AP Gov Semester 1

Main ideas

Ways and Means Committee

a permanent committee of the United States House of Representatives that makes recommendations to the House on all bills that would raise revenue/taxes

Federal Courts/Supreme Court

Courts that hear disputes about laws that apply to the entire United States - members appointed for life by president (confirmed by Senate)

PACs (Political Action Committees)

a private group that raises and distributes funds for use in election campaigns

Implied Powers (Elastic Clause)

those delegated powers of the national govt that are necessary and proper to carry out the expressed powers; gives central gov't great authority to do what they deem necessary to carry out expressed powers

ticket splitting

Voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices. It has become the norm in American voting behavior.

Realignment

A process in which a substantial group of voters switches party allegiance

Dealignment

Weakening of partisan preferences that points to a rejection of both major parties and a rise in the number of independents.

Gerrymandering

the drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party

Reapportionment

the process of reassigning representation based on population

Single member district system

system in which the people elect one representative per district. With a winner-take-all rule

Impeachment

Charges against a president approved by a majority of the House of Representatives

head of state

The executive role that symbolizes and represents the people both nationally and internationally.

Commander in Chief

The role of the president as supreme commander of the military forces of the United States and of the state National Guard units when they are called into federal service

Entitlements (mandatory spending)

benefit that federal law says must be paid to all those who meet eligibility requirements; Medicare

Cooperative Federalism

A system of government in which powers and policy assignments are shared between states and the national government. They may also share costs

Dual Federalism

Doctrine holding that the national government is supreme in its sphere

Rugged Individualism

The belief that all individuals

First Party System

A term that defines the period of time when the Federalists and Democratic-Republicans competed for the presidency. It was ended with the Era of Good Feelings.

Second Party System

The second party structure in the nation's history that emerged when Andrew Jackson first ran for the presidency in 1824. The system was built from the bottom up as political participation became a mass phenomenon. (Democrats vs. the Whigs)

Third Party System (1860-1896)

Republican Party-supported antislavery

Democratic Party - denounced reconstruction

limited slave travel

fourth party system

New party system that emerged in 1896 after the McKinley/Bryan election; marked the end of a large scale effort to gain agrarian votes

Fifth Party System (1932-1968)

Main Antagonists:

- Democrats vs. Republicans

Key Features:

FDR's New Deal and coalition

- Massive Expansion of Government Power

- First Time Government takes an Active Role in Economy - Also

Government Expands its Influence into Social Policy - By the End of the Fifth Party System we see:

- The End of Racial Segregation in the South - Republicans Become an Opposition Party

Executive Office of the President (EOP)

Ten organizations that advise the President. Includes the Office of Management and Budget

White House Office

Part of EOP group that includes the President's most trusted personal advisors (led by White House Chief of Staff); members do not need senate confirmation

Rule of Propinquity

closer to the president

Imperial Presidency

Term used to describe a president as an "emperor" who acts without consulting Congress or acts in secrecy to evade or deceive congress

executive order

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

executive privilege

The power to keep executive communications confidential

U.S. v. Nixon (1974)

Allowed for executive privilege

executive agreement

A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval.

Habeas Corpus

Constitutional protection against unlawful imprisonment

Shay's Rebellion (1786)

This MA conflict caused criticism of the Articles of Confederation; weak govt; increased calls for a Constitutional Convention to revise the Articles

U.S. v. Lopez (1995)

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

US v. Morrison

Struck down part of the Violence Against Women Act; limitation of application of Commerce Clause

Contract with America (1994)

Newt Gingrich (Republican congressman) planned for success of Republican party in upcoming election by pledging tax cuts

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Established the principle of "one person

categorical grants-in-aid

funds given to state and local governments by Congress that are earmarked by law for specific policy categories

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

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

One vote for each State

Bully Pulpit

the president's use of his prestige and visibility to guide or enthuse the American public

line-item veto

an executive's ability to block a particular provision in a bill passed by the legislature - ruled unconstitutional

