ap gov midterm

John Locke

advocated for natural rights (life, liberty, property)

montesquieu

proposed separation of powers to prevent tyranny.

Natural rights

Rights inherent to all people, not granted by the government.

Social contract

Agreement between people and government for mutual protection of rights.

Popular sovereignty

Authority of government comes from the consent of the governed.

Limited government

Government powers are restricted by law.

Republicanism

A government where representatives are elected to serve the public interest.

Federalists

Supported a strong central government, represented by figures like Hamilton.

Anti-Federalists

Favored stronger state governments and individual rights, represented by figures like Jefferson.

Shays’ Rebellion

Highlighted the inability of the Articles of Confederation to address uprisings. it was also a Weak federal government (no power to tax or regulate trade).

Great Compromise

Created a bicameral legislature with the House based on population and the Senate based on states.

3/5 Compromise

Slaves counted as 3/5 of a person for representation; postponed the addressing of slavery.

Electoral College

System for the indirect election of the president.

Separation of powers

Divided government into legislative, executive, and judicial branches with distinct roles.

Checks and balances

A system where branches can limit each other’s powers.

Enumerated Powers

Powers explicitly listed in the Constitution.

Implied Powers

Powers not explicitly stated but inferred, as in the Necessary and Proper Clause.

Exclusive Powers

Powers reserved solely for the federal government.

Reserved Powers

Powers reserved for the states.

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared by both federal and state governments.

Block grants

Federal funds provided to states for broad purposes.

Categorical grants

Federal funds provided for specific purposes.

Mandates

Federal requirements imposed on states, which can be funded or unfunded.

Commerce Clause

Gives Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Allows Congress to make laws required to carry out its powers.

Supremacy Clause

Establishes that federal law supersedes state law.

Access points

Allows citizens multiple levels of government access to influence policy.

Declaration of Independence

Proclaimed colonial independence based on Enlightenment ideals.

U.S. Constitution

Framework of government and federalism in the United States.

Federalist No. 10

Argues for a large republic to control factions.

Brutus No. 1

Warns against the dangers of a strong central government.

McCulloch v. Maryland

• Facts: congress passed a law to make national banks Maryland taxed and sued McCulloch for not paying the tax.

• questions- bank was constituting because of necessary and proper clause. the taxation was not constitutional because of the supremacy clause.

• ruling- the federal government had the right to make federal bank but states dd not have the power to tax the federal government

U.S. v. Lopez

facts- congress passed the gun free school zones act. Lopez violated the act and is convinced but he appeals.

questions- does the possession of possession of a gun in a school zone have anything to do with the commerce clause.

ruling- not it does not. this is important because the holding limited the power of the commerce clause.

House of Representatives

Part of Congress with 2-year terms, focused on population representation so they are closer to the people. they have a Loy of rules because there is so many people. you need to 25 and be a citizen for 7 years. revenue build, Impeachment and tie breaker for president.

Senate

Part of Congress with 6-year terms, providing equal representation per state. the power is more spread out and everyone has a voice. they need unanimous vote to start talking about something. they give advice and consent, they also control the trial for impeachment.

Legislative Process

The series of steps required to pass laws in Congress.

Filibuster

A tactic used in the Senate to delay action on legislation.

Cloture

A procedure to end a filibuster, requiring 60 votes.

Conference Committee

A committee that resolves differences between the House and Senate versions of a bill.

Participatory

Broad citizen participation in policymaking.

Pluralist

Policy is shaped by competing interest groups.

Elite

A small group of wealthy or educated individuals influence policy.

Amendment process

Requires proposal (2/3 Congress) and ratification (3/4 states).

Revenue sharing

Federal funds shared with states.

Federalist No. 51

Explains checks and balances and separation of powers.

committees

specialized groups that review legislation

speaker of the house

pressed over house, and sets the agenda.

Partisanship

Loyalty to a political party, often influencing decisions and actions.

Polarization

Widening ideological gap between parties, leading to extreme positions and less compromise.

Divided Government

Different parties control the presidency and Congress. partisanship and polarization can cause this.

Gridlock

Legislative standstill due to political conflict. a divided government can cause this.

Reapportionment

Adjusts congressional seats based on census data.

Redistricting

Redraws district boundaries.

Gerrymandering

Manipulating district boundaries to favor a political party, reducing fair representation.

Trustee

act based on their judgment

Delegate

follow constituents mining they do what the people want.

Politico

balance Both being a trustee and a delegate.

Article 2 of the constitution

establishes the executive branch, outlining presidential powers.

Policy Agenda

The president’s outlined priorities for government action.

