AP Gov - Unit One

participatory democracy theory

a theory that widespread political participation is essential for democratic government

civil society groups

independent associations outside of the government

pluralist theory

a theory of democracy that emphasizes the role of groups in the policymaking process

elitist theory

a theory of democracy that the elites have a disproportionate amount of influence in the policymaking process

who were the framers of the constitution?

ELITES

• white men

• college educated

• politically experienced

• wealthy: planters, lawyers, merchants, etc.

direct (participatory) democracy

citizens vote directly on laws and policies, rather than electing representatives to make these decisions

indirect republic/representative democracy

citizens elect officials to make laws and govern, rather than voting on laws directly

majoritarian democracy today

1) Recall

• allows citizens to remove an elected official from office, before the end of their term, via a special election

2) Referendum

• a state legislature passes a law or proposed amendment, referred directly to voters for final approval or rejection

3) Initiative

• citizens gather a required number of petition signatures to place a proposed la for amendment on the ballot

where is the idea of checks and balances from

ideas of Montesquieu

where are the ideas of natural rights and the social contract from

the ideas of John Locke

popular sovereignty

the idea that the governments right to rule comes from the people

• “we the people"

• Voting & Elections: Citizens express consent, hold representatives accountable, or remove them.

• Participation: Activities like assembly and petitioning allow people to voice demands.

republicanism

a system in which the governments authority comes from the people

• representatives vote on laws (indirect democracy), rather than people voting directly (direct democracy)

• supported by Madison’s Federalist 10

totalitarian government

no limitations on their power

• state recognizes no limit to its authority + strives to regulate/control every aspect of private + public life

authoritarian government

surpress voices of their citizens to keep power BUT may have some economic/social institutions not under government control to moderate government power

• government doesn’t exert total control over citizens’ lives

constitutional republic

a democratic system with elected representatives in which the constitution is the supreme law of the land

federalism (defintion + examples)

a system of government in which power is divided between the national government and the states

ex. powers to coin money, declare war, regulate foreign commerce, etc. belong exclusively to the federal government

creating a national bank and are force are not explicitly stated in the constitution, but were deemed necessary and proper, meaning its implied that the national government may do these things

conducting elections, issuing licenses, and setting public school policies are given to the states through the tenth amendment (reserved powers)

levying taxes, borrowing money, establishing lower courts are shared by the national and state government (concurrent)

rule of law (definition + examples)

all people and government officials are accountable to the same laws

• no one is above the law, including presidents, judges, and others in positions of power

foundation for limited government

ex. the supremacy clause: establishes constitution as the supreme law of the land, meaning nobody is above it

checks and balances prevents absolute power

popular sovereignty (definition + examples)

the authority and power of a government is created and sustained by the consent of the people

ex. “we the people”

the declaration of independence, “consent of the governed”

limited government (definition + examples)

a government’s power is not absolute and must be legally restricted by a constitution in order to protect individual rights

ex. separation of powers, checks and balances

republicanism (definition + examples)

power is in the hands of the people, who elect representatives to make laws and run the government for them

ex. voting for congress, who will then votes on laws and bills (rather than every citizen directly having to vote on everything)

• supported by Federalist 10

natural rights (definition + example)

inherent freedoms that all people are born with

• no government or ruler can legitimately grant them or take them away

• come from John Locke

• unalienable

ex .“life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”

checks and balances (definition + examples)

the ability of each branch to respond to the actions of other branches

ex. the president can veto legislation created by congress

• can block, slow, restrain actions of other branches

what were the three main issues between federalists and antifederalists

1) the feasibility of republican government in such a large republic

2) relative power of states and the national government

3) the lack of a bill of rights

whats a faction

a group of self-interested people who use the government to get what they want, trampling the rights of others in the process

main cause - inequality of wealth

summarize federalist 78

• written by Alexander Hamilton

• justifies the need for the judiciary branch

• emphasizes that due to checks and balances, the judiciary branch has no power to overthrow the other two branches, and is the weakest branch

• judges must act constitutionally → rule of law

unitary system of government

a single central government holds the authority

• colonies

• Britain made all decisions for the colones (who they could trade with, and what taxes were paid)

what type of government was the articles of confederation

an incredibly weak one, where states had significantly more power than the national government

