AP Gov Federalism

Unit 1: Foundations

Political efficacy

belief that average/ordinary citizens can affect what their gov does, and they can get the gov to listen to them

Autocracy

one person governs

Oligarchy

small group of people governs (landowners, military, wealthy merchants, etc)

Constitutional

codified, legal substantive and procedural limits on what gov can(not) do

Authoritarian

few legal limits, some limits imposed by social groups

Totalitarian

no limits

Politics

conflicts over character, membership, and policies of any org (conflicts over leadership, structure, policies of gov)

Representative democracy (republic)

gov system that gives citizens regular opportunity to elect top officials to represent them instead of ruling directly

Direct democracy

system that permits citizens to vote directly on laws/policies

Participatory democracy

citizens participate individually and directly in political decisions and policies that affect their lives, rather than through elected representatives

Pluralism

pattern of struggles among interests

Elitist democracy

small group of elites (most educated, wealthy, socially connected), rather than the general population, make important decisions for society

Political culture

broadly shared values, beliefs, attitudes ab how gov should function; American culture values liberty, equality, democracy

Liberty

Freedom from gov control, freedom in economy (laissez faire)

Equality

All are created equal

Political equality

members of American political community have right to participate in politics on equal terms

Economic Equality

differences btwn income and wealth

Democracy

participation of ppl choosing their rulers and influencing what they do

Popular sovereignty

political authority rests ultimately in hand of people

Social Contract Theory

God created mankind and gave them free will, people give up some power over their own affairs to society/gov to create order and stop bad things

Declaration of Independence

Written by Thomas Jefferson, adopted by 2nd Continental Congress. Heavily influenced by John Locke. Asserted that some rights are unalienable (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness)

Articles of Confederation

adopted Nov 1777 after declaring independence, First written constitution. Limited gov (states retained sovereignty, freedom, independence), National gov only a single Congress with no power to declare war, make treaties, or regulate commerce. All 13 states had to agree to any amendments after ratification

Articles of Confederation did not work because

Shay’s Rebellion, issues w/ trade and territory, states retained nearly all power

Shay's Rebellion

armed uprising that took place in 1786-1787, led by farmer Daniel Shays and other rural citizens in Massachusetts protesting against economic injustices and the lack of government response to their financial struggles. highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, especially in dealing with civil unrest and economic turmoil, leading to calls for a stronger national government

Hobbes

Leviathan, gov must protect citizens from chaos and violence due to greed and goals of power (w/o strong gov, there will be chaos)

Locke

2nd Treastise, gov must protect freedoms/rights all citizens were given by God (life, liberty, property originally)

Montesquieu

Spirit of Laws, separation of powers to avoid over-centralization and tyranny, checks and balances

republicanism

rejection of monarchy in favor of self-ruling gov, wanted elected leaders to represent views of local constituents

New Jersey Plan

equal representation for all states

Virginia Plan

representation by population

Great Compromise

best of both worlds, bicameral legislature (2 chambers), House of Representatives v Senate

Electoral college

states decide how electors chosen, each has same number of electors as representatives in Congress

⅗ compromise

South wanted slaves to count for representation, North said that should count for taxing instead. Each slave counts as ⅗ of person in state’s population to determine number of House members and dist of taxes

Bill of Rights

1st 10 amendments to Const established to protect indiv rights and liberties. Supported by Anti-Federalists, believed to be unnecessary to Federalists as federal power was limited

necessary and proper clause

grants Congress power to pass all laws related to its expressed powers (Elastic Clause)

impeachment

constitutional procedure through which federal officials, including the President, can be removed from office for committing 'high crimes and misdemeanors.'

Power of the Purse

Congress can control gov spending and taxation

Marbury v Madison

1803, process of judicial review, Supreme Court is final arbiter of Constitutional law in US

Implied powers

powers supported by Const but not expressly stated

Commerce Clause

gives congress power to regulate commerce among the several states

Federalist 10

Republican gov needed to prevent factions. Expansion of power keeps factions from being able to dominate and large population keeps people from convening, competition forces compromise for common good of society

Brutus 1

Argued against Constitution. States have little power bc of elastic clause and federal law trumping state law. Tax from federal gov prevents states from taxing enough to sustain themselves

Federalist 51

checks and balances for each branch, separation of powers. Each branch needs to run on its own (independently) and not interact (have little power too) w/ others beyond what is necessary for them to function

Federalism

form of gov that divides sovereign power across at least 2 political units. Each unit of gov has some degree of authority and autonomy

Unitary governments

system in which national, centralized gov holds ultimate authority

Confederal governments

states hold power over limited national gov. Ex. confederacy who was concerned ab state power, esp over slavery

10th amendment

Powers not delegated to gov are given to states and ppl

11th amendment

prohibits federal courts from hearing certain lawsuits against states

14th amendment

equal protection under the law, birthright citizenship, due process

concurrent powers

Responsibilities for particular policy areas that are shared by fed, state, and local govs

Full faith and credit

specifies that states must respect one another’s laws, granting citizens “full faith and credit” of home state’s laws if they go to another state

Privileges and immunities

States must treat visitors from other states same as own residents but are allowed to make some distinctions between residents/non-residents

McCulloch v Maryland

1819 case. Congress chartered 2nd BUS in 1816, Maryland tries to tax bank out of existence (opposed to bureaucrats establishing monetary policy). Even tho bank does not appear in Const, Congress has implied power (necessary/proper clause) to regulate currency, Maryland tax ruled unconstitutional

Dual federalism

(1st 150 yrs of nation) favored by Chief Justice Roger Taney in which national and state governments are seen as distinct entities providing separate services

Cooperative (picket fence) federalism

(started in 1930s) national and state govs work together to provide services efficiently in common policy areas

Fiscal federalism

(current system) federal funds are allocated to lower levels of gov through transfer payments/grants

Categorical grants

federal aid provided for specific purpose (preferred by fed gov)

Block grants

federal aid provided to be spent w/ certain policy area, but state can decide (preferred by state gov)

unfunded mandates

federal laws that require states to do certain things but don’t provide state govs w/ funding to implement these policies

Revenue sharing

distribution of a portion of federal tax revenues to state and local governments

Mandates

terms set by the national government that states must meet whether or not they accept federal grants

US v Lopez

(1995) struck down fed law regulating possession of firearms around schools b/c carrying gun in school didn’t fall within “interstate commerce”