AP Goverment Study

Declaration of Independence; Preamble

it is explaining how if you're causing a reveloution try to explain why you're doing it. One of the purposes were to rally the troops and fight home. It is connected to our human rights such as Life, Liberty and Pursit of happniess, it also explains how we give power to the government to be able to protect our natural rights and if they misuse their power we are able to revoke that power we gave them.

Natural Rights

The rights given to us just by being born human which include life, liberty and pursuit of hapiness.

Federalist 10

An essay composed by James Madison which argues for the US Constitution, it also argues that liberty is safest in a large republic because many interests (factions) exist. Such diversity makes tyranny by the majority more difficult since ruling coalitions will always be unstable.

U.S. Constitution

"The supreme law of the land." Written in 1787 at Philadelphia Convention to replace Articles of Confederation and create stronger central government. Outlines structure & power of 3 branches of national government. Oldest written constitution still in use (but amended 27 times plus myriad informal amendments). In other words, A document that embodies the fundamental laws and principles by which the United States is governed.

Factions

Political groups that agree on objectives and policies; the origins of political parties.

2 Soulutions to Factions

There are again two methods of removing the causes of faction: the one, by destroying the liberty which is essential to its existence; the other, by giving to every citizen the same opinions, the same passions, and the same interests.

Brutus No. 1

This work by a prominent Anti-Federalist argued that that the new federal government would be too powerful. (Against Federalist papers No. 10 & 51) In particular, he pointed to the necessary-and-proper clause and the supremacy clause. In addition, he objected to Congress's power to tax and raise a standing army and to the vast size of the proposed republic. He felt this powerful new government would supplant the states.

Articles of Confederation

it was the first constitution of the United State where it mainly talks about powerof the states and how congress didn't have much power (no power to tax, no power to regulate trade). It was basically declaring that the former 13 states would unite together and be called "The United States of America".

How much people are there in the US Congress (IN TOTAL)?

535

How much Representives in congress?

435

How many Senators in congress?

100

Federalist 51

Argues that separation of powers within the national government is the best way to prevent the concentration of power in the hands of one person or a single group. (Separation of powers & checks & balances protects against tyranny)

Federalist 70

Federalist paper by Alexander Hamilton supporting the idea of the presidency as a branch united in one individual (unitary theory of the presidency) so that the presidency can execute the law quickly and without hesitation while remaining constrained by their sole responsibility for action to the people through elections. The president's energy is essential to good governance, as a multiplicity of executives is inherently weak.

Federalist 78

Hamilton agrues for the Judical branch, discusses the power of judicial review. It argues that the federal courts have the duty to determine whether acts of Congress are constitutional and to follow the Constitution when there is inconsistency. Hamilton viewed this as a protection against abuse of power by Congress.

Letter from Birmingham Jail

A letter written by Martin Luther King Jr. after he had been arrested when he took part in a nonviolent march against segregation. He was disappointed more Christians didn't speak out against racism. It was defending equal rights and civil rights.

Which Article in the Constitution established the Legislative Branch?

Article 1

Which Article in the Constitution established the Executive Branch

Article 2

Which Article in the Constitution established the Judicial Branch?

Article 3

How many members are in the President's Cabinet

15

What is the largest branch of government today?

Executive Branch

McCulloch v. Maryland

Maryland was trying to tax the national bank and Supreme Court ruled that federal law was stronger than the state law

Necessary and Proper Clause

Clause of the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) setting forth the implied powers of Congress. It states that Congress, in addition to its express powers, has the right to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out all powers the Constitution vests in the national government

United States v. Lopez

1995 - The Commerce Clause of the Constitution does not give Congress the power to prohibit mere possession of a gun near a school, because gun possession by itself is not an economic activity that affects interstate commerce even indirectly.

