AP GOV REVIEW

Flashcards for AP Government Study Guide Unit One: Constitutional Underpinnings

Direct Democracy

Citizens meet and vote directly on government decisions.

Representative Democracy (Republic)

Citizens choose officials who make decisions on government policy.

Magna Carta (1215)

The first ever attempt to limit the power of the British King, guaranteed all people certain rights.

Social Contract Theory

Principle that people enter into a social contract with the government and allow to be ruled.

Consent of the Governed

Principle that there are no supreme rulers, all rulers depend on the approval of the people, when governments fail to protect rights the people have the right to change the government.

Natural Rights

Principle that all people are born with certain rights: life, liberty, and property (Jefferson changes property into pursuit of happiness).

Declaration of Independence

Thomas Jefferson’s document built on principles of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” consent of the governed, and social contract theory. It also justified American revolution against England.

Common Good

Belief in doing what’s best for the nation overall.

Popular Sovereignty

Belief that the ultimate authority rests with the people.

Majority Rule

Belief that government is run based on the will of the majority.

Articles of Confederation

Weak association of states (states very independent).

Shays’ Rebellion

Farmer rebellion in Massachusetts 1786-1787 protesting mortgage foreclosures and terrible economy. Rebellion represented how weak the central government was, and terrified many Americans

Representative Democracy (Republic)

Democracy where people elect representatives who pass laws.

Connecticut Compromise – (Bicameralism)

Established two equal bodies (House of Representatives and Senate) one based on population, one giving all states equal representation. This was a compromise between big states (Virginia Plan) and small states (New Jersey Plan) over the format of the Congress.

Federalist Papers

Articles written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay arguing for the constitution.

Federalist Paper #10

Written by Madison, discusses importance of factions, factions are inevitable, but factions are best handled by a large republic.

Federalist Paper #51

Written by Madison, discusses importance of checks and balances and the separation of powers in the constitution

How the Constitution Fixed the Problem of Congress not being able to tax

National government had power to tax directly.

How the Constitution Fixed the Problem of Congress being unable to regulate interstate trade

Interstate Commerce Clause gives Congress interstate regulatory power.

How the Constitution Fixed the Problems of No Chief Executive to Enforce the Law

Article II creates president who enforces the law.

How the Constitution Fixed the Problems of No National Judiciary to Handle State Fights

Article III creates Supreme Court.

How the Constitution Fixed the Problems of Each State Was Given Only One Vote

Bicameral legislature represents states both by population, and equality.

Article I

Legislative Branch

Article II

Executive Branch

Article III

Judicial Branch

Article IV

Interstate Relations

Article V

Amendment Process

Separation of Powers

Each of the three branches has its own power and independence

Legislative Branch

Passes laws

Executive Branch

Executes laws

Judicial Branch

Interprets laws (this power comes from Supreme Court Case Marbury vs. Madison – set dogma of judicial review, where the Supreme Court may rule an act of the President or Congress unconstitutional)

Checks and Balances

Each branch has some power over the others, but retains independence

Federalism

Separation between powers of the Federal, State, and Local governments.

Confederacy

System of government in which the central government is very weak, and most of the true power lies in individual states.

Unitary System

System of government in which the central government is extremely powerful, and individual states have few powers.

Dual Federalism, aka “Layer Cake” Federalism (1789-1932)

Belief that the state and national governments are supreme within their own sphere of influence.

Cooperative Federalism, aka “Marble Cake” Federalism

Sharing powers between state and federal governments.

Fiscal Federalism

Government’s patterns of spending, taxing, and providing grants to influence state and local governments.

Grants-in-aid

Money given from the federal government to the states

Categorical grants

Federal grants for specific purposes (building an airport)

Block grants

Broad grants from the federal government that give local/state governments a lot of freedom to spend money as they please without many strings attached. The Welfare Reform Act of 1996 began transferring more authority back to the states through block grants

Revenue sharing

Federal sharing of a fixed percentage of its revenue with the states.

Mandates

Terms set by the federal government that states must meet if they accept federal grants.

Devolution

Process of returning power to the states, this began during New Federalism under presidents Nixon, Reagan, and Bush.

Express powers

Powers listed (enumerated) in the constitution for the Federal government: go to war, raise an army, regulate interstate and foreign commerce, establish post offices.

Implied powers

Based on necessary and proper clause (elastic clause) – gives congress flexibility to make laws necessary and proper for carrying out express powers, upheld in McCulloch v. Maryland.

Inherent powers

Powers dealing with foreign policy not in constitution, but given to federal government.

Concurrent Powers

Power to tax and spend, establish courts, make laws

Reserved to States (10th amendment)

Any power not denied nor given to federal government is reserved for state governments (create local governments).