Formal Powers of the President

Include vetoing laws, appointing officials, commanding the military, and negotiating treaties.

Informal Powers of the President

Include executive orders, signing statements, and using the 'bully pulpit.'

Bully Pulpit

The president uses their position to promote policies directly to the public.

Judicial Review

Established in Marbury v. Madison, allowing courts to strike down unconstitutional laws.

Precedent

A previous court decision that serves as a rule for future cases.

Stare Decisis

The principle that courts should follow precedent to maintain consistency.

Lifetime Tenure

Federal judges serve for life, ensuring independence from political pressure. Hamilton advocated for this in federalist 78.

Judicial Activism

Judges broadly interpret laws to address societal issues. brown v board of education was this.

Judicial Restrain

Judges stick to precedent and defer to legislatures. Plessy v. Ferguson was this.

Iron Triangles

policy-making relationship among the congressional committees, the bureaucracy, and interest groups.

Issue Networks

Relationships among interest groups, congressional committees and subcommittees, and the government agencies

Discretionary Authority

Bureaucrats decide how to implement vague laws.

Separation of Powers

the legislative, executive, and judicial functions of government are divided among separate and independent branches

Checks and Balances

each branch has some power to check—to restrain or stop—actions by the other branches. congress checks the president with Impeachment. president checks congress with veto. judicial branch checks everyone with judicial review. president checks judicial with appointments and confirmations.

Federalist 70

Advocates for a single energetic executive.

Federalist 78

Supports an independent judiciary with lifetime tenure and judicial review.

Departments and Agencies

Each specializes in specific areas, like defense or public health.

Oversight/Compliance Monitoring

Congress monitors agencies via hearings, investigations, and funding.

Presidential Influence on Bureaucracy

The president appoints agency heads and can issue executive orders.

Baker v. Carr (1962)

facts- Tennessee was still using 50 year old senses. because of this baker used saying that the urban votes didn’t count as much. the district court said that is was not justifiable and sent it to the supreme court.

questions- is this case justifiable. did the lack of redistricting violate the equal protection clause.

ruling- disagreed with district courts and said the it was justifiable. they also agreed with baker and said that the lack of redistricting was unconstitutional.

shaw v reno

facts- North Carolina redrew two district to have more representation. voters challenge it saying that it violated the equal protection clause of the 14 amendment because if only helps one group of people.

questions- was the 14th amendment equal protection clause violated.

ruling- yes, the redrawing did violate the 14 amendment because race was the only factor that they used.

Marbury v. Madison

facts- before John Adams left office he appointed a lot of judges and when Jefferson got into office he told Madison not to deliver the rest of the commissions. Marbury was one of the Judes that had not gotten his commission so he sued.

questions- did Madison and Jefferson commit a crime by not delivering the commissions. can the court make them deliver the commissions.

ruling- they did commit a crime; but the court can’t do anything about it because the judiciary act that would have let them do it was unconstitutional. established judicial review.

1st Ten Amendments

Protect individual liberties from government overreach.

Civil Liberties

Protect freedoms the bill of rights (e.g., free speech

Civil Rights

Protect against discrimination (e.g., equal treatment).

Strict Scrutiny

Highest level of judicial review for laws affecting fundamental rights.

Establishment Clause

Government cannot promote religion (Lemon Test). incorporated by the case Engel v. Vitale.

Free Exercise Clause

Protects individuals' religious practices (Wisconsin v. Yoder).

Symbolic Speech

Nonverbal actions conveying a message (Tinker v. Des Moines).

Limits on Free Speech

speech causing harm (Schenck v. United States - "clear and present danger").

Shield Laws

Protect reporters from revealing sources.

Prior Restraint

Government cannot censor in advance (New York Times Co. v. United States).

D.C. v. Heller (non required case)

Recognized individual right to own firearms.

Balancing Freedom and Order

• 2nd (right to bear arms).

• 4th (protection from unreasonable searches).

• 8th (protection against cruel punishment).

14th Amendment Due Process Clause

Applies Bill of Rights to the states (McDonald v. Chicago applied the 2nd amendemnt).

Substantive Due Process

Protects implied rights (Griswold v. Connecticut - contraception).

Penumbra

Implied rights from the Bill of Rights (Roe v. Wade - abortion).

Dobbins v. Jackson Women’s Health

Reevaluated abortion rights.

Civil Rights Movement

Fought racial inequality (Brown v. Board of Education).

LGBTQ Rights

Same-sex marriage legalized (Obergefell v. Hodges).

civil Rights Act of 1964

Banned discrimination in public spaces.