AP Gov superset

marbury v madison

jefferson refuses to honor adam’s judicial appointments

the federal court has the power of judicial review (aka the power to declare unconstitutional acts of the legislature and orders of the president)

mcculloch v maryland

maryland taxes a us bank

The Congress has the power to established a bank of the United States (though this power is not expressly granted to Congress in the Constitution, because a US Bank is necessary and proper for Congress to execute its enumerated powers

schenck v the united states

schenck encourages others to evade the ww1 draft

Speech that poses a clear and present danger not protected by the free speech clause of the first amendment.

brown v board of education

linda brown denied admission to all white school

Segregation of public schools on the basis of race are inherently unequal and therefore public schools must integrate with all deliberate speed

engel v vitale

school district seeks to start day with non denominational prayer

Even a school sanction non denominational (aka nonsectarian) prayer violates the establishment clause of the first amendment

Baker v Carr

a state legislature sought to establish an unequal electoral district

The USSC has the power to declare legislative redistricting unconstitutional, a violation of the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment, if the legislative redistricting doesn’t ensure "one person, one vote.”

gideon v wainwright

poor defendant put on trial without help of counsel

The 6th amendment, which guarantees the right to counsel, is to be interpreted to mean that all those accused of a crime can be provided, if they want, counsel (an attorney) for their defense at taxpayer expense (aka a public defender)

tinker v des moines

students punished for wearing armband protesting vietnam war

Symbolic speech is protected by the free speech clause of the first amendment provided that it doesn’t substantially disrupt the learning environment.

new york times co. v us

president seeks to block printing of pentagon papers

Request to have the court order the press not to publish (aka request for prior restraint) are generally unconstitutional. Only a free and unrestrained press can effectively expose deception in government

wisconsin v yoder

state seeks to require all children, amish too, to attend school
State compulsory education laws, after a certain age, violate free exercise clause of the first amendment

roe v wade

texas passes law that prohibits doctors from giving an abortion

For states to deny a woman the right to an abortion is to deny a woman her right to liberty found within the due process clause of the 14th amendment.

shaw v reno

legislature draws districts boundaries to create majority-minority districts

The court can declare legislative redistricting unconstitutional if that redistricting is based on race and viewed as a violation of the equal protection clause.

united states v lopez

student brings guns to gun-free school

For the commerce clause to be interpreted in a way that allows for Congress to pass a law that creates a gun-free zone within a certain distance of schools stretches the definition of the word commerce to a point where Congress could create whatever law it wants, something which is not in the best interest of the country or our system of checks and balances.

mcdonald v chicago

city seeks to ban handguns

Right to bear arms is a fundamental right of self-defense and incorporated to the states.

citizens united v fec

law of cong restricts campaign spending of corps and unions

Political spending by special interest groups is protected under the free speech clause of the first amendment.

fed 10

A strong, united republic would be more effective than the individual states at controlling “factions”  

A large republic will help control factions because when more representatives are elected, there will be a greater number of opinions. Therefore, it is far less likely that there will be one majority oppressing the rest of the people.

brutus 1

• An Antifederalist series of essan Antifederalist series of essays designed to encourage New Yorkers to reject the proposed Constitution  

• The immense power of the federal government requires the people to sacrifice their liberties  

• A bill of rights was necessary to protect the people from the government  

• Congress possesses far too much power: taxation, standing army, taxes, Elastic Clause  

• A free republic cannot exist in such a large territory as the United States  

• Judicial authority will broaden federal government’s power (thus, tyranny)

declaration of independence

• All men created equal (Natural Rights of Life, Liberty, Property)  

• Governments are created to protect these rights  

• If Gov’t does not protect these rights, then the People have the duty to alter/abolish the government

• Imperfect gov’ts should not be destroyed, only ones that seek to subject the People to Tyranny (destruction of Natural Rights) 

articles of confederation

• Established a confederacy (state power greater than national power) Nationalpower = federal/central power)

• Produced an extremely limited central government.  

• Limitations placed upon the central government rendered it ineffective at governing the continually growing American states  

• Each state remains sovereign  

• Unicameral legislature, each state one vote  

• No President, No Judiciary  

• Could not force taxation; No standing Army

constitution

• Establishes a federal government (some fed and state powers shared)

• Outline of federal gov’t structure, powers, and limits to those powers 

• Three branches (L, E, J) [Sep. of P’s] that can limit each other [Ch & B’s]  

• Federal system of government  

• Constitution as Supreme Law 

bill of rights

• # 1-8 Individual Rights 

• #9: Rights not listed are NOT denied to the People

• #10: Powers not given to Federal Gov’t nor denied to the states are State Powers

fed 51

• Proposes a government broken into three branches: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial

• Each branch should be self-sufficient, but each should have some kind of power over the other in order for them to keep each other from taking over the government.  

• The Legislative branch needs to be split further into the House of Representatives and the Senate because it's the most powerful branch, and members of the Judicial branch need to be chosen by the President with the Senate's approval because they want qualified candidates for a position that lasts for life.  

