AP Gov unit 1 Foundations of American Democracy

US form of government

Representative Democracy (constitutional republic) Elect officials who make decisions on our behalf

Democracy

a system of government where the people rule, either directly or through elected representatives

direct (pure) democracy

people make the decisions, directly voting on laws and policies

republic

a country governed by elected representatives

Participatory Democracy

Direct influence from citizens. voting, jury duty, attending local meetings (school board, hoa, etc)

Pluralist democracy

influence from non-governmental groups. interest groups, factions, political parties

Elitist democracy

influence from the wealthy and powerful. lobbying, campaign donations. behavior has more influence due to wealth

declaration of independence framing principles

popular sovereignty, natural rights, Republican form of government, consent of the governed, limited government

articles of confederation

weak central government. states were independent (sovereign). 1 legislative body, unicameral. no executive or judicial branch.

main issues of constitutional convention

big v small states (Virginia v New Jersey plan), slavery in representation (South v north states), office of president (upper v lower classes), fair division of power between federal and state governments

virginia plan

madison, 2 houses based on population. 3 branches of government. powerful central government, president chosen by Congress

great compromise

connecticut compromise, electoral college, lower house based on population, upper house with 2 members per state, 3/5th compromise

federalist papers

written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay. trying to convince the states to ratify the Constitution without a Bill of Rights

federalist 10

fact10ns - explains the problems with factions/political parties and how to deal with it. explains why the US is a republic, not a democracy. prefers a large Republic because it give a wide variety of opinions. supports pluralist democracy

federalist 51

checks and 5a1ances. necessity seperation of powers and checks and balances. if men were angels, government would not be necessary. claims people will try to gain power, so ambition must be set against ambition and the branches of government control each other

brutus no 1

argues against large republics like the one described in the constitution. claims a confederation of small republics better represents the people’s interests and rights. worries the central government is too large, against the supremacy and necessary and proper clauses. for participatory democracy

constitution framework

preamble: goals. articles: 7, structure of govt. amendments: 27, formal changes to Constitution (bill of rights)

Article 1 Section 1

Establishes Congress has lawmaking authority, Congress is bicameral

Article 1, Section 2

Sets up House of Representatives. 2 year term, representation based on population.

Article 1, Section 3

Sets up Senate. 6 year term, “continuous body” with 1/3 of members up for election every 2 years. 2 representatives per state

Article 1, Sections 4-6

elections are left up to the states, procedures for meetings, compensation for services,

Article 1, Section 7

how a bill becomes a law. bills of revenue (tax) must originate in the House

Article 1, section 8

enumerated powers of Congress. lay and collect taxes, coin money, raise an army, make all necessary and proper laws. “power of the purse”

Article 1, section 9

powers denied to the federal government. suspending habeas corpus, bills of attainder, ex post facto laws1

Article 1, Section 10

powers denied to the states

Article 2

executive branch, president.

Article 3

est the Supreme Court. power to interpret the Constitution (becomes known as judicial review)

Article 4

vertical separation of powers (dividing between federal and state governments). full faith and credit between states, states should respect privileges and immunities of citizens, Congress admits new states, states required to have a republican government

Article 5

amending the constitution. 2 methods of proposal, 2 methods of ratification

methods of proposing amendments

2/3 vote from both houses or national convention called at the request of 2/3 of state legislaturesme

methods of ratifying amendments

3/4 approval from state legislatures or conventions in 3/4 of the states

Article 6

supremacy clause, federal law overrules state law where they contradictart

article 7

ratifying the constitution (9 of the 13)

main principles of the constitution

separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism

federalism

division of power between states and national government