AP Government: Federalist Papers, Constitution, and Federalism Key Concepts

What is the primary function of government?

To make collective decisions for a society.

List the five major functions of government.

1. Provide national defense. 2. Provide public services. 3. Preserve order. 4. Socialize and educate the young. 5. Collect taxes.

What connects citizens to government?

Linkage institutions such as political parties, elections, interest groups, and the media.

What is the policy agenda?

The set of issues receiving serious attention from public officials and politically active people.

What type of democracy was created by the Constitution?

A representative democracy, where citizens elect representatives to make policy.

What are the five criteria of an ideal democratic process?

1. Equality in voting. 2. Effective participation. 3. Enlightened understanding. 4. Citizen control of the agenda. 5. Inclusion.

What is pluralism?

A theory of American democracy where political power is dispersed among many competing groups.

What does elitism refer to in American democracy?

A theory where a small number of wealthy and powerful individuals dominate major political decisions.

Define hyperpluralism.

A theory suggesting that too many competing groups can weaken government and produce policy gridlock.

What are the five elements of American political culture?

1. Liberty. 2. Egalitarianism. 3. Individualism. 4. Laissez-faire. 5. Populism.

Who wrote 'Common Sense' and what was its purpose?

Thomas Paine; it helped build support for independence from Britain.

What are John Locke's natural rights?

Life, liberty, and property.

What did the Declaration of Independence reflect?

Enlightenment ideas and listed grievances against the king.

What was the structure of the Articles of Confederation?

A unicameral legislature with each state having one vote and no separate executive or judicial branches.

What was a major weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

The national government could not directly collect taxes.

What event exposed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

Shays' Rebellion.

What was the outcome of the Annapolis Convention?

Delegates agreed to meet again in Philadelphia, leading to the Constitutional Convention.

What was the Virginia Plan?

A proposal for a bicameral legislature with representation based on population.

What was the New Jersey Plan?

A proposal for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for states.

What was the Connecticut/Great Compromise?

A compromise establishing a House based on population and a Senate with equal representation for each state.

What is the significance of Marbury v. Madison?

It established the principle of judicial review in the United States.

What is federalism?

A system of government where power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units.

What is the amendment process outlined in the Constitution?

An amendment requires a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states.

What is the purpose of checks and balances?

To prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful.

What does separation of powers refer to?

The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any one branch from exercising the core functions of another.

What is the role of interest groups in American politics?

To influence policy and decision-making through advocacy and lobbying.

What is the significance of the Federalist Papers?

They were written to promote the ratification of the Constitution and explain the principles behind it.

What does the Senate represent?

Equal representation.

What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?

For representation and direct taxation, three out of every five enslaved persons were counted.

What power did the Constitution give Congress regarding economic issues?

Stronger national economic powers, including taxation, borrowing, spending, regulating interstate commerce, and dealing with counterfeiting, patents, and copyrights.

What limits does the original Constitution place on personal freedoms?

Limits on suspension of habeas corpus, no bills of attainder, no ex post facto laws, strict rules for treason, and trial by jury in federal criminal cases.

What is the Madisonian System?

A system of government that includes separation of powers, checks and balances, and federalism.

What are the three branches of government in the Madisonian System?

Legislative (Congress), Executive (President), and Judicial (federal courts).

How does the President check Congress?

By vetoing legislation.

How does Congress check the President?

By overriding vetoes, impeachment/removal process, and Senate confirmation of appointments.

Who were the Federalists?

Supporters of the Constitution, including Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay.

What was the purpose of the Federalist Papers?

To persuade Americans to ratify the Constitution.

What is Federalist No. 10 about?

How a republic can control dangerous factions without destroying liberty.

What is a faction according to Madison?

A group of citizens united by a shared passion or interest that is adverse to the rights of others.

What are the two ways to address factions?

Remove the causes of faction or control their effects.

Why does Madison argue that removing the causes of factions fails?

Because destroying liberty would eliminate factions, and making everyone hold the same opinions is impossible.

What is Madison's solution to controlling factions?

A large representative republic that contains more people and interests.

What is the main question of Federalist No. 51?

How can the Constitution keep government departments from accumulating too much power?

What does Madison mean by 'Ambition must be made to counteract ambition'?

Government officials will be ambitious, and the Constitution should channel that ambition to defend their own branch.

What is Brutus No. 1's main concern?

The proposed Constitution gives too much power to the national government, endangering states and individual liberties.

What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?

A clause that allows Congress to interpret its powers broadly, potentially expanding federal authority.

