unit 1 ap gov

social contract

people give up certain freedoms to a government in exchange for protection of their remaining rights.

popular sovereignty

government rules at the consent of whom they govern; gov. authority comes from the people and citizens who have the ultimate power to make decisions through voting / other participation

natural rights

Locke: life, liberty, property

Jefferson in D.o.I: 🤓 life, liberty, pursuit of happiness

republicanism

people elect leaders to represent them in government

federalism

division of power between federal/state/local levels; Constitution outlines which powers are delegated to each level

ex. only fed can coin money, but both state and fed collect taxes

limited government

gov not involved in citizens’ lives and often involves the protection of individual liberty from gov. intrusion; gov only does what is listed to do in the constitution

faction

groups of people that focus on their benefit/interest over national interests

• madison highlights dangers of factions in fed 10

• nowadays factions are specific interest groups that lobby for specific change in Congress

John Locke

philosopher who believed ppl entitled to natural rights, rulers who don’t provide these rights for people should be removed

• democracy, majority rule, and individual liberty

Thomas Hobbes

bro supported monarchies bc life would be “nasty and unruly” without it

Dec of Independence (author + main idea)

written by the Thomas Jefferson, listed reasons why King George 3 was abusing power and why indep was needed.

• supported natural rights, equality, and idea that violating government allowed right to revolt

Articles of Confed. (author + main idea)

written by John Dickinson, the first governemnt system focused on states rather than federal; only leg branch existed

• gov limited to declaring war, making treaties, managing post

• lacked power to collect tax or manage interstate commerce.

• 9/13 states required to pass laws, all states needed to amend Articles

Fed paper authors

James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay

Fed 10 (author + main idea)

written by James Madison

• that a large republic can best control factions because a greater variety of interests makes it less likely for any single faction to dominate.

• republicanism can mitigate dangers of majority tyranny (dominating faction)

Fed 51 (author + main idea)

written by James Madison; about the necessity of checks and balances, separation of powers

Fed 70 (author + main idea)

written by Alexander Hamilton

• argued for single, energetic executive rather than a weak executive or council which would be slow and ineffective

Fed 78 (author + main idea)

written by Alexander Hamilton

• about how judicial branch will be the weakest branch without judicial review

• executive branch has power of the sword and leg has power of the purse, thats why jud needs judicial review

• argued for life-time terms of SCOTUS judges

Brutus 1

argued that small national government and more power given to states necessary to keep government from infringing on people’s liberties

• states understand their people more than fed

Constitution (author + main idea)

written by the Const. convention

• established a stronger federal government with a system of separated powers (leg, exec, jud) and checks and balances to prevent any one branch from being too powerful

• established federalism division of powers

Article 1

establishes legislative branch of government (HoR, Senate)

• defined structure and powers of Congress: make laws, declare war, collect taxes, confirm heads of executive depts and SCOTUS judges, regulate commerce, and maintain armed forces

Article 2

establishes executive branch, including the president, VP, and executive depts

• outlines pres powers as: enforicng laws, commanding the military, granting pardons, and making treaties.

• establishes the process of impeachment of the president

Article 3

establishes the judicial branch, which includes Supreme Court and lower fed courts

• it defines their jurisdiction and gives Congress the power to establish inferior courts

• it also ensures judicial indep. through life tenure and protection against salary reduction

Article 4

defines federalism and the relationship between the states

• includles the full faith + credit clause (states must respect laws of other states)

• privileges and immunities clause (prevents states from discriminating against citizens of other states)

• adds procedures for admitting new states

separation of powers

division of powers between judicial, executive, and leg branches

• ex. President is Commander in Chief and Congress can declare war

• ex2. Congress creates laws and president enforces them

check and balances

ways to check the powers of the the two branches to make sure one branch doesn’t become too powerful

• ex. supreme court can strike down congressional laws if they find them unconst.

• ex2. pres can veto a bill that congress passses

participatory democracy

democracy where citizens can directly vote for policy

• ex. referendums and ballot measures

pluralist democracy

groups fighting against each other for power or to influence policy rather than one dominant, controlling group

• ex. interest groups like NAACP

elitist democracy

small select group of individuals have more influence on political decisions

• ex. electoral college

direct democracy

citizens directly make political decisions rather than using electing representatives to do so in their behalf

ex. not a republic, so not the U.S.

weaknesses in the Articles of Confed

1. Congress couldn’t enforce taxes, leading to horrible finances

2. requirement of unanimous consent for amendments, very difficult to adapt governing framework

3. no authority over interstate / intl trade

4. no national court system.

Virginia plan vs NJ Plan

VA

• representation based on population and bicameral, favoring larger states

NJ

• equal representation with all the states and unicameral, favoring smaller states

Great/Connecticut compromise

HoR - represented by population

Senate - equal (2 per state)

3/5 compromise

slaves will be counted as 3/5s of a person for taxation and representation

Constitution amended by

to propose an amendment

1. 2/3s vote of both the House of Reps and Senate

2. a national convention called by 2/3 of the state legislature

to ratify an amendment

1. 3/4 of state legislatures

2. conventions in 3/4 of the states

impeachment process

House impeaches with a simple majority, the Senate convicts with 2/3 vote. There is no involvement from the Judicial Branch

commerce clause

allows congress to regulate inTERstate commerce (between multiple states)

Necessary and Proper Clause (AKA Elastic)

allows Congress to make all laws necessary for carrying out their enumerated powers (rise of implied powers)

• ex. creating a national bank in order to “regulate interstate commerce”

Supremacy clause

national laws overrule state laws under conflict