the Federal Government

broad constitutionalists

those who take a broader and sometimes more creative approach to constitutional interpretation

living constitution theory

A method of interpreting the Constitution that emphasizes the principles it embodies and their application to changing circumstances and needs.

judicial activism

An interpretation of the U.S. constitution holding that the spirit of the times and the needs of the nation can legitimately influence judicial decisions (particularly decisions of the Supreme Court)

Montesquieu

(1689-1755) wrote 'Spirit of the Laws', said that no single set of political laws was applicable to all - depended on relationship and variables, supported division of government

John Hobbes

proposed the idea of the social contract, that people needed authoritarian rule

Rousseau

(1712-1778) Believed that society threatened natural rights and freedoms. . Wrote "The Social Contract."

Divine Monarchy

The belief that a monarch's power derives from God and represents Him on earth.

Natural Rights

Life, Liberty, and Property

House of Representatives

the lower house of Congress, consisting of a different number of representatives from each state, depending on population

Senate

the upper house of Congress, consisting of two representatives from each state

Franchise

the right to vote

Judicial Branch

Branch of government that decides if laws are carried out fairly.

standing committee

A permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area

discretionary funding

those funds in the state budget that are not earmarked for specific purposes

Mandatory funding

Funds earmarked in the Federal budget for State governments and other entities. Allocated via Formula or Block.

1st Amendment

Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition

2nd Amendment

Right to keep and bear arms

5th Amendment

Criminal Proceedings; Due Process; Eminent Domain; Double Jeopardy; Protection from Self incrimination

6th Amendment

The right to a Speedy Trial by jury, representation by an attorney for an accused person

7th Amendment

Right to a trial by jury in civil cases

8th Amendment

No cruel or unusual punishment

9th Amendment

Citizens entitled to rights not listed in the Constitution

12th Amendment

separation of votes for President and Vice President

13th Amendment

\n abolished slavery

14th Amendment

Declares that all persons born in the U.S. are citizens and are guaranteed equal protection of the laws

15th Amendment (1870)

U.S. cannot prevent a person from voting because of race, color, or creed

18th Amendment

Prohibited the manufacture, sale, and distribution of alcoholic beverages

19th Amendment (1920)

Gave women the right to vote

20th Amendment

Congress begins on January 30th; President starts on January 20th \n "Lame-duck" Amendment

21th Amendment

Repeal of Prohibition

22th Amendment

Limit on number of President's terms

24th Amendment

Abolishes poll taxes

25th Amendment

Presidential succession

26th Amendment

Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18

Which topics could possible become 28th Amendment

Possible government amendments: Calls for nondiscrimination based on gender, affordable childcare, equal pay for equal work and that the federal government fund abortions for women who could not afford the procedure. They stressed the importance of national healthcare. They called for an end to discriminatory rape laws. They demanded the nation stop deporting immigrant mothers of American-born children. Equality for LGBTQ?, Possible Gun regulations, legalization of drugs

Devolution

the transfer of powers and responsibilities from the federal government to the states

block grants

Federal grants given more or less automatically to states or communities to support broad programs in areas such as community development and social services

categorical grants

Federal grants for specific purposes, such as building an airport

mandate

an official order or commission to do something.

unfunded mandates

regulations or conditions for receiving grants that impose costs on state and local governments for which they are not reimbursed by the federal government

Article 1 of the Constitution

Legislative Branch

Article 2 of the Constitution

Executive Branch

Article 5

Amending the Constitution

Article 6 of the Constitution

Supremacy Clause - clearly states that national law will be supreme over state law

judicial restraint approach

the view that judges should decide cases strictly on the basis of the language of the laws and the Constitution

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Established judicial review

US v. Lopez

Gun Free School Zones Act exceeded Congress' authority to regulate interstate commerce;

how the constitution can be amended

Step 1: Two-thirds of both houses of Congress pass a proposed constitutional amendment. This sends the proposed amendment to the states for ratification. o Step 2: Three-fourths of the states (38 states) ratify the proposed amendment, either by their legislatures or special ratifying conventions.

NY Times v. US (1971)

The court upheld the First Amendment/Freedom of the Press rights of the New York Times and Washington Post to print the Pentagon Papers, without risk of government censorship or punishment.

Title IX

A law that bans gender discrimination in schools that receive federal funds

Due Process Clause

14th amendment clause stating that no state may deprive a person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law

Iron Triangle

\n A close relationship between an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group

special interest group

an organization of people with some common interest who try to influence government decisions

Lobbyists

people who represent interest groups

Political Action Committee (PAC)

A committee set up by a corporation, labor union, or interest group that raises and spends campaign money from voluntary donations

Super PACs

political action committees established to make independent expenditures

Reconstruction

the period after the Civil War in the United States when the southern states were reorganized and reintegrated into the Union

Bill of Rights

First 10 amendments to the Constitution

Reconstruction Amendments

13th to 15th Amendments

separation of church and state

The concept that religion and government should remain separate. The principle is the basis for the establishment clause of the First Amendment.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Constitution's requirement that each state accept the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state

General Welfare Clause

Gives Congress the power to tax to provide for the general welfare

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Extends to the defendant the right of counsel in all state and federal criminal trials regardless of their ability to pay.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Legalized segregation in publicly owned facilities on the basis of "separate but equal."