AP Gov

Big Idea of Declaration of Independence

balance between government power and individual rights

(DOI) all people are

created equal (natural rights of life, liberty, property)

(DOI) If the government does not protect natural rights then

the people have the duty to change/destroy

(DOI) complaints to create that caused the creation

quarter soldiers, cutting off trade from the rest of the world, taxes

DOI quote

A long train of abuses and usurpations

Cause for AOC change

Shays Rebellion

Weaknesses of AOC

No president, no judiciary, no forced taxation, and no standing army

AOC legislature

unicameral (1 vote per state)

AOC had a ____________ central government

limited

AOC’s limitations on the central government made it

ineffective at governing

AOC quote

All charges of war…shall be defrayed out of a common treasury

Constitution big idea

emerged from the debate about the weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation as a blueprint for limited government

Article I

bicameral legislature (house/Senate)

Article II

President needs to be a natural born citizen, 35, elected by electoral college

Article III

Supreme Court as the highest court in the land, lifetime appointments

Article IV

States have the authority to make rules for themselves, full faith and credit

Article V

Amendment procedure, 2/3 of house and ¾ of states to ratify

Article VI

constitution and federal laws are the highest in the land, federal government is responsible for repaying all debts

Article VII

9/13 states needed to ratify

Amendments 1-8

Individual rights

Amendment 9

Rights not listed are not denied to the people

Amendment 10

Powers not given to the federal government nor denied to the states are state powers

Other amendments are generally

expansions of the people

Constitution quote

The Vice President shall be the president of the Senate

Brutus 1 was ______ the consitution

against

Brutus 1 believed that more federal power requires people to

sacrifice their liberties

Brutus 1 believed a Bill of Rights was

necessary to protect people from the government

Brutus 2 believed this about Congress’ power

had too much power (taxation, standing army, necessary and proper clause)

Brutus 1 believed this about the size of the US

it was too large for a free republic to exist

Brutus 1 thought that because of the size of the US would cause the country to be

run by elites

Brutus 1 quote

This government is to possess absolute and uncontrollable power

Federalist 10 is about

factions

Fed 10 quote

Liberty is to faction what air is to fire

Federalist 10 believed that a large republic would

control factions because more elected representatives brought more opinions

Fed 51 quote

If all men were angels no government would be necessary

Fed 51 is about

3 branches of government

Fed 51 believed each branch needed to be

self-sufficient, to protect from one taking all the power

Fed 51 believed the legislative branch needed to

be split between the house and the Senate because it is the most powerful branch

Fed 51 believed that judicial branch’s judges

needed to be chosen by the president with the senates approval

Fed 51 mentioned

absolute negative

Fed 10 big idea

government will be able to control violence and damage caused by factions

Fed 51 big idea

constitution created a competitive policy-ensuring people’s wills are accurately represented and freedom is preserved

Fed 70 big idea

presidency has been enhanced beyond its expressed constitutional powers

Fed 70 argues that

unity is the executive branch is a main ingredient for energy and safety

Fed 70 justifies executive strength by claiming that

a slow moving Congress will be blessed balanced by a quick executive

Fed 70 believes that a presidential term should be

long enough to promote stability

Fed 70 quote

need to give energy to the executive

Fed 78 big idea

judicial branch is designed to protect the Supreme Court’s independence and keep its power

Fed 78 believes that the judiciary is

the weakest branch

Fed 78 believes that the legislature cannot

be relied upon to police itself

Fed 78 recommends

lifetime appointments

Letter from Birmingham Jail big idea

14th amendment equal protection clause hasn’t been used to support the advancement of equality

Letter from Birmingham Jail argues that demonstrators have a

duty to fight for justice

Fed 78 quote

the weakest of the three departments of power

Letter from Birmingham Jail

Justice too long delayed is justice denied

Letter from Birmingham Jail believed that segregation is

immoral in the eyes of God

Letter From Birmingham Jail claimed that white Americans that do not act

are the biggest obstacle in the way of racial equality

Politics

the process by which we select our governmental leaders

politics is the struggle over

who gets what, when, and how

political participation

the ways in which people get involved in politics

single-issue groups

interest groups whose members will vote on a single issue

the policy-making system

people shape policy

4 linkage instiutions

political parties, elections, Mass media, interest groups

4 policy making institutions are

legislative branch, executive branch, judicial branch, bureaucracy

public policy

a choice that the government makes in response to a political issue

policy impacts

the effects that a policy has on people and problems

democracy

a system in which policy represents and responds to the public’s preferences

democracy needs

views/opinions from all sides to function effectively

the three contemporary theories of American democracy

pluralist, elitist, participatory

pluralist theory

politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its preferred policices

elitist theory

societies are decided along class lines and upper-class elite will rule

participatory theory

the more people who vote the better it is for everyone

challenges to democracy

harder for citizens to make decisions, limited participation in government, campaign costs stop people from running for office, policy gridlock

american political culture

political culture is an overall set of values widely shared within a society

five elements of American political culture

liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, lassez-faire, populism

liberty

freedom

egalitarianism

equality of opportunity

individualism

people can/should get ahead on their own

populism

supporting the rights of average citizens in their struggle against privileged elites

declaration of independence was written by

thomas jefferson

declaration of independence was passed on

july 4, 1776 (revolution continued for 6 more years)

Americas first form of government

articles of confederation

weaknesses of aoc

couldn’t raise taxes, no army, difficult to pass legislation, unanimous amendments, no supreme court, no executive branch, Congress could’t regulate trade, Congress couldn’t create a monetary system

constitutional convention was

in Philadelphia, 1787, done in secret

washington and franklin believed (constitution)

preferred limited national authority based on separation of powers

rutledge and Morris believed (constitution)

didn’t trust the common man to govern

hamilton believed (constitution)

wanted a monarch

madison and Wilson believed (constitution)

wanted a central government founded on popular support

the great compromise (Connecticut)

created bicameral legislature

cause for great compromise

small states wanted representation to be equal, big states wanted representation to be based on population

great compromise-house of representatives

based on population

great compromise-senate

each state has two members

separation of power was proposed by

james madison

federalists were in favor of a

strong central government and pushed for the constitution

anti-federalist wanted a

weak central government and tried to block the constitution

bill of rights is the

first ten amendments to the constitution

bill of rights was included

to ensure the constitution would receive the support of the necessary number of state

first amendment

freedom of speech, religion, assembly, petition the government, press

freedom of religion

congress shall make no law establishing a religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof

second amendment

right to bear arms