What does Brutus fear about a standing army?

That it could become an instrument for enforcing oppressive national laws against the people.

Why does Brutus oppose a large republic?

Representatives will be too distant from ordinary citizens, making accountability difficult.

What is the concept of 'double security' in federalism?

Power is divided first between national and state governments, and then among branches within each level.

What is the significance of the Bill of Rights?

It was promised to address Anti-Federalist concerns and aid in the ratification of the Constitution.

What is the main issue addressed in Federalist 10?

Factions

What is the main issue addressed in Federalist 51?

Government power

What is the main issue addressed in Brutus 1?

Federal power

What view of human nature is presented in Federalist 10?

People form competing factions.

What view of human nature is presented in Federalist 51?

Officials seek more power.

What view of human nature is presented in Brutus 1?

People with power seek more power.

What is the main solution proposed in Federalist 10?

Large representative republic.

What is the main solution proposed in Federalist 51?

Checks and balances + federalism.

What is the main solution proposed in Brutus 1?

Smaller republic + stronger states.

How does Federalist 10 view the relationship between factions and liberty?

Many factions make oppression harder.

How does Federalist 51 view the relationship between government power and liberty?

Institutional checks protect liberty.

What concern does Brutus 1 express regarding federal power?

Distant government threatens rights.

What does Madison argue about size and diversity in Federalist 10?

They protect liberty by making majority factions harder to organize.

What does Brutus argue about size and diversity?

They weaken representation, accountability, and trust.

What is the formal amendment process for the Constitution?

Proposal by two-thirds of both houses or a national convention; ratification by three-fourths of the states.

What role do the President and Supreme Court have in the amendment process?

They have no formal role.

What is one method of informal constitutional change?

Judicial interpretation.

What landmark case established judicial review?

Marbury v. Madison.

What do Plessy v. Ferguson and Brown v. Board of Education illustrate?

How judicial interpretation can change constitutional application over time.

What does the 15th Amendment address?

Prohibits denial of voting rights based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

What does the 19th Amendment protect?

Women's voting rights.

What does the 23rd Amendment provide?

Electoral votes for Washington, D.C. in presidential elections.

What does the 24th Amendment prohibit?

Poll taxes in federal elections.

What does the 26th Amendment change?

Lowers the voting age to 18.

What is the definition of pluralism?

Many competing groups influence policy.

What is elitism?

A few powerful actors dominate policy.

What is hyperpluralism?

Too many groups lead to gridlock.

What are natural rights?

Life, liberty, property.

What does 'consent of the governed' mean?

Authority comes from the people.

What was the structure of the Articles legislature?

Unicameral; one state, one vote.

What was required for amendments under the Articles of Confederation?

Unanimous approval (13/13).

What did the Virginia Plan propose?

Population-based representation.

What did the New Jersey Plan propose?

Equal state representation.

What was the Great Compromise?

House based on population; Senate with equal representation.

What is the principle of separation of powers?

Three branches with distinct functions.

What are checks and balances?

Branches limit one another.

What does Madison argue about factions in a large republic?

Madison states that factions cannot be safely removed, so their effects must be controlled.

What concern does Brutus express regarding federal power?

Brutus fears that broad federal power and federal supremacy will lead to consolidation.

How do Madison and Brutus differ in their views on the size of a republic?

Madison sees size as protection against factions; Brutus sees it as a threat to representation.

What is the process for proposing and ratifying an amendment?

Two-thirds propose; three-fourths ratify.

What is the main argument of Federalist 10?

Madison argues that a large republic protects liberty by controlling factions.

What is the main argument of Federalist 51?

Federalist 51 addresses the abuses of government power.

What is the difference between separation of powers and federalism?

Separation of powers refers to branches of government, while federalism refers to levels of government.

What is the difference between pluralism and hyperpluralism?

Pluralism involves many groups distributing influence, while hyperpluralism occurs when too many groups create gridlock.

What are the key differences between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan?

The Virginia Plan favors population representation, while the New Jersey Plan favors equal state representation.

What does the Great Compromise entail?

It combines population-based representation in the House with equal representation in the Senate.

What are enumerated powers?

Powers specifically granted to the national government by the Constitution.

What does the Tenth Amendment state?

It reserves powers not delegated to the United States and not prohibited to the states.

What are concurrent powers?

Powers shared by both the national and state governments, such as taxing and making laws.

What is the Supremacy Clause?

It establishes the Constitution, valid federal laws, and treaties as the supreme law of the land.