Benefits of Federalism

-protects against the tyranny of the majority

-allows for unity without imposing on uniformity

-Individual states can as as laboratories for policy experiments

-encourages political participation

Negatives of Federalism

1. blocks progress and protects powerful local interests

2. different political groups with different political purposes come to power in different places (could also be a positive)

3. duplication of offices and functions

4. Allows Discrimination

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

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

Largely banned party soft money

inherent powers

powers claimed by a president that are not expressed in the Constitution but are inferred from it

Precedents set by George Washington

1) maintaining a 2 term (4 years each term) tradition

2) establishment of the cabinet

3) seizing most power over foreign policy

Abraham Lincoln

Fed 10 (Madison)

political factions are a necessary evil to be controlled by federalism and separation of powers that comes in republican forms of government

Fed 51 (Madison)

Checks and balances

Brutus No. 1

This work by a prominent Anti-Federalist argued that that the new federal government would be too powerful. In particular

trustee model

a model of representation in which a member of the House or Senate follows his or her own conscience when deciding issue positions

delegate model of representation

a model of representation in which representatives feel compelled to act on the specific stated wishes of their constituents

politico model of representation

a model of representation in which members of Congress act as either trustee or delegate

Voting Rights Act of 1965

1965; invalidated the use of any test or device to deny the vote and authorized federal examiners to register voters in states that had disenfranchised blacks; as more blacks became politically active and elected black representatives

Civil Rights Act of 1964

This act made racial

Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)

The Fourteenth Amendment requires a State to license a marriage between two people of the same sex and to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out-of-State.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the American Constitution at the time when the states were contemplating its adoption.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Presidential staff agency that serves as a clearinghouse for budgetary requests and management improvements for government agencies.

Separation of Powers

the division of power among the legislative

Checks and Balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

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.

25th Amendment

Presidential Succession; Vice Presidential Vacancy; Presidential Inability

22nd Amendment

Limits the president to two terms or 10 years.

10th Amendment

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution

17th Amendment

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

23rd Amendment

Gives Washington DC electoral college votes as if it were a state (DC still has no representation in Congress)

Woodward and Bernstein

two investigative reporters for the Washington Post who uncover the Watergate scandal by constant digging and tips brought down Nixon in 1974

Federal Election Campaign Act

First major federal law (1971) to regulate federal elections. Created Federal Election Commission (FEC). Required disclosure of sources of campaign funds (transparency)

Watergate Scandal

A break-in at the Democratic National Committee offices in the Watergate complex in Washington was carried out under the direction of White House employees. Disclosure of the White House involvement in the break-in and subsequent cover-up forced President Nixon to resign in 1974 to avoid impeachment.

NYTimes v. Sullivan

the court defined what is meant by libel and slander as it pertains to public officials and public figures--individuals must show that false statements were made and publicized with malice and knowledge of their falsity

Referendum

a legislative act is referred for final approval to a popular vote by the electorate

Initiative

A procedure by which voters in a state can propose a law or a constitutional amendment.

recall election

a special election called by voters to remove an elected official before his/her term expires.

War Powers Act

Passed by Congress in 1973; the president is limited in the deployment of troops overseas to a sixty-day period in peacetime (which can be extended for an extra thirty days to permit withdrawal) unless Congress explicitly gives its approval for a longer period.

McGovern-Fraser Commission

A commission formed at the 1968 Democratic convention in response to demands for reform by minority groups and others who sought better representation.

Superdelegates

National party leaders who automatically get a delegate slot at the Democratic national party convention to give convention more moderation

National Convention

The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party's platform.

discharge petition

Petition that

incumbency advantage

The relative infrequency with which members of Congress are defeated in their attempts for reelection.

Electoral College

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

Supremacy Clause

Article VI of the Constitution

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Section of Article IV of the Constitution that ensures judicial decrees and contracts made in one state will be binding and enforceable in any other state.

Rules Committee (House)

13 members

Bill of Rights

1791