AP Gov Unit 1

Limited Government

The United States Constitution restricts the power of the federal government.

What influenced limited government?

A European intellectual movement called the Enlightenment.

Describe Natural Rights

People are born with rights that are given to them by their creator. Not given to them by a monarch and therefore could not be taken away by a monarch.

John Locke & Thomas Hobbes

Locke wrote in his second treaty on civil government that people are endowed by a virtue of being born a human with the rights of life, liberty, and property. Both people wanted a theoretical state of nature.

Popular Sovereignty

Defined as people being the source of governmental power and authority.

Describe the social contract

To protect their Natural Rights, people, willingly give over some of that power to a government.

John Rousseau

Treaty called the social contract. Also wrote that if the government violates, the agreement becomes a tyrannical turd. The people’s duty is to then overthrow the government.

Republicanism

A representative form of government.

Declaration of Independence

The document that outlined the reasons for the official break between the American colonies and the British Empire. Written by Thomas Jefferson with editoral help from John Adams and Benjamin Franklin.

Montesquieu

Argued that in order to keep powers from over-ruling each other, the power needed to be broken into 3 branches. Executive, Legislative, or Judicial.

Constitution

Provides the blueprint especially for the enlightenment ideas of separation of powers and republicanism. The first Constitution was the Articles of Confederation.

Participatory Democracy

Emphasizes broad participation and an active role of citizens in politics and civil society.

Elite Democracy

Where a small group of education individuals are elected to make decisions that are best for society.

Pluralist Democracy

Where decisions are made by factions of people who have a common interest.

Brutus 1

Brutus 1 championed broad participatory model. Feared the tyranny of a powerful central government. Wanted to keep majority of power in the hands of the states.

Federalist 10

Argued that such a fear was unfounded. With so much diversity in the population, all the factions would have to compete against one another. Such competition would protect the union from tyranny.

Federalists

Supported the new constitution and favored a stronger central government. Also believe a large republic would be superior because in a democracy the majority factions will tyrannize minorities.

Anti-federalist

Opposed ratifying the constitution and favored states rights. Also believed the necessary and proper clause would give congress absolute and un-controllable power.

Weaknesses of the AOC

-One branch

-No power to tax

-No national currency

-No national army/militia

Shay’s rebellion

A militia of about one thousand angry farmers headed down to the town arsenal which they summarily raided and armed their cells.

Proposal and Ratification

Either congress or special state conventions can propose amendment. 2/3 vote is needed to pass an amendment.

Separation of Powers

No one branch holds all the authority. Separated into three different branches.

Legislative Branch

Composed of two houses that make up congress. Has the power to make laws. No other branch can do that.

Executive Branch

President of the United States. Has the power to execute or enforce the laws.

Judicial Branch

Refers to the supreme court which is the highest court in the land.

Checks and Balances

Each branch can check the other branches.

Federalist 51

Each branch has to work independently of the others as much as possible.

Stakeholder

Anyone with a vested interest in the outcome of policy making. Can be ordinary citizens.

Federalism

When power is distributed between the federal and state government. (Think about the relationship between state and federal government.)

Exclusive Powers

Powers are specifically granted to the federal government.

Reserved Powers

The powers kept by the states.

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared by both the federal and state governments (tax).

Categorial Grant

Money that is provided by the federal government for an initiative that comes with conditions or “stings”.

Block Grants

Refers to federal money given to states for broadly defined reasons with no strings attached.

Mandates

These require states to comply with a federal directive.

Unfunded Manadates

Federal Government sets a mandate and provides no funds to help states comply.

Tenth Amendment

Any power that the Constitution does not explicitly give to the federal government is reserved for the states.

Fourteenth Amendment

Applied the bill of rights to the states.

Commerce Clause

Gives congress the authority to regulate commerce among the states.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Congress can pass any law which shall be deemed necessary and proper.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Each state must respect the other’s laws.

McCulloch vs. Maryland

Congress established a branch in Maryland and put a tax on the bank. The clerk refused to pay the tax and the case ended up in front of the Supreme Court.

The United States vs. Lopez

A kid brought a gun to school. The supreme court favored the states over the federal government.