AP US Government Ultimate Review

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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 thee educated and wealthy; discourages participation by the majority of people

Virginia Plan

Bicameral legislature based on population

New Jersey Plan

Unicameral legislature with equal votes for every state

Federalist 10

Dangers of factions, need a large republic to handle said factions

Federalist 51

Need separation of powers

Federalist 70

Need a single, energetic executive

Federalist 78

No reason to worry about judicial branch because they are weak losers

Article 1

Congress

Article 2

President

Article 3

Judicial

Article 4

States

Article 5

Amendment

Article 6

Supremacy

Article 7

Ratification

Commerce Clause

Congress can regulate trade between nations, between states, and among Native American tribes

Due Process Clause

The government must observe fair procedures when it denies a person life, liberty, or property

Necessary and Proper Clause

Congress can exercise powers not specifically stated in the Constitution if those powers are “necessary and proper” for carrying out its expressed powers that are specifically stated

Equal Protections Clause

States cannot unreasonably discriminate against individuals. They must treat people equally

Establishment Clause

Congress cannot establish an “official” religion. This, in effect, provides for separation of church and state

Ex Post Facto Clause

Congress cannot pass a law that punishes a person retroactively

Extradition Clause

An accused person who flees to another state must be returned to the state in which they allegedly committed the crime

Free Exercise Clause

Congress cannot pass laws that ban freedom of worship

Full Faith and Credit Clause

A state must recognize the validity of the public acts, records, and court decisions of other states

Privileges & Immunities Clause

A state cannot unreasonably discriminate against citizens of other states

Supremacy Clause

Federal law is supreme over state law

1st Amendment

SPARP - Speech, press, assembly, religion, petition

2nd Amendment

Right to bear arms

3rd Amendment

No need to quarter soldiers

4th Amendment

No unreasonable search and seizure

5th Amendment

Grand jury, double jeopardy, no self-incrimination, due process, eminent domain

6th Amendment

Speedy and fair trial w/ witnesses and counsel

7th Amendment

Trial by jury over cases over $20

8th Amendment

No cruel or unusual punishment

9th Amendment

Rights not listed belong to the people

10th Amendment

Powers not given to the federal government are reserved for the states

12th Amendment

Separate ballots for President and Vice President

13th Amendment

Abolished slavery

14th Amendment

Equal protections for all citizens & anyone born in the states is a citizen

15th Amendment

Black men can vote

17th Amendment

Direct election of senators

19th Amendment

Women can vote!!!!! :)

20th Amendment

Lame duck, moves inauguration date to January 20th

22nd Amendment

President can only serve 2 terms

23rd Amendment

D. C. Residents can vote for president

24th Amendment

No poll taxes

25th Amendment

Sets up the order of presidential succession

26th Amendment

18 year olds can vote

Marbury v. Madison

Gives power of judicial review

McCulloch v. Maryland

Elastic clause, supremacy clause, and 10th amendment - allowed for a federal bank that states could not tax

US v. Lopez

Commerce Clause & Elastic Clause - said that Congress couldn’t use the Commerce Clause to ban the sale of firearms

Engel v. Vitale

Establishment Clause & 1st Amendment - no prayer can be enforced by the government

Wisconsin v. Yoder

Due process Clause, freedom of religion, Free Exercise Clause - Individuals’ religions outweigh state’s rights

Tinker v. Des Moine

Right to Free Speech & symbolic speech - Cemented students' rights to free speech in public schools

NYT v. US

Freedom of press - No prior restraint

Schenck v. US

Freedom of speech - No speech that creates a clear a present danger will be protected

Gideon v. Wainwright

6th Amendment, Due Process Clause - Everyone gets the right to a lawyer

McDonald v. Chicago

Due Process Clause & Second Amendment - Selective incorporation

Brown v. Board

Equal protections clause - no separate but equal

Citizens United v. FEC

Freedom of speech - giving money to campaigns is speech

Baker v. Carr

Equal protections clause - one person, one vote

Shaw v. Reno

Equal protections clause - no racial gerrymandering

Categorical Grants

Federal government giving money to states for specific purposes

Block Grants

Broad federal grants

Civil Liberties

Guaranteed freedoms and protections for individuals from government actions

Civil Rights

Guaranteed protections from inequality for discriminated against groups

Selective Incorporation

Ensures that the Bill of Rights still applies at the state level

Rule of Law

No one is above the law

Opinion Polls

A poll on the public opinion of something

Tracking Polls

Polls that are repeated periodically to track responses

Exit Polls

Polls that ask people how they voted when they are leaving the voting place

Keynesian Economics

Democratic spending plan

Supply-Side Economics

Republican spending plan

Hard Money

Limited amounts, only given from PACs or individuals, given directly to candidates, and requires donor disclosure

Soft Money

Unlimited amounts, comes from individuals, corporations, or committees, given to parties (sometimes to support candidates), requires donor disclosure

Dark Money

Unlimited amounts of money, comes from unknown donors, given to 501c4s, no donor disclosure requirement

PACs

Regulated by FEC & IRS, limited funds from donors, aims to get a specific candidate elected

Super PACs

Regulated by IRS, unlimited money from anyone, no donor disclosure requirement, no $ given directly to parties or candidates

Redistricting

Redrawing congressional district boundaries based on a census

Reapportionment

Dividing seats for the House among the 50 states

Signing statement

Signing a bill with a written statement that the executive will not carry out a portion of the bill

Free Enterprise

The idea that businesses should operate in competition relatively free from government control

Revenue Sharing

When the national government distributes tax revenue to the states fro them to spend as they see fit

Caucus

A meeting of all state party leaders for selecting delegates to the national party convention

Independent Expenditure

Money spent on ads not sponsored by a candidate or party

Cloture

A vote by 60 senators to end unlimited debate

Fillibuster

An informal procedure used in the Senate that allows a Senator to talk a bill to death

Unanimous Consent

An agreement usually among Congressional leaders, setting the terms for considering a bill

Hold in Senate

A procedure to stop a bill from reaching the floor

Discharge Petition

A procedure for getting a bill out of committee and onto the floor for a vote

Fiscal Policy

Fiscal policy refers to the tax and spending policies of the federal government

Monetary Policy

Monetary policy seeks to spark economic activity

Amicus Curiae “Friend of the Court” Brief

Gives courts information/facts for a case they are ruling on to try and sway how they vote

Stare Decisis

Let the decision stand

Writ of Certioari

A request for the supreme court to hear a case

Writ of Habeas Corpous

A court order that requires a prisoner to be brought before the court to determine if the person's imprisonment or detention is lawful

Devolution

Transferring responsibilities of governing from the federal government to the state and local governments