Foundations of Democracy AP GOV Midterm IDs

Declaration of Independence

Foundational Document created in 1776 creating the United States. Gave reasons for why King George I was tyrannical, and why the colonists had the right to break apart from England

Preamble: Used enlightenment ideas such as NATURAL RIGHTS and popular soveriengtytdgfsg

Elite Theory of Democracy

A small, wealthy, educated group of individuals at the top

Pluralist Theory of Democracy

Organized groups compete with each other to influence policy

Participatory Model of Democracy

Citizens influence policy decisions, politicians make decisions and are responsible for carrying them out

Articles of Confederation

• Northwest ordinance - adding states to the union

• Congress had no power to lay or collect taxes

• Couldn’t regular interstate or foreign trade

• Couldnt enforce laws

• Amendments to the Articles required unanimous vote

• No executive branch

• Difficult to enact federal laws

• Couldnt settle disputes between different states

Shay’s Rebellion

• Small farmers created a rebellion

• Elite feared the mob

• Exemplified the inability of the Federal Government to put down rebellion

• Highlighted the problem of currency and money shortages

The Constitution

• Supreme law of the united states

• Replaced Articles of Confederation

• Foundational Document that established three branches of federal government

• Article 1 - Congress

• Article 2 - Executive

• Article 3 - Judicial

• Also established the method for amending the constitution

Limited Government

Constitutional principle that ensures that the government is not to powerful, powers are limited by the constitution

Popular Sovereignty

All political power is vested in and derived from the people

Separation of Powers

• Constitutional principle that gives each branch certain powers

• Ensures that no one branch can be tyrannical

• Example: Only Congress can make laws, and only executive branch can enforce them

Checks and Balances

• Constitutional Principle that ensures that no branches can be too powerful

• Example President can veto laws made by congress

Federalism

Constitutional principle explaining the division of powers between the federal and state governments

Anti-Federalists

• Political party that favored more power to the state governments

• Not in favor of ratification of the constitution

Federalists

• Political party that favored a stronger central, federal government

• In favor of ratifying the constitution

Federalist Papers

Group of political essays that were made to persuade state legislatures into ratifying the constitution, written by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison

Brutus I

• Political essay written by an anonymous author NOT in favor of ratification

• Feared that the 3 branches were uncontrollable due to the necessary and proper clause, as well as the supremacy clause

• Argued that the US was too large for a republic, and that it is too diverse

Supremacy Clause

Clause found in the Constitution explaining that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and that federal laws take precedence over state laws.

McCulloch vs. Maryland

• Required SCOTUS case

• Info: Federal bank was created, Maryland imposed a tax

• Constitutional Principles

  • Necessary and Proper clause gave Congress the right to create the bank

  • Supremacy clause declared that laws created by the constitution are supreme and that it CANNOT be taxed

• Impact: Set a precedent for deciding balance of power between states and federal government
  

Necessary and Proper Clause

Clause in the Constitution stating that Congress is given any power not specifically stated, but is needed in order to carry into execution the other powers that ARE specifically given

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Clause in the Constitution that requires states to respect acts or judgments of other states

Commerce Clause

Clause in the Constitution that gives Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce

Amendment Process

• 2/3 majority in both house

• Either ¾ majority or 38 state legislatures need to ratify, or 38 state conventions (only happened once)

Expressed, Enumerated, Delegated Powers

Powers explicitly stated in the Constitution to be given to the Federal Government

Concurrent Powers

Powers held by both the state and federal governments

Reserved Powers

Powers only held by the states (Given by the 10th Amendment)

Dual Federalism

• Each government remains supreme within its own sphere

• Relationship of states and federal government until the 1930s

Cooperative Federalism

• Both state and federal government work together to solve complex problems

• Describe the relationship from 1930s to now

10th Amendment

Amendment that gives any power not given to the federal government, to the states

Categorical Grants

Grants given to states with strict guidelines

Block Grants

Funds given to states without restrictions on how to spend it, states decide how to spend the money

US vs. Lopez

• Info: Lopez was arrested for carrying a gun on school property

  • State charged were dropped, and federal charges were added since he violated the GFSZA

• Constitutional Principle

  • Commerce Clause gave Congress the ability to regulate interstate commerce

• Decision

  • SCOTUS sided with Lopez’s argument, that guns on school property is under the authority of the states and does NOT fall under the commerce clause

• Impact

  • Tipped balance of power in favor of the states, reduced power of the Commerce Clause