AP Government and Politics Units 1-4 Review

What is the most important role in the political socialization of children is played by

the family

Demographics

Statistics that describe populations and their characters.

Race

Based mainly on physical traits (skin color, facial features)

Ethnicity

Based on culture and heritage.

Political Socialization

The process in which political beliefs and values are formed.

Social groups, religious leaders, party affiliation, income, region, educaiton, FAMILY, friends, and media are all factors of…

Political Socialization

Limited Government is tied to which American Core Value?

Liberty

Laissez-faire is tied to a ___ government.

limited

Adam Smith believed…

individual ambition serves the common good.

Equal opportunity and equal wealth and power are tied to what American Core Value?

Equality

Equality implies what about government involvement?

Intervention

Fairness is linked to what American Core Value?

Fairness

Political Ideology

General set of beliefs and values that forms a framework about governance.

Attitudes

Views about particular issues, people, or events. More specific in nature.

Social Liberal Social Policy Views

Increased government involvement (spending, regulation), Pro-Choice, Keynesian Economics, Federal Safety Nets.

Conservatism believe…

a large government poses a threat to the liberty of people, small businesses, free markets, economic growth, and democracy as a whole.

Conservatives Social Policy Views

Pro-Life, Traditional Family Values, Law + Order, strong military, reducing government’s involvement (in regulation)

Libertarian

Little to not government intervention (property rights an exception), no environment regulation, and opposes military intervention abroad, and restrictions on abortion, marijuana, and marriage.

Democratic Socialism

Argues more government is necessary to promote justice, equality, and liberty.

Democratic Socialism Policy Beliefs

Expanded social safety net, “free” public education, universal health care, more progressive taxes, support of unions and workers.

Wealthy and Educated people vote in (higher/lower) rates?

higher

How is public opinion measured?

Polling

Polling Rules

Randomly chosen population, sufficiently large sample, avoids selection bias.

Simple Random Sample (SRS)

Everyone one in the population has an equal chance of being selected.

A sample is biased when…

people are not chosen at random, and not everyone has an equal chance of being selected.

What to avoid in question design and wording?

Yes/No Question, Questions that encourage a resoponse, unclear/awkward wording, and built-in bias.

Social Desirable Responses

People report what they believe is socially acceptable, and not accurate information.

Example of Selection bias

Surveying “Likely” Voters

Bandwagon Effect

People Vote for the candidate winning the poll.

Moderate

Holds beliefs that fall between liberal and conservative positions; may support a mix of polices from both sides.

Public Opinion

The distribution of the population’s beliefs about politics and policy issues.

Ideological Spectrum

A range of political beliefs from liberal to moderate to conservative.

Liberal vs. Conservative beliefs on Environmental Policy

Liberals more regulation, versus Conservatives less regulation.

Liberal vs. Conservative beliefs on Firearm Policy

Liberals more regulation, versus Conservatives protect firearm rights.

Karl Marx

Political and economic theorist who criticized capitalism and advocated for collective ownership and class struggle (socialism/communication)

Adam Smith

Economist who promoted free-market capitalism and the idea of the invisible hand guiding markets.

John Maynard Keynes

Economist who argued that government should actively manage the economy, especially during recessions through spending and monetary.

Natural Rights

Rights that all people are born with, such as life, liberty, and property.

Social Contract

The idea that people give up some freedom to a government in exchange for protection of their rights.

Popular Sovereignty

The belief that government power comes from the consent of the governed (the people).

Republicanism

A political system where citizens elect representatives to make laws for them.

Limited Government

A government whose powers are restricted by law, usually through a constitution. 

Federalism

The division of power between the national and state governments.

Separation of Powers

The division of government responsibilities into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. 

Checks and Balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the others.

Enumerated Powers

Powers specifically listed in the Constitution as belonging to the federal government.

Implied Powers

Powers not directly stated in the Constitution but suggested by the Necessary and Proper Clause

Concurrent Powers

Powers are shared by both the federal and state governments.

Supremacy Clause

The part of the Constitution that says federal law is the “supreme law of the land.”

Commerce Clause

Gives Congress the power to regulate trade between states and with foreign nations. 

Factions

Groups of people with shared interests or beliefs that can influence government (like political parties). 

Mandates

Orders from the federal government that states must follow, sometimes without funding.