• This style of government also helps keep down the power of factions, a recurring theme from Federalist 10

fed 70

• Argues that unity in the executive branch is a main ingredient for both energy and safety. Energy arises from the proceedings of a single person, characterized by, "decision, activity, secrecy, and dispatch," while safety arises from the unitary executive unconcealed accountability to the people.  

• Justifies executive strength by claiming that the slow-moving Congress, a body designed for deliberation, will be best-balanced by a quick and decisive executive.  

• Also maintains that governmental balance can only be achieved if each branch of government (including the executive branch) has enough autonomous power such that tyranny of one branch over the others cannot occur. 

• Makes the case for duration, meaning a presidential term long enough to promote stability in the government.  

• Support can be defined as a presidential salary, which insulates government officials from corruption by attracting capable, honest men to office.  

• Support can be defined as a presidential salary, which insulates government officials from corruption by attracting capable, honest men to office

fed 78

• As “the weakest of the three departments of power,” the Judiciary needs strengthening.  

• Without an independent judiciary, any rights reserved to the people by the Constitution “would amount to nothing,” since the legislature cannot be relied upon to police itself.  

• Lifetime appointments, guaranteed “during good behavior” to insure that judges can resist encroachments from the legislature (to which presumably they would be vulnerable by means of bribes or threats)

letter from a birmingham jail

• King argues that he and his fellow demonstrations have a duty to fight for justice.  It is up to the oppressed to take charge and demand equality.  

• Segregation is used to debase one population (blacks) while uplifting another (whites), which makes it immoral in the eyes of God. Immoral laws are laws that are neither just nor fair. According to St. Augustine's logic, unjust laws aren't actually laws, so they don't have to be followed. King believes people are under a moral obligation to oppose segregation by refusing to abide by the so-called laws that govern the practice. 

• White Americans who say they agree with the notion of desegregation but criticize the manner in which civil rights activists go about achieving it are the biggest obstacle standing in the way of racial equality. The demeaning and "paternalistic" attitude of white moderates shows a lack of real understanding about the realities of segregation. It is this group that perpetuates the notion that time, not human intervention, will be the great equalizer—which discourages others to join the campaign for civil rights.  

• The civil rights movement will ultimately be successful because "the goal of America is freedom."

civil rights

the rights found in the 14th amendment

the rights of people to be treated without unreasonable or unconstitutional differences

civil liberties

the rights found in the 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 8th amendments

entitlements

A claim for government funds that cannot be changed without violating the rights of the claimant.

affirmative action

Programs designed to increase minority participation in some institution (businesses, schools, labor unions, or government agencies) by taking positive steps to appoint more minority-group members.

slander

spoken defamation—false, unprivileged oral statements that injure a person's reputation, not protected by first amendment

libel

Written defamation of another person. For public officials and public figures, the constitutional tests designed to restrict libel actions are especially rigid.

speaker of the house

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives and the leader of his party in the House.

president of the senate

vice president, only votes to break tie

open rule

An order from the House Rules Committee that permits a bill to be amended on the floor.

closed rule

An order from the House Rules Committee that sets a time limit on debate; forbids a bill from being amended on the floor.

open primary

A primary election in which voters may choose in which party to vote as they enter the polling place.

closed primary

A primary election in which voting is limited to already registered party members.

executive privilege

The power to keep exec-

utive communications confidential, especially if

they relate to national security.

executive order

A directive issued by a presi-

dent or governor that has the force of law.

monetary policy

 Managing the economy by altering the supply of money and interest rates.

fiscal policy

Managing the economy by the use of tax and spending laws.

strict construction

a judicial philosophy or political approach advocating for a narrow, literal interpretation of the U.S. Constitution, limiting federal power to explicitly enumerated authorities

loose construction

a person, typically a judge or politician, who interprets the U.S. Constitution broadly, allowing the federal government to take actions not explicitly forbidden in order to address modern challenges

judicial activism

A philosophy that judges

should strike down laws that are inconsistent

with norm and values state or implied in the

Constitution.

judicial restraint

A philosophy proposing

that judges should strike down the actions of the

elected branches only if they clearly violate the

literal meaning of the Constitution.

progressive tax

A tax graduated so that people

with higher incomes pay a larger fraction of their

income than people with lower incomes.

flat tax

a tax system where a single, constant rate is applied to all taxable income, regardless of an individual's or business's total income level

linkage institution

A structure within a society that connects the people to the government and the government to the people

political party

An organization of people that seeks to elect candidates to public office.

interest group

An organization of people sharing a common interest or goal and that seeks to influence public policy.

political culture

The widely shared beliefs,

values, and norms about how citizens relate to

government and to one another.

political ideology

A consistent pattern of

beliefs about political values and the role of gov-

ernment.

political action committee

A committee set up by a corporation, labor union, or interest group that raises and spends campaign money from voluntary donations.

