AP government fall final review!!

Federalist papers #10

James Madison argues that a large republic helps combat against factions (inevitable in a free society.)

Popular sovereignty

All political power resides in the people. The people are independent.

Full faith and credit clause

state laws and court decisions must be honored by outher states.

commerce clause

Gives congress the power to regulate commerce among states, upheld in (Gibbons vs Ogden.)

Federalism

Powers of government are divided between the states and federal government.

Dual federalism

national and state governments are seen as separate entities providing separate services. (weakens the national government.)

Supremacy clause

Establishes the constitution as the “supreme law of the land”, Established in McCullough vs Maryland.

Reserved powers

powers that the constitution does not grant to the national government but does not deny to the states (10th amendment)

Exclusive powers

powers only given to the national government. (Coining money, making treaties, and regulating commerce)

Categorical grants

Grants given to the states for specific purposes, such as building an airport or a school program.

Block grants

money given to the states without strings attached.

Incumbent advantages

well known, more connections, more money.

Linkage institutions

interest groups, political parties, media, and voting all link citizens to the political process.

Realignment

The switching of voter process from one party to another. This can happen during “critical elections”

Interest groups

Primary purpose is to influence public policy, and has a very narrow point of view. They influence through PACS, use of media,and grassroots campaigns.

Pluralism

the idea that having a variety of parties and interest groups will strengthen the system.

Public agenda

the issues that the general public and political leaders agree need attention.

Open primary

a primary in which any voter regardless of party status can vote

closed primary

a primary in which only those with active voter status within the party can vote.

House of representatives

states are given representation based of their population. Speaker of the house is the most powerful figure in the house

Iron triangle

Composed of congress, interest group, and bureaucracy.

Hard money

Funds that are given directly to a specific candidate. these funds are regulated and disclosed.

soft money

Funds that are NOT directly given to the candidate. these do not have limits.

Citizens united vs. FEC (2010)

supreme court ruled that political spending by corporations and labor unions is a form of free speech and protected under the 1st amendment, removing any bans on “soft money.”

state legislature

The government institution responsible for the drawing of congressional district lines.

Gerrymandering

congressional districts have been drawn in an odd shape to the advantage of the political party in control of state legislature.

Pork barrel spending

Money within spending bills that benefits constituents back home in districts/states.

Treaties

All treaties must be approved by a 2/3 vote of the senate.

senate prestige

terms are longer then the house, and more responsibility therefore more prestige.

Filibuster

used to prevent action on a bill, by talking. (unlimited debate in the senate leads to these.)

cloture

the main way to end a filibuster, by a 3/5ths vote in senate. (60/100)

Congressional committees

divides workload evenly among congress to properly screen bills and allowing members to develop expertise.

standing committees.

Permanent committees that deal with broad areas of public policy. (house rules committee, ect.)

Divided government.

When the House, senate, and presidency are not controlled by the same party.

presidential expressed powers

Command the armed forces, veto acts of congress, grant pardons and reprieves, negotiate treaties, Nominate federal judges, and give the state of the union address.

Rosseau

belived in direct democracy, in which everyone voted.

Hobbes

Most famous for his social contract theory.

Locke

Uses a theory of natural rights to argue that governments have obligations to their citizens.

marburry vs madison

Court case that established the principle of judicial review

Mcullough vs Maryland

Gave the federal government the rights to set up a federal bank and declared that states could not tax the federal government.