Supremacy Clause

Federal law is superior to state law. This came out of the court case McCulloch vs. Maryland, in which there was debate as to whether or not the Bank of the United States had to pay Maryland state taxes. The Supreme Court ruled that because the Bank of the US was NATIONAL it did not have to follow Maryland STATE law. This ruling overturned the idea of nullification by which states could override federal law.

Interstate Commerce Clause

Gives Federal Government authority to regulate all of interstate commerce. This clause gives the federal government authority to regulate businesses that go between state lines, and justifies many federal laws (Civil Rights Act).

Take Care Clause

President must enforce ALL laws passed by congress

Full Faith and Credit

States must honor laws and court rulings of other states

Privileges and Immunities

Requires states to extend same privileges and immunities to all citizens (even of other states)

Bill of Rights

First 10 amendments to the Constitution that guarantees individual and states’ rights. This was a concession the federalists made to the anti-federalists to ensure constitution would be ratified

Amendment 1

Freedom of speech, assembly, petition, religion, press

Amendment 2

Right to bear arms

Amendment 4

No unreasonable searches and seizures

Amendment 5

Right to a trial, no double jeopardy, individuals are not required to testify against themselves

Amendment 6

Right to a speedy, public, and impartial trial with lawyer

Amendment 8

No excessive bails or fines, no cruel and unusual policies

Amendment 10

Powers not given to the federal government or denied of the states are reserved to the states (states rights)

How to Amend the Constitution

2/3 of congress propose amendment --> 3/4 of states ratify it

Alexis de Tocqueville

Frenchmen who visited America in the 1800's and described the young democracy he saw.

Political Culture

A coherent way of thinking about how politics and the government ought to be carried out

Political Socialization

Manner in which people develop their political views (family, friends, media, current government, education)

Liberal

Large federal government involvement needed to provide for the people (welfare, new deal, great society)

Socialist

Belief in an extremely powerful state to protect people

Conservative

Belief that limited government is necessary to grow strong economy, very pro-business anti regulation

Libertarianism

Belief in very small government and extreme focus on individual and business rights, no regulation of industry

Demographics

Characteristics of population on income, education, race, gender

Demographics Trends

Changes in the way people of a certain socio-economic background vote (politicians follow these very closely)

The Census

Every 10 years a count of the total population, different ethnic groups, religions, and how people vote

Redistricting

After every census the congressional districts are redrawn based on population

Reapportionment

State legislatures reapportion (resize) state congressional districts after every census

Gerrymandering

The practice of redistricting in order to benefit a specific party by drawing districts based on the demo of their residents (Baker v. Carr and Shaw v. Reno were court cases in which the supreme court ruled that gerrymandering was unconstitutional)

Voting Behavior

Since 1960 voting turnout has greatly decreased because of the very difficult process of voter registration. People vote because of the party of the candidate, on basis of candidate, and on basis of issues

Party Identification

When people identify with a political party based on issues

Political Efficacy

Belief that you can participate in politics, or that government will respond (my vote counts)

Civic Duty

Belief that one has an obligation to participate in civic and political affairs

General elections

Held every four years in which president is elected

Primary elections

A political party’s elections to determine nominee for general election

Open primaries

People from either party can vote (must choose to vote for either democrats or republicans)

Closed primaries

People can only vote if they are a registered member of the party

Caucuses

Candidate nomination process in which party members meet to discuss and decide on candidate

Referendum

People vote on whether or not to accept a law passed by state legislature, or a proposed amendment to the state constitution

Initiative

People vote on laws and constitutional amendments within state (direct democracy)

Recall

Voters remove elected officials

Linkage Organizations

Organizations that link the people with government

Political Parties

Congressional elections use winner-take-all systems in which the winner of a plurality wins (single-member district)

Third Parties

Represent specific ideological positions, sometimes can serve as “spoilers” but rarely make much of an impact

Divided Government

One party controls white house, other controls congress

Realignment

Major change in the core members/beliefs of a political party- either one major party is replaced by another, or the two major parties completely change viewpoints

Dealignment

When people abandon parties and become independents

Electoral College

The US public does not vote directly for the president, instead they vote in statewide elections for electors. These electors then vote directly for the president and vice president

Interest Group

A collection of people who share a common interest or attitude, and seek to influence government. These groups use fundraising and lobbying to influence the political process. Interest groups can be unions, government groups, businesses, think-tanks, or ideological groups

Political Action Committees (PACs)

Form financial branch of interest groups (donate to candidates)

Iron triangle

Close relationship between interest groups, congress, and agencies

Revolving Door

Government officials often retire and move on to work as lobbyists for interest groups

Lobbying

Activities aimed at influencing public officials (legislators) and trying to promote or defeat certain legislation. Lobbying often comes in the form of supplying data to government officials to convince them to vote a certain way