AP GOV UNIT 1-2

Q: What is the purpose of government as stated in the Preamble of the Constitution?

A: To form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.

Q: What is popular sovereignty?

A: The principle that government power comes from the people is often expressed as majority rule.

Q: What foundational ideas are expressed in the Declaration of Independence?

A: Popular sovereignty, natural rights, and the social contract, as well as limited government receiving power from the people.

Q: What are natural rights?

A: Fundamental rights inherent to all humans, not granted by the government.

Q: What is the social contract?

A: The idea that people create a government to protect their rights.

Q: Which philosophers contributed to the idea of the social contract?

A: John Locke ("life, liberty, and property"), Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Baron de Montesquieu (separation of powers).

Q: What is a direct democracy?

A: A form of government where citizens vote directly on policies, such as referendums and initiatives.

Q: Why did the Framers prefer republicanism over direct democracy?

A: They distrusted the masses, doubted people’s education, feared mob rule, and found it impractical for a large nation.

Q: What is participatory democracy, and what is its main weakness?

A: It emphasizes broad citizen participation but risks violating minority rights.

Q: Name contemporary examples of participatory democracy in the U.S.

A: March for Our Lives, #MeToo, Black Lives Matter, Occupy Wall Street, Tea Party.

Q: What is pluralist democracy, and what is its weakness?

A: It emphasizes group competition in policymaking but may allow strong groups to dominate.

Q: What is elite democracy, and what is its weakness?

A: It limits political participation to a select few, often leading to domination by the wealthy or high-status individuals.

Q: What did the Anti-Federalists fear about the new Constitution?

A: They feared it would restrict personal liberty, overpower states, impose heavy taxes, and create a powerful central government.

Q: What was the main goal of the Anti-Federalists?

A: To add a Bill of Rights and restrict federal power.

Q: What arguments are presented in Brutus No. 1?

A: It emphasized the benefits of a small, decentralized republic and warned of liberty loss under a large government.

Q: What did Federalist No. 10 argue about factions?

A: A large republic is the best way to control factions and disperse power between the states and national government.

Q: Why did Federalists believe a Bill of Rights was unnecessary?

A: They argued that the Constitution already limited the government enough to protect individual rights.

Q: What were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

A: It lacked executive and judicial branches, couldn’t tax, and couldn’t regulate commerce.

Q: How did Shay’s Rebellion expose the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

A: It showed the lack of a centralized military response and increased support for a stronger constitution.

Q: What was the Great Compromise?

A: It established a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate.

Q: What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?

A: It counted slaves as three-fifths of a person for representation in the House.

Q: What compromise was made on the importation of slaves?

A: Congress could not ban slave importation for 20 years, but Southern states agreed to end it afterward.

Q: What are the two steps in the constitutional amendment process?

A: Proposal (2/3 of Congress or state conventions) and ratification (3/4 of state legislatures or conventions).

Q: What is the purpose of separation of powers?

A: To assign different government powers to the legislative, executive, and judicial branches to prevent tyranny.

Q: What are the legislative branch's main powers?

A: Making laws, controlling the budget, and declaring war.

Q: What are the executive branch's main powers?

A: Enforcing laws, making treaties, and commanding the military.

Q: What are the judicial branch's main powers?

A: Interpreting laws and reviewing lower court decisions.

Q: What is the main principle of federalism?

A: The division of powers between national and state governments.

Q: What powers are delegated to the federal government?

A: Coining money, foreign policy, and immigration.

Q: What powers are reserved for the states?

A: Education, health, and marriage.

Q: What is the Supremacy Clause?

A: It establishes that federal law is superior to state law when there is a conflict.

Q: How did McCulloch v. Maryland expand federal power?

A: By establishing Congress's implied powers and federal supremacy over states.

Q: What was the impact of Gibbons v. Ogden on the Commerce Clause?

A: It confirmed that only Congress can regulate interstate commerce.

Q: What did Federalist No. 51 emphasize?

A: Separation of powers/ separation of checks and balances to protect minority rights.

Q: What principle did Marbury v. Madison establish?

A: Judicial review, allowing courts to declare laws unconstitutional.

Q: What is discretionary authority in the bureaucracy?

A: Congress sets broad policy guidelines, and bureaucratic agencies are given administrative discretion to implement policies.

Q: What is administrative discretion?

A: The ability of bureaucrats to decide how to implement policies within the guidelines set by Congress.

Q: What is administrative adjudication, and why is it controversial?

A:

• Bureaucratic agencies enforce administrative law and issue fines, acting like courts.

• It is controversial because it can blur the separation of powers by giving agencies quasi-legislative and quasi-judicial powers.

Q: What is congressional oversight, and how does it affect bureaucratic agencies?

A:

• Oversight involves agency heads testifying before standing committees.

• Congress can use its "power of the purse" to increase or reduce budgets, responsibilities, or abolish agencies depending on performance.

Q: How can Congress limit bureaucratic discretion?

A: By passing new legislation that clarifies or restricts the agency's authority.

Q: What are presidential checks on the bureaucracy?

A:

• The president influences agency goals based on ideology and authority.

• Examples include issuing executive orders, nominating agency heads, and firing cabinet secretaries.

Q: What is the Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974?

A:

• It requires the president to spend all appropriated funds.

• It was passed to reassert Congress’s power of the purse after Nixon impounded funds appropriated by Congress.

Q: What is a legislative veto, and why was it ruled unconstitutional?

A:

• A legislative veto allowed Congress to reject executive actions by simple majority vote.

• It was ruled unconstitutional in INS v. Chadha (1983) as a violation of separation of powers.

Q: How can other branches hold the bureaucracy accountable?

A:

• Congress: Establishes agencies, conducts oversight, adjusts budgets, and passes laws.

• President: Issues executive orders, sets priorities, and nominates or removes agency leaders.

• Supreme Court: Rules on the constitutionality of agency actions.

Q: What is incorporation, and how is it related to the Bill of Rights?

A: Incorporation applies the Bill of Rights to state governments, limiting their power, using the 14th Amendment's Due Process Clause.

Q: What was the significance of Barron v. Baltimore (1833) regarding the Bill of Rights?

A: It established that the Bill of Rights only applied to the federal government, a stance later reversed through incorporation.

Q: Which constitutional clause serves as the basis for incorporation?

A: The 14th Amendment's Due Process Clause.