AP US Government

social contract

proposed by Hobbes - exchange between people and government, some freedoms sacrificed in exchange for protection

natural rights

proposed by Locke - life, liberty, and property

Republicanism

individualism and natural rights, popular sovereignty, and civic participation

representative democracy

American Republicanism, elected officials representing a group of people

popular sovereignty

government derives power from consent of the governed (protests, elections)

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson

federalism

A system of government under which the national and local governments share powers

Shay’s Rebellion

An armed uprising in Massachusetts in 1786-1787 led by farmers against high taxes and debt. It highlighted the weakness of the Articles of Confederation and the need for a stronger federal government.

The Great/Connecticut Compromise

Agreement between large and small states at the Constitutional Convention that created a bicameral legislature with representation based on population in the House and equal representation in the Senate.

Virginia Plan

Proposed bicameral legislature based on population size

New Jersey Plan

Proposed unicameral legislature with one vote per state

Federalists

Supporters of Constitution and wanted strong federal government

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of Constitution and wanted smaller state governments

Electoral College

elected officials from each state get to put in votes for president (bc population would influence with small interest groups)

Brutus No. 1

argued against the ratification of the US Constitution, stating that it would lead to an overly powerful central government that would infringe upon individual liberties.

Federalist Paper No. 10

James Madison, addresses danger of factions but argues that a large republic keeps any single faction from taking control

Federalist Paper No. 51

James Madison, argued that separation of powers would make the government efficient, dividing responsibilities and tasks

Federalist Paper No. 70

Alexander Hamilton, argued that the executive branch should only be the president

Federalist Paper No. 78

Alexander Hamilton, addresses (lack of) power of judicial branch and their check on Congress (advocates judicial review)

Article I

Legislative Branch

Article II

Executive Branch (executive orders, executive agreements)

Article III

Judicial Branch

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Supreme Court gave itself the power to overturn laws passed by legislature (judicial review)

Judicial Review

the Supreme Court’s power to overturn laws passed by legislature

necessary and proper clause (elastic clause)

(Article I, Section 8) allows Congress to make any legislation that they deem necessary to fulfill their duties

supremacy clause

Constitution and federal laws win over state laws

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

ruled that states could not tax national bank

United States v. Lopez (1995)

challenge to the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 (banned guns on school property), held that commerce clause didn’t allow regulation of carrying guns

Enumerated powers

powers delegated to the national government

Reserved powers

powers belonging to the states

Article IV

state and federal relations, citizenship, and annexation of new states

Article V

amendment process

Article VI

supremacy clause, and existing debts are valid

Article VII

ratification of the constitution

1st Amendment

freedom of speech, protest, and press

2nd Amendment

right to bear arms

3rd Amendment

protection against quartering of soldiers

4th Amendment

protection against search and seizure

5th Amendment

rights of accused persons - no self-incrimination, double jeopardy, deprivation of life, liberty, and property without due process, and eminent domain (property)

6th Amendment

right to fair trial - speedy, and public, jury if criminal, given counsel, and told charges

7th Amendment

right to jury in federal civil cases

8th Amendment

protection against cruel and unusual punishment

9th Amendment

people have unenumerated rights

10th Amendment

powers not outlined in the constitution are reserved for the states

11th Amendment

impossible for a citizen of a state to sue another state

12th Amendment

members of electoral college have one vote for president and one vote for vice president

13th Amendment

Abolished slavery and indentured servitude except as punishment for a crime

14th Amendment

Granted citizenship to all people born or naturalized (immigrated) in the United States

15th Amendment

States cannot deny anyone the right to vote on the basis of race

16th Amendment

grants Congress the power to collect income taxes and enact them in society

17th Amendment

gave states the power to directly elect senators instead of being elected by state legislators

18th Amendment

Prohibition

19th Amendment

women’s suffrage

20th Amendment

establishes the date newly elected President and officers of Congress take office

21st Amendment

repealed Prohibtion

22nd Amendment

two-term limit for President

23rd Amendment

citizens of DC can vote in presidential elections but not congressional

24th Amendment

forbids states to implement poll taxes

25th Amendment

if the president dies or is unable to do his job the Vice President will take over, and the president will pick VP if the spot is empty

26th Amendment

states cannot deny people to vote based on age (above 18)

27th Amendment

congressional pay raise does not go into effect until next House election

concurrent powers

shared by the federal and state government

categorical grants

federal grants for specific purpose with strict rules (ex. construction of a new building)

block grants

federal grants for a broad purpose that the state can use as they see fit (ex. welfare)

Check legislative has on judicial branch

Congress may impeach SC judges or reject appointments

Check judicial has on legislative branch

the Supreme Court may declare laws unconstitutional

Check judicial has on executive branch

Supreme Court may declare executive actions unconstitutional

Check executive has on judicial branch

the president appoints judges

Check legislative has on executive branch

Congress may reject treaties, appointments, withhold funding for initiatives, impeach the president, and override a veto

Check executive has on legislative branch

president may veto bills passed by Congress

line-item veto

A veto power that allows the executive to cancel specific parts of a bill (usually spending provisions) while signing into law the rest of the bill.

functions of Congress

oversee bureaucracy, clarify and codify policy, and represent citizens

Senate

house of Congress with 100 members (2 per state). elections every two years with six-year terms

House of Representatives

house of Congress with 435 members appointed by population. elections every two years with two-year terms

Baker v. Carr (1962)

federal government can force states to redistrict every 10 years to account for population growth in counties

Shaw v. Reno (1933)

racial gerrymandering requires compelling state interest

House of Ways and Means Committee

oversees spending laws and taxing

Delegate Model

(congress) members are representatives that mirror the views of their districts

Trustee Model

(congress) members should consider their constituents’ beliefs but use their own judgement

Rules Committee

(House) determines how long a bill will be debated and whether open or closed rules for amending bills are allowed

Filibuster

used to delay bill’s vote and tie up Senate’s work, usually by a senator making a very long speech

Pocket veto

if president doesn’t sign every bill into law and congressional session ends during 10 days

Standing committee

permanent, specialized committee in Congress (ex. Ways and Means)

Joint committee

committee in Congresss with members from both houses

Select committee

temporary committees created in each house for a special reason

Conference committee

temporary committees made up of members from committees of both houses who wrote a bill

speaker

leader of the House

Who is president of the Senate?

the Vice President

President pro tempore

temporary president of Senate when VP is absent

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

the First Amendment includes protections for independent spending in political campaigns as free speech

What are the formal powers of the President?

Ceremonial head of state, handles foreign policy, head of law enforcement, negotiates treaties

What are the President’s roles as Commander in Chief?

make (not declare) war, mobilize armed forces, chief strategist

What are the President’s informal powers?

morale, set legislative agenda, chief of partym

Independent agencies

normal bureaucracies with presidential oversight

Regulatory agencies/independent regulatory commissions

more independence, act as watchdogs over federal government; Congress and president are not supposed to interfere

Quasi-legislative agencies

independent agencies who fill in gaps and write rules

Quasi-judicial agencies

rule enforcement, punish violators

Iron triangle

informal alliance made of three groups: particular industry + lobbyists, congressional committee dealing with that industry, and the agency that is affected (ex. American Association for Retired People (AARP), the House Subcommittee on Aging, and the Social Security Administration)

civil rights

protections from discrimination based on race, gender, or other minorities

civil liberties

protections from the abuse of government power