Ap US Government and Politics Unit 1 review

Mostly on Constitutional foundations and Federalism. Important: 1. "Levels of Government" refers to the three basic levels, national, state, local.

Why were people concered about the AOC?

They thought that the central government would be too weak to support the country.

How did the division of government powers change between the AOC and the Constitution?

The central government got stronger and the stage governments got weaker.

Why did Federalists think that the Constitution didn’t need a Bill of Rights?

They said that it already protected rights and liberty enough and that a Bill of Rights would just confuse people.

Why did Anti-Federalists think that the Constitution needed a Bill of Rights?

They said that the Constitution took away too much power from the people so they needed some kind of protection of their rights from the central government.

What was the last state to ratify the Constitution AND was the Bill of Rights ratified before or after the Constitution?

Rhode Island AND after.

How to protect which rights is still debated over to this day due to the compromises made for the Constitution?

Liberty, equality, order, and private property

Describe an Elitists Democracy.

A government where there is one person in charge who often has little to no restrictions to what they can do.

EX. A monarch.

Describe a pluralist democracy.

A government where groups of people make decisions. People work together.

EX. Black Lives Matter protests. Protests in general.

Describe a participatory government.

A government where individuals have to make their own decisions.

EX. Voting.

Describe the Great (Connecticut) Compromise.

Created a bicameral legislature - Senate and the House of Representatives.

Describe the Electoral College.

Presidential electors from each state, number of electors is based on the state’s population. The candidate with a majority of the electoral votes wins.

Dscribe the 3/5 comprimise.

Three out of every five enslaved people would be counted towards a state’s population. Gave southern states an advantage.

Describe the compromise on the importation of slaves.

The South stated that if slaves were banned, they would not ratify the Constitution. It was decided that Congress could not ban the Slave Trade until 1808.

What was the shift in power caused by 9/11?

Gave the national government more power for surveillance.

What is the Separation of Powers?

Broke the national government into three branches, Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.

What does LEJSASR stand for?

Legislative, Executive, Judicial, State, Amendments, Supremacy Clause, and Ratification of the Constitution.

What is Checks and Balances?

It allows different branches of government to limit other branch’s powers to prevent corruption and abuse of power.

What is the Full Faith and Credit Clause and where is it found?

It says that states must recognize other states records and decrees. Found in Article 4, Section 1.

What is the Privileges and Immunities Clause and where is it found?

States can’t discriminate based on what state people are from. Found in Article 4, Section 2, Clause 1.

What is Dual Federalism?

Different levels of government are clearly divided and don’t share powers.

What is Cooperative Federalism?

Different levels of government are not clearly divided and share powers.

Define expressed/enumerate powers.

Powers that are clearly and specifically given to Congress in the Constitution.

Define concurrent powers.

Powers that are shared between the states and congress.

Define reserved powers.

Powers not given to Congress or denied to Congress which are passed down to states and become state rights.

Define implied powers.

Powers not given to Congress in the Constitution but are needed for Congress to carry out its duties (Necessary and Proper Clause)

What does the 10th Amendment do?

Powers reserved for states, brings forth the whole idea of Federalism in the US.

What is the Commerce Clause?

Gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or nation. Deals withe the power imbalance of government levels.

What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?

Gives Congress the right to do what is needed in order to carry out their powers in the Constitution. Probably the most powerful and important clause, can and has been stretched very far.

Define Categorical Grants.

Money given to state governments from the national government in order to fund specific activities inside of specific programs.

Define Block Grants.

Money given to states from the national government which can be used for a wide range of activities and programs.

Define Unfunded Mandates.

When states want to do something but they aren’t given money by the national government and have to fun dit themselves.

Define Revenue Sharing.

Money given straight to states in order to share the cost of something, like a loan.

Define Devolution.

The transfer of power from the national government to the state governments. Always means that way, never from state to national governments.

How did COVID19 affect Federalism?

It changed how much people traveled (Commerce Clause) and it also changed state’s political standpoints (Republican, Democratic, or neutral).