comprehensive AP gov review

includes all case briefs and important vocab/ideas from units 1-5

social contract theory

individuals give up some of their rights in order to be protected as a part of the "whole"

thomas HOBBES

developed social contract theory, believed that people needed a strong absolute ruler and could not rebel or set up a new government.

john LOCKE

"two treaties on civil government" → believed that man was free and had a right to overthrow an unjust government, idea of natural rights, father of modern democracy.

francois VOLTAIRE

argued for religious toleration and separation of church and state

baron charles de MONTESQUIEU

believed that government should be separated into a legislatie, judicial, and executive branch. idea of checks and balances.

jean jacque ROUSSEAU

restated locke's ideas, believed in inalienable rights with no class structure

congressional statute

law passed by congress

presidential action

decision by president

court decision

opinion by supreme court or other court

participatory democracy

emphasizes broad participation in politics, least filtered**

pluralist theory or "polyarchy"

emphasizes group based activism, more filtered than regular democracy

elite and class theory

theory that politics are divided along class lines and that upper class will rule, most filtered**

hyperpluralism

theory that groups are so strong that the government is weakened, gridlock idea that government is unable to act at all

articles of confederation (AOC)

first national constitution (1777), one vote per state, needed 13/13 vote to pass amendments.

constitutional convention

aimed to revise the AOC

virginia plan

LARGE STATES, wanted representation based on population

new jersey plan

SMALL STATES, wanted one vote per state

connecticut plan

"GREAT COMPROMISE", established a two house legislature → house of representatives and senate

executive branch

president and VP, elected for 4 year terms

judicial branch

supreme court only, appointed for life

3/5th compromise

3 of every 5 slaves was counted for representation and taxation purposes

commerce compromise

interstate commerce controlled by the national government, but tariffs on imported goods

federalist 10

talks about the dangers of factions and how a large republic is superior to a small one because it encompasses more interests **control factions, not eliminating them

brutus 1

warned that the necessary and proper clause would destroy state sovereignty

federalist 51

suggests that the government divide their power into 3 branches inorder to check/balance each other

federalists

(elites) wanted strong central government with check and balance system

anti federalists

(lower class) wanted state's rights and feared a strong national government

federalism

division of power amongst various levels of government

expressed/enumerated powers

specifically given to the national government in the constitution

example of expressed powers

coin money, declare war, regulate interstate trade, establish post office, create army and navy

implied powers

not expressed in government but implied

necessary and proper clause

all laws that are necessary and proper can be passed by congress

implied powers example

create air force, pass laws regarding sale of drugs, health care law, estavlishing draft, regulating immigration

denied power

no titles of nobility, cannot deny habeas corpus, create ex post facto laws or bills of attainder

article 1, section 9

powers denied to congress

article 1, section 10

powers denied to the states

article 1, section 8, clause 1

IRS, telephones, gambling, traveling

commerce clause

used to expand congressional power

concurrent powers

held by both state and national governments but exercised independently

reserved powers

held by state governments

10th amendment

gives powers not given to the US by the constitution are reserved for the states or the people

dual federalism

system of government where both the states and the national government are supreme in their own spheres

cooperative federalism

national and state governments share responsibility for public policies

unitary

all power held by central government

confederacy

individual states hold most power

fiscal federalism

pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal system

categorical grants

federal grants that can be used for specific purposes

federal mandates

any law or regulation that imposes enforceable duty upon state or local governments

congress amending the constitution

1. proposes an amendment by a ⅔ vote of both houses ⅔ of state

2. legislatures ask congress to call a national convention

states ratify amendments

1. ¾ state legislatures approve amendments

2. conventions in ¾ states approve an amendment

US vs. lopez

ruled that congress did not have the power to regulate carrying a gun on school property because it was not an economic activity under the commerce clause

mcculloch vs. maryland

decided that congress did have the power to create a national bank even if it wasn't directly stated in the constitution because it was "necessary and proper"

republicanism

democratic principle that the will of the people is reflected in government

senate

• "upper" house

• 2 per state

• 6 year term

• less rules than house

filibuster

long speech to prevent vote on bill

cloture

⅗ vote and cuts off debate of bill

rider

off topic amendment to bill

house of representatives

• "lower house"

• 435 members

• population based

• 2 year terms

• all revenue bills originate here

• more rules

trustee

acts on their own

delegate

vote with constituents' interests

politico

acts on their own AND votes with constituents' interests

requirements for districts

1. equal in population

2. contiguous or connected

3. geographically compact

gerrymandering

drawing a district to benefit one political party by splitting minority opinions across districts

fiscal policy

impact of federal budget on the economy

incrementalism

slow but steady increase of budget from year to year

government's source of revenue

individual income taxes, payroll/social insurance taxes, corporate income taxes, borrowing (bonds)

federalist 70

argues that a strong executive branch is important so that a singular person can be held accountable, and decisions can be made quickly

federalist 78

argues that SC should have judicial review

qualifications for president

• 35+ yo

• natural born US citizen

• resident for 14 years

• chosen by electoral college majority

12th amendment

president and VP elected together

20th amendment

made inauguration day on january 20th

22nd amendment

terms for presidency 2

25th amendment

presidential succession (order of who comes next) and disability

vice president duties

• preside over senate

• replace president if needed

• count electoral votes

• vote in senate during a tie

cabinet duties

presidential advisors, made up of top executives

chief diplomat (president)

• directs US foreign policy

• receives foreign heads of state

• appoints ambassadors

• makes treaties

executive agreements

pact other than a treaty made with a foreign government, does not need senate approval

executive orders

presidential directive that becomes law without approval from congress

original jurisdiction

the trial court, determines facts about a case

appellate jurisdiction

reviews legal issues in cases brought from lower courts

stare decisis

"let the decision stand" or following precedents

bureaucracy

divides work into specific categories in an administrative system

patronage

job given for political reasons

civil service

system of hiring and promoting based on merit

baker vs. carr

established that federal courts have the power to enforce the requirement of equal protection of the law against state officials, many states had to redraw their districts so that populations were equally represented

shaw v. reno

decided that racial gerrymandering, even if it was to remediate, was unconstitutional → if a redistricting plan was based solely on grouping people politically by their race, it was unconstitutional

marbury v. madison

"midnight judges", decided that the SC was equally as powerful as the executive and legislative branches

dred scott decision (1857)

slaves who escaped had no rights in free territories

emancipation proclamation

free slaves under confederate control

13th amendment

prohibits slavery

14th amendment

prohibits states from denying citizenship, due process, and equal protection

15th amendment

guarantees right to vote for all men

plessy v. ferguson

"separate but equal" doctrine

1st amendment

religion, assembly, petition, press, speech

2nd amendment

right to bear arms

3rd amendment

no quartering of troops in peace or wartime

4th amendment

no unreasonable search or seizure, security in own home

5th amendment

protects against self incrimination, double jeopardy (cannot be tried for the same crime), eminent domain

6th amendment

speedy public trial, jury of peers, right to attorney