Electoral College

The system used to elect the U.S. president, where each state’s votes are based on its number of representatives and senators. 

Block Grants

Federal Funds given to states for broad purposes, giving states flexibility in how to spend the money.

John Locke

Enlightenment thinker who introduced the ideas of natural rights and the social contract.

James Madison

“Father of the Constitution”; wrote many of the Federalist Papers; supported a strong central government.

Alexander Hamilton 

Federalist leader who supported a strong national government and created the national bank.

George Washington

First U.S. President; set many precedents and warned against political parties. 

Thomas Jefferson

Author of the Declaration of Independence; supported states’ rights and limited government. 

Brutus (Robert Yates)

Anti-Federalist writer who opposed the Constitution, fearing it gave too  much power to the federal government. 

What year was McCulloch v. Maryland

1819

What was the issue at hand in McCulloch v Maryland (1819)?

Could Maryland tax the national bank, and did Congress have the power to create one?

What was the ruling of McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)?

Congress can create a national bank (implied powers) and states can’t tax the federal government (Supremacy Clause).

What was the significance of McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)?

Strengthened federal power over the states. 

What year was U.S. v. Lopez?

1995

What was the issue at hand in U.S. v. Lopez (1995)?

Could Congress use the Commerce Clause to ban guns in school zones?

What was the ruling of U.S. v. Lopez (1995)?

No — having a gun near a school is not an economic activity.

What was the significance of U.S. v. Lopez (1995)?

Limited Congress’s power under the Commerce Clause and strengthened state powers. 

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Document written mainly by Thomas Jefferson declaring the colonies’ independence from Britain and stating that all men have natural rights. 

Articles of Confederation (1781-1789)

The first U.S. government; created a weak national government with most power in the states. 

Shay’s Rebellion (1786-1787)

A revolt by Massachusetts farmers against taxes and debt; showed the weaknesses of the AOC

Constitutional Convention (1787)

Meeting in Philadelphia where delegates wrote the U.S. Constitution, replacing the Articles of Confederation. 

Great Compromise (1787) 

Combined the Virginia and New Jersey Plans to create a bicameral legislature: House based on population, Senate with equal representation. 

Three-Fifths Compromise (1787)

Decided that 3/5 of enslaved people would count toward population for representation and taxation.

Ratification Debate (1787-1788)

Debate between Federalists, who supported the Constitution, and Anti-Federalists, who opposed it without a Bill of Rights.

Bill of Rights (1791)

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution; guaranteed individual rights and limited government power.

bicameral legislature

a law-making body with two chambers (House + Senate), designed for checks and balances.

incumbency advantage

the high likelihood that the current officeholders win reelection due to name recognition, fundraising, and constituent services. 

constituents

the people represented by an elected official.

filibuster

a Senate tactic allowing unlimited debate to delay or block a vote.

cloture

a Senate vote (60 members) to end a filibuster.

the Rules Committee

a House committee that sets debate rules and amendment limits for bills.

gerrymandering 

drawing district lines to favor a political party or group

reapportionment

redistributing House seats among states after the census.

redistricting 

redrawing congressional district boundaries within states. 

divided government

when different political parties control the presidency, House, or Senate. 

lame duck 

an outgoing elected official with reduced influence after a successor is elected

veto

the president’s power to reject a bill passed by Congress

pocket veto

when the president lets a bill die by taking no action for 10 days while Congress is adjourned

executive order

a directive from the president that carries the force of law.

treaty

a formal agreement with another nation that requires Senate approval. 

War Powers Resolution (1973)

A law limiting presidential use of the military; requires notifying Congress within 48 hours and withdrawal in 60 days unless authorized. 

trustee relationship

when a representative votes based on their own judgement, not just constituents’ wishes. 

judicial activism

the belief that courts should interpret the Constitution boldly and can shape policy. 

judicial restraint

the belief that courts should defer to elected branches and avoid overturning laws. 

bureaucracy

federal agencies that implement and enforce laws.

iron triangle

a stable relationship between a congressional committee, an agency, and an interest group. 

issue network

a broader, more fluid coalition of experts, interests, and agencies around specific policy issues. 

oversight

Congressional monitoring of the executive branch and bureaucracy. 

judicial review

The Supreme Court’s power to declare laws or actions unconstitutional.