AP Government Ultimate Review: Unit 1-3

1st Amendment

Freedom of Speech, Religion, Press, Assembly, and Petition

2nd Amendment

Right to bear arms

3rd Amendment

No quartering of soldiers

4th Amendment

Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures

5th Amendment

Double Jeopardy, Self-Incrimination, Due Process, Eminent Domain

6th Amendment

Speedy public trial, right to an attorney, habeas corpus

7th Amendment

Right to jury trial in civil cases

8th Amendment

No cruel or unusual punishment; no excessive bail

9th Amendment

Rights not listed belong to the people

10th Amendment

Powers not given to federal government go to states (same as nine but to the states)

13th Amendment

Abolition of Slavery

14th Amendment

Citizenship, equal protection, due process

15th Amendment

ALL males can vote (no matter their race)

16th Amendment

Income Tax

17th Amendment

Direct election of senators

18th Amendment

Prohibition of Alcohol

19th Amendment

Women’s suffrage

20th Amendment

Shortened the gap between election and inauguration

21st Amendment

Repealed prohibition (18th Amendment)

22nd Amendment

Two-term limit for president

24th Amendment

Abolished poll taxes

25th Amendment

Presidential succession and disability; VP takes over

26th Amendment

Voting age lowered to 18

27th Amendment

Congressional pay raises take effect after next election

James Madison

Who wrote the Bill of Rights?

Free Exercise Clause

The government may not interfere with an individual’s right to practice his or her faith as described

Establishment Clause

Congress may not establish an official church of the US nor give a particular faith or sect preferential treatment over others

Schenck v. United States (1917)

Case associated with he “clear and present danger” test

Prior Restraint

Crossing out sections of an article before publication

Exclusionary Rule (4th Amendment)

Holds that all evidence unlawfully gathered must be excluded from judicial proceedings

Hobbes

Humans left alone fall into chaos; best protection is an absolute monarch

Locke - Natural Right

Life, liberty, and property

Locke - Right of Revolution

People may overthrow a government that fails to protect their natural rights

Montesquieu

Advocated separation of powers

Rousseau

Best government is formed with consent of the people

Popular Sovereignty

Government derives power from the people

Social Contract

Government exists to protect liberties of those who follow its rules

Declaration of Independence

1776 document asserting natural rights and consent of the governed.

Grievances Against Britain

Taxation without representation, unjust trials, quartering soldiers, abolishing assemblies.

Statement of Separation

Colonies had no choice but to break away.

Articles of Confederation

First U.S. government; weak national government.

Weaknesses of the Articles

No tax power, no army, no courts, no executive, no national currency.

Positives of the Articles

Federalism beginnings, Treaty of Paris, Northwest Ordinance.

Shay’s Rebellion

Farmer uprising exposing weakness of Articles.

Confederal Government

States retain sovereignty.

Constitutional Convention (1787)

Meeting to revise Articles; created Constitution.

Virginia Plan

Representation based on population.

New Jersey Plan

Equal representation for states.

Great Compromise (Connecticut)

House = population; Senate = equal representation.

3/5 Compromise

Slaves counted as 3/5 for representation.

Electoral College

State electors = representatives + senators.

Federalists

Supported Constitution; strong national government.

Anti-Federalists

Feared strong government; demanded Bill of Rights.

Federalist 10

Large republic controls factions.

Federalist 51

Separation of powers prevents tyranny

Federalist 51

Separation of powers prevents tyranny.

Federalist 70

Strong single executive needed.

Federalist 78

Judicial branch is least dangerous.

Brutus 1

Warned Constitution gave too much power to national government.

Separation of Powers

Government divided into 3 branches.

Checks and Balances

Each branch limits the others.

Judicial Review

Courts can declare laws unconstitutional.

Marbury v. Madison

Established judicial review.

Participatory Democracy

Broad citizen involvement.

Pluralist Democracy

Interest groups compete to influence policy

Elite Democracy

Power held by wealthy elites

Interest Groups

Organizations influencing government policy

Trustee Model

Representatives use their own judgment.

Delegate Model

Representatives follow constituents’ wishes.

Politico Model

Combination of trustee and delegate models.

Constituent Service Model

Members help constituents with government-related issues.

Federalism

Shared power between federal and state governments.

Supremacy Clause

Federal law overrides state law.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Congress can make laws needed to carry out powers.

Delegated/Enumerated Powers

Federal powers (declare war, coin money, regulate commerce).

Reserved Powers

State powers (licenses, intrastate commerce, elections).

Concurrent Powers

Shared powers (taxing, courts, borrowing).

Dual Federalism

Federal and state governments operate separately.

Cooperative Federalism

Federal and state governments work together.

Marble-Cake Federalism

Mixed federal/state responsibilities (New Deal).

New Federalism

Returning power to states (Nixon, Reagan).

Categorical Grants

Federal money for specific purposes

Block Grants

Federal money for broad purposes

Unfunded Mandates

Federal requirements without funding

Advantages of Federalism

Mass participation, autonomy, innovation.

Disadvantages of Federalism

Inconsistency, inefficiency, bureaucracy

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Congress can create national bank; states cannot tax it; established implied powers + federal supremacy.

U.S. v Lopez (1995)

Gun-Free School Zones Act unconstitutional, limited commerce clause.

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Reapportionment is justiciable; established one-person-one-vote.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Racial gerrymandering violates Equal Protection Clause.

Congress

Legislative branch of government.

House of Representatives

435 members; 2-year terms; age 25; population-based.

Senate

2 per state; 6-year terms; age 30

House Debate Rules

More formal; must stay on topic; limited speaking time.

Senate Debate Rules

Less formal; unlimited debate; can speak off-topic.

Speaker of the House

Most powerful House member; controls debate and committees.

Majority Leader

Helps achieve party’s legislative goals.

Minority Leader

Leads the minority party; organizes opposition strategy.

Whip

Enforces party discipline.

President of the Senate

Vice President; breaks ties.