AP US Government and Politics - Required Readings Flashcards

Flashcards covering the key concepts, ideas, and arguments presented in the required foundational documents for the AP US Government and Politics course.

Faction

A number of citizens united by a common impulse of passion or interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens or the community.

Two Methods of Removing the Causes of Faction (Federalist 10)

Removing the causes of faction by destroying liberty or giving everyone the same opinions and interests. Madison argues this is worse than the disease itself and impracticable.

Republic (as defined in Federalist 10)

A government in which the scheme of representation takes place, offering a cure for the mischiefs of faction.

Pure Democracy (as defined in Federalist 10)

A society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the government in person; it can admit of no cure for the mischiefs of faction.

Advantage of a Large Republic (Federalist 10)

A large republic has an advantage over a small one in controlling the effects of faction due to the greater variety of parties and interests, making it less probable that a majority will have a common motive to invade the rights of other citizens.

The Federalist Papers

A series of essays that argued for the ratification of the United States Constitution.

Brutus No. 1

Argued that a large, centralized government posed a threat to individual liberties and states' rights; highlighted potential abuses of power by the federal government.

Argument Against a Large Republic (Brutus No. 1)

A free republic cannot succeed over a country of immense extent due to the diversity of interests, manners, and sentiments, making it difficult for representatives to possess the sentiments of the people.

Self-Evident Truths

That all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Purpose of Government

Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

Right of the People

Whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government.

Declaration of Independence - List of Grievances

Includes a list of grievances against the King of Great Britain, asserting his establishment of absolute Tyranny over the colonies.

The Articles of Confederation

A league of friendship among the states, retaining sovereignty, freedom, and independence.

Article II, Articles of Confederation

Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every Power, Jurisdiction and right, which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled.

Powers of the United States in Congress Assembled, Article IX

The United States in Congress assembled shall have the sole and exclusive right and power of determining on peace and war, of sending and receiving ambassadors, of entering into treaties and alliances.

Why Articles of Confederation Failed

A series of weaknesses including a weak central government, no executive branch, no fixed court system, and no way to compel taxes.

Purposes of the U.S. Constitution, Preamble

To form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.

Article I, Section 1 of the Constitution

All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

Article I of the Constitution

Outlines the structure and powers of the legislative branch, including the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Power of Impeachment - Article I

The House of Representatives shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.

Power to Try Impeachments - Article I

The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments.

Powers of Congress - Taxation, Article I

To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States.

Necessary and Proper Clause - Article I

To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers.

Habeas Corpus - Article I

The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.

Restrictions on Congress - Exports, Article I

No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.

Restrictions on States - Treaties, Alliances, Article I

No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal.

Executive Power, Article II

The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.

Article II of the Constitution

Outlines the powers and duties of the executive branch, including the President and Vice President.

Commander in Chief, Article II

The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States.

Treaty Power, Article II

He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties.

Judicial Power Article III

The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.

Article III of the Constitution

Outlines the structure and powers of the judicial branch, including the Supreme Court and lower courts.

Full Faith and Credit Clause, Article IV

Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State.

Privileges and Immunities Clause, Article IV

The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.

Amendment Process, Article V

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution.

Supremacy Clause, Article VI

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land.

First Amendment

Establishes the fundamental rights of citizens, including freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.

Second Amendment

Guarantees the right of the people to keep and bear Arms.

Fourth Amendment

Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Fifth Amendment

Protects against self-incrimination and double jeopardy; guarantees due process of law.

Sixth Amendment

Guarantees the right to a speedy and public trial.

Tenth Amendment

Reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people.

Citizenship Clause, Fourteenth Amendment

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.

Privileges and Immunities, Due Process Clause, Fourteenth Amendment

No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.

Federalist 51 Theme

The structure of the government must furnish the proper checks and balances between the different departments.

Federalist 51 - Ambition

Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.

Double Security - Federalist 51

In the compound republic of America, the power surrendered by the people is first divided between two distinct governments, and then the portion allotted to each subdivided among distinct and separate departments; Hence a double security arises to the rights of the people.

Civil and Religious Rights - Federalist 51

In a free government the security for civil rights must be the same as that for religious rights.

Martin Luther King Jr. - Letter from Birmingham Jail

His letter defends the use of nonviolent resistance to combat racial injustice, arguing for the urgency of the moment and the moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.

Four Basic Steps - Nonviolent Campaign

In any nonviolent campaign there are four basic steps: collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self purification; and direct action.

Just and Unjust Laws

There are two types of laws: just and unjust. I would agree with St. Augustine that 'an unjust law is no law at all.'

Key ideas from Federalist 70 regarding an energetic exectutive branch

His argument for strong leadership is based on the idea that it is essential to protect the community against foreign attacks, maintain a steady administration of the laws, safeguard property, and secure liberty against ambition, faction, and anarchy.

Federalist 70 - Executive Ingredients

The ingredients which constitute energy in the executive are unity; duration; an adequate provision for its support; and competent powers.

Federalist 78 Theme

Emphasizes that this branch should have complete independence and the power of judicial review; this power protects the constitution and individual rights.

Federalist 78 - The Judiciary Branch

The judiciary, on the contrary, has no influence over either the sword or the purse; no direction either of the strength or of the wealth of the society, and can take no active resolution whatever. It may truly be said to have neither FORCE nor WILL but merely judgment