political machine

A party organization that recruits members by dispensing patronage

recall

Procedure whereby voters can remove an elected official from office

referendum and initiative

referendum - Procedure enabling voters to reject a measure passed by the legislature

initiative - Process that permits voters to put legislative measures directly on the ballot.

house rules committee

The Committee on Rules, or (more commonly) Rules Committee, is a committee of the United States House of Representatives. Rather than being responsible for a specific area of policy, as most other committees are, it is in charge of determining under what rule other bills will come to the floor.

house ways and means committee

The chief tax writing committee.

pocket veto

 A bill fails to become law because the president did not sign it within 10 days before Congress adjourns.

line item veto

An executive's ability to block a particular provision in a bill passed by the legislature.

proportional system

an electoral mechanism where political parties earn legislative seats based on the percentage of total votes they receive

incumbent

The person already holding an elective office.

challenger

The person who wants to replace the incumbent

liberal

a liberal ideologically favors active government intervention to promote social welfare, economic equality, and civil rights, while opposing government regulation of private social conduct

conservative

an individual who advocates for limited government intervention in the economy, lower taxes, free-market capitalism, and a strong national defense

libertarian

A minor party that believes in extremely limited government. Libertarians call for a free market system, expanded individual liberties such as drug legalization, and a foreign policy of nonintervention, free trade, and open immigration.

virginia plan

Proposal to create a strong national government.

new jersey plan

Proposal to create a weak national government.

great compromise

Plan to have a popularly elected House based on state population and a state-selected Senate, with two members for each state

funded mandate

An funded mandate is a statute or regulation that requires a state or local government to perform certain actions, with money provided for fulfilling the requirements.

unfunded mandate

An unfunded mandate is a statute or regulation that requires a state or local government to perform certain actions, with no money provided for fulfilling the requirements. Public individuals or organizations can also be required to fulfill public mandates.

confederate form of government

When the state governments have more power/control than the federal government

federal form of government

When the federal and state governments share some power, but also have their own powers.

safe district

House districts in which candidates elected to the House of Representatives win in not so close elections, typically by more than 55 percent of the vote

marginal district

House districts in which candidates elected to the House of Representatives win in close elections, typically by less than 55 percent of the vote.

redistricting

The redrawing of congres-

sional and other legislative district lines follow-

ing the census, to accommodate population

shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in

population.

gerrymandering

Drawing the boundaries of legislative districts in bizarre or unusual shapes to favor one party.

stare decisis

The rule of precedent, whereby

a rule or law contained in a judicial decision is

commonly viewed as binding on judges when-

ever the same question is presented.

representative democracy

 A government in which leaders make decisions by winning a competitive struggle for the popular vote.

participatory democracy

a model of democracy emphasizing broad, direct participation of citizens in politics and civil society

elite democracy

a model of government where a small, wealthy, and educated minority holds disproportionate power, influencing policy more than the general public

pluralist democracy

a model of democracy where power is distributed among various competing interest groups, ensuring no single group dominates policymaking

spot

a television or radio advertisement, typically lasting 10, 30, or 60 seconds, used by political campaigns to promote a candidate, highlight qualifications, or attack opponents

visual

non-textual stimulus material on the exam, such as a political cartoon, map, photo, or infographic

investigative journalism

the use of in-depth, detective-like reporting to unearth scandals, scams, and schemes, often putting reporters in an adversarial relationship with political leaders

horse race journalism

News coverage that focuses on who is ahead rather than on the issues

retrospective voting

Holding incum-

bents, usually the president's party, responsible

for their records on issues, such as the economy

or foreign policy.

prospective voting

Voting based on

what a candidate pledges to do in the future

about an issue if elected.

poll reliability

the consistency, dependability, and accuracy of survey results in measuring public opinion, ensuring that if a poll were repeated, it would produce similar results

poll validity

the extent to which a survey accurately measures the public opinion it intends to assess

trustee representative

An official who is expected to vote in-

dependently based on his or her judgment of the

circumstances; one interpretation of the role of

the legislator.

delegate representative

An official who is expected to

represent the views of his or her constituents

even when personally holding different views;

one interpretation of the role of the legislator.

politico representative

a theory of legislative behavior in AP Gov that combines the delegate and trustee models

life tenure

the constitutional provision (Article III) allowing federal judges and Supreme Court justices to hold their positions for life, or until they retire, resign, or are impeached

pork barrel

government spending on localized projects that benefit a specific congressional district, designed to win constituent support and re-election for the representative.

logrolling

 A legislator supports a proposal favored by another in return for support of his or hers.

federalists

Supporters of ratification of the

Constitution and of a strong central government.

anti-federalists

Opponents of ratification of the

Constitution and of a strong central government

generally.

lame duck

an elected official (usually a president or congressperson) nearing the end of their term whose successor has already been chosen, congress becomes less responsive to them

imperial president

Imperial President (or Presidency) is a term used to describe the modern presidency of the United States which became popular in the 1960s out of two concerns: that the US presidency was out of control and that it had exceeded the constitutional limits. In other words, it’s a term used to suggest that president’s today have become kings or king-like