AP GOV EXAM MAY 5

Democracy

Government where power comes from the people, core idea behind US gov’t

EX: citizens voting in elections

Republic

Citizens elect representatives to govern

EX: Congress makes laws (congress elected by people)

Natural Rights

Rights people are all born with (Dec. of Indep.)

Social Contract

People give the government power in exchange for protection (Government exists because of the people)

Limited Government

Restricted powers of the gov’t

EX: Constitution limits government actions

Division of Powers

Sharing/splitting government power between the nat’l gov’t and state gov’ts

Separation of Powers

Government divided into 3 branches; prevents concentration of power

EX: Leg.,Exec.,Judic.

Checks & Balances

Each branch can limit another branch; prevent abuse of power

EX: President vetoes a bill passed by Congress

Federalism

Power divided between nat’l and state governments

Enumerated Powers

Powers specifically listed in the Constitution

EX: Congress declaring war

Implied Powers

Powers suggested through the Necessary and Proper Clause

EX: Creating a national bank (McCulloch v. Maryland)

Reserved Powers

Powers delegated to states under the 10th AMD; limits federal power

EX: states have right to make decisions/law on education, driving, elections

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared by state and federal governments (may reduce power of state)

EX: power to tax

Commerce Clause

Congress regulates interstate commerce → expanded federal power

Necessary and Proper Clause

Allows Congress to pass laws needed to carry out powers

Supremacy Clause

Federal law is supreme over state law

Articles of Confederation

First US government; weak central gov’t; WEAK central government with no taxing power

• Shays’ Rebellion

Shays’ Rebllion

Farmer uprising due to debt and taxes

SHOWS WEAKNESS OF AoC

Great Compromise

Created BICAMERAL legislature

Senate: equal representation

House: population based representation

Electoral College

System to elect the president

3/5s Compromise

Enslaved people counted as 3/5 representation

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Colonists declared independence from Britain, NATURAL RIGHTS & POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY, foundation of US ideals

Constitution

Framework of US government

• federalism, SoP, checks and balances

Bill of Rights

First 10 AMDs protecting freedoms; created to convince Anti-Federalists

Federalist No. 10

James Madison; Large Republic control factions

• large, diverse republic is the best way to control the dangers of "factions"

Federalist No. 51

James Madison; system of checks and balances

• federalism

• branches of government

Brutus No. 1

Constitution gives too much power to the federal power

• small state > large centralized

Letter from Birmingham Jail

MLK; defending nonviolent direct action against segregation

Marbury v. Madison

Marbury sue Madison for not delivering judicial commision