• “league of friendship”

weaknesses of the articles of confederation

• no power to tax

• no supreme court

• unequal representation (all states had one vote, not fair to larger states)

• difficult to change/amend (supermajority to pass a law - 9/13 states)

• national gov could declare war BUT had no army

centralized vs decentralized

centralized - saw as tyrannical

decentralized - freedom, but no order

explain the amendment passing process

• route one: idea for an amendment is intorduced, 2/3 vote of both house of reps and senate, amendment is officially proposed and sent to the states to get approved, ¾ states legislatures approve the ammendent

• route two: idea for an amendment is introduced, convention called by 2/3 of state legislatures, amendment is officially proposed and sent to the states to get approval, state conventions chose delegates to vote

summarize federalist 10

• written by james madison

• details the dangers of factions - chaotic, direct decision making destroys democracy

• can’t remove the causes (make everyone think the same, or destroy liberty)

• biggest cause of factions: unequal distribution of wealth, especially property

• can control the effects through republicanism

• a large republic will dilute the power, promote compromise, and guard against tyranny of majority

summarize federalist 51

• written by james madison

• separation of power

• checks and balances

• legislative is naturally the most powerful (make laws) → bicameral with different elections and responsibilities in order to divide this power

• executive branch holds the veto to prevent legislative dominance

• vertical separation: federalism, power split between national gov and states who check each other

• horizontal separation (of powers): power at each level is further divided into branches

summarize brutus 1

• robert yates

• antifederalist - poor, farmers, scared a national gov would consume state govs and nullify them

• wanted a small republic: reps wouldn’t know local conditions/concerns/wants across a large and diverse area, easier to understand public interest, citizen have to share similar interests (this is harder in a large republic), helps reps know and reflect their constituents

• didn’t want a standing army: proved to be a destruction of liberty, hurts spirit of a free republic, used forcefully in monarchies, seen as oppressive and unconstitutional

• most concerning clauses: necessary and proper, supremacy clause → they can nullify the laws and constitution of the states giving central gov too much power

summarize federalist 39

• written by James Madison

• claimed historical republics were actually oligarchies, or monarchies

a true republic must…

• derive ALL power directly/indirectly from the body of the people and from all classes

• officials hold office for a limited term, during good behavior, at public pleasure

• constitution creates a hybrid between a national gov and federal gov

summarize federalist 70

• written by Alexander Hamilton

• “energetic executive”

• unity (one person), duration (long enough to accomplish things), adequate provisions (set salary), compotent powers (ex. veto)

• multiple leaders would argue, hold grudges, delay decisions, and slow the gov in emergencies

• factionalism: public disputes among executives will create political factions

• single executive = max accountability → multiples leaders would simple blame each other, and the public wouldn’t know who to blame

dual federalism

• each gov stays in their own lane (layer cake)

cooperative federalism

• states and the national gov work together to shape public policy

expressed powers

belong to the national government

• coin money

• set up a postal system

• maintain military forces

• regulate interstate + foreign commerce

• regulate immigration

• negotiate treaties with foreign countries

concurrent powers

shared

• levy and collect taxes

• provide for public health + safety

• establish courts

• punish lawbreakers

• borrow money

• construct and maintain roads

reserved powers

belong to the states

• conduct elections

• establish local governments and schools

• regular marriage, divorce, adoption, regulate intrastate commerce

• provide fire and police protection

• enact license requirements

revenue sharing

federal money given to the states without specific yin what to use it for, most flexibility on how to spend

• ended in 1986

block grants

federal funds given to the states to be used for a general purpose

ex. education, welfare

“order anything off the lunch menu”

states really like

categorical grants

federal grants used for specific purposes

• strings attached (conditions in aid)

• formulas (population based)

• states have to match funds

• how funds can be used

“if you order an entree, I’ll pay for most of it”

mandates

requirements that the states must comply to

• the gov provides funding (ex. medicaid)

• “you have to order the salad, but I’ll pay”

unfunded mandates

requirements the states must comply to, without being given funding (ex. Americans with Disabilities Act)

“order the salad AND pay for it”

devolution

returning authority for federal programs back to the states

ex. welfare: states now decide if you have to be drug tested or work to receive food stamps