Baker v. Carr

case that est. one man one vote. this decision created guidelines for drawing up congresional districts and guaranteed a more equitable system of representation to the citizens of each state

Shaw v. Reno

The Court ruled that although it was a legitimate goal for state legislatures to take race into account when they draw electoral districts in order ot increase the voting strength of minorities, they may not make race the sole reason for drawing district lines.

Murbury v. Madison

The 1803 case in which Chief Justice John Marshall and his associates first asserted the right of the Supreme Court to determine the meaning of the U.S. Constitution. (Judical review)

Engel v. Vitale

The 1962 Supreme Court decision holding that state officials violated the First Amendment when they wrote a prayer to be recited by New York's schoolchildren.

Wisconsin v. Yoder

Amish people refused to send their children to school past the 8th grade when the state required public schooling for all children until age16. Result: This law is in conflict with the Free Exercise clause. The statute is in direct conflict with Amish beliefs. The Amish may teach themselves.

Tinker v. Des Moines

Tinker v. Des Moines is a historic Supreme Court ruling from 1969 that cemented students' rights to free speech in public schools, students in an Iowa school were suspended for wearing black armbands to protest the Vietnam war. Ruled that this suspension was unconstitutional, and that public school students do not silence our rights

Schenck v. United States

Supreme court decides that any actions taken that present a "clear and present danger" to the public or government isn't allowed, this can limit free speech

New York Times v. US

Supreme Court case protecting the freedom of the press by allowing the New York Times to publish the "Pentagon Papers" despite the Justice Department's order to restrict it

McDonald v. Chicago

The Court held that the right of an individual to "keep and bear arms" protected by the 2nd Amendment is incorporated by the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment and applies to the states. The decision cleared up the uncertainty left in the wake of District of Columbia v. Heller as to the scope of gun rights in regard to the states.

Giedon v. Wainwright

the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that states are required under the Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution to provide an attorney to defendants in criminal cases who are unable to afford their own attorneys

Roe v. Wade

The 1973 Supreme Court decision holding that a state ban on all abortions was unconstitutional. The decision forbade state control over abortions during the first trimester of pregnancy, permitted states to limit abortions to protect the mother's health in the second trimester, and permitted states to protect the fetus during the third trimester.

Brown v. Board of Education

court found that segregation was a violation of the Equal Protection clause "separate but equal" has no place

Citizens United v. FEC

A 2010 decision by the United States Supreme Court holding that independent expenditures are free speech protected by the 1st Amendment and so cannot be limited by federal law. Leads to creation of SuperPACs & massive rise in amount of third party electioneering (Citizens for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow)

Limited Government

The idea that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens.

Popular Sovereignty

A government in which the people rule by their own consent.

Republicanism

A form of government in which people elect representatives to create and enforce laws

participatory democracy

a theory of democracy that holds that citizens should actively and directly control all aspects of their lives

elite democracy

a theory of democracy that limits the citizens' role to choosing among competing leaders

pluralist democracy

a theory of democracy that holds that citizen membership in groups is the key to political power

Supremacy Clause

Article VI of the Constitution, which makes the Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.

Shay's Rebellion

Rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787, protesting mortgage foreclosures. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional Convention went out.

Stakeholders

All the people who stand to gain or lose by the policies and activities of a business and whose concerns the business needs to address.

Fiscal Federalism

The pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal system; it is the cornerstone of the national government's relations with state and local governments.

policy agenda

A set of issues and problems that policy makers consider important. The mass media play an important role in influencing the issues which receive public attention.

executive order

a rule or order issued by the president to an executive branch of the government and having the force of law.

1st Amendment

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

2nd Amendment

Right to keep and bear arms

3rd Amendment

No quartering of soldiers

4th Amendment

Protection against Unreasonable Search and Seizure

5th Amendment

The Right to Remain Silent/Double Jeopardy, right to due process

6th Amendment

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

7th Amendment

Right to trial by jury

8th Amendment

No cruel and unusual punishment

9th Amendment

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

10th Amendment

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.