AP Gov - Unit 1

What are the key functions of government?

preserve order, maintain national defense, provide public goods & services, socialize the young, and collect taxes

What does it mean to socialize the young?

Youth are taught to be proficient members of a society.

why is it mandatory to say the pledge?

to socialize the youth

What is one function seen in all types of governments?

collect taxes

what are collective goods?

public goods/services that cannot be denied to a person

What is an effect of political knowledge?

political tolerance

what is political tolerance?

to be more accepting of different people's views

what does lack of political knowledge cause?

less political tolerance, more partisanship, less political participation (ex: voting)

What is a consequence of Americans' lack of political knowledge?

it undermines popular control of government

Why don't young people vote?

lack of political knowledge

policymaking institutions

the branches of government charged with taking action on political issues (AKA the gov ITSELF)

linkage institutions

The channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the government's policy agenda.

Examples of linkage institutions

elections, political parties, interest groups, media, campaigns

What is the policymaking process?

1. a problem is called to the attention of the government through linkage institutions

2. the problem is placed on the policy agenda

3. policymaking institutions create a policy

4. the policy affects people

hyperpluralism

A state in which many groups are so strong that a government is unable to function.

participatory democracy

broad participation in politics and civil society (AKA when people make the policy)

how to citizens make policies in a participatory democracy?

initiative pensions and referindums

initiative petitions

a citizen creates a petition, ppl sign, then ppl vote on it, if it passes, it is now a law (NO gov involved)

referindums

when a member of state congress comes up with an idea, puts it on a ballot, and the people vote on it

suffrage

right to vote

components of traditional/liberal democratic theory

equality in voting, effective participation, free press and speech, citizen control of the political agenda, inclusion

pluralist theory

competition among groups trying to get their preferred policies due to open access to politicians; public interest will prevail thru compromise (more choice in politicians = more compromise btwn parties)

elite and class theory

upper-class elite will rule, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization.

why were the colonists upset about british rule?

no suffrage/representation, taxes, quartering soldiers

1st continental congress

formed by colonial leaders to address abuses of the english crown

2nd continental congress

signed DOI, which was a polemic, but also provided the foundation for popular sovereignty

polemic

political argument

popular sovereignty

A government in which the people rule by their own consent.

the constitution - english heritage

natural rights, consent of the governed, revolt, consent makes you legit - not divine right, limited gov

Limited Government

certain restrictions should be put on gov to protect natural rights of citizens

the constitution - american political culture

patriotism, merit, egalitarianism, liberty, individualism, laissez-faire, populism, social contract

populism

support for the concerns of ordinary people

social contract

people give up some rights for the greater good of others

challenges to democracy in america

low political participation, increased technical expertise is required, escalating campaign costs, diverse political interest (policy gridlock/hyperpluralism)

policy gridlock

when there is difficulty passing laws that satisfy the needs of the people

why is increased technical expertise required in government?

complicated laws are required for a modern society, where people implement more technology in their lives

preamble

tells us the purpose of government and how a government prioritizes

What are the purposes of government?

justice, domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote general welfare, liberty

why did it take so long for the AOC to be ratified?

unanimous consent

why did the AOC fail?

each state had one vote, no national court, weak executive, congress could maintainn an army but had no money for it, no power to tax, asked states for money instead, congress couldn't regulate commerce

post revolution changes in the states

liberalized voting laws, expanding middle class counterbalanced the elite, postwar depression left farmers unable to pay debts, state legislatures sympathetic to farmers passed laws that favored debtors and creditors

protection of individual rights from the government

liberal

no inactive government

liberal

no foreign aid

conservative

Equality of oppurtunities

liberal

US should only participate in international organizations that benefit the US

conservative

oppose abortion

conservative

republican

conservative

sex before marriage = sin

conservative

community activism

liberal

what is community activism?

people and gov work to create a safe, poverty-free family environment for kids

government should not be religious

liberal

no big government

conservative

laissez faire

conservative

no wealth extremes

liberals

pro military spending

conservative

increase taxing for the wealthy

liberal

environmental concerns

liberal

traditional values and customs

conservative

distrust big businesses

liberals

what do liberals do to protect themselves from big businesses?

they support environment protection, unions, work safety, consumer protection laws

no homosexuals

conservatives

christian coalition

conservative

what is the christian coalition?

A group that encouraged religious conservatives to vote, run for public office, and support only those candidates who shared the organization's views.

oppose discrimination

liberal

rich will take care of themselves

liberal

not concerned about the environment

conservative

remedial programs

liberal

what kind of programs do liberals support?

remedial programs, free medical service, social welfare programs to help poor/minority

what are remedial programs?

special education programs to help people gain the basic skills they need to succeed in the job market

devolution revolution

conservative

what is the devolution revolution?

The effort of slowing the growth of the federal government

increased penality for crimes

conservative

improve public education

liberal

patriotic

conservative

government must protect poor from rich

liberal

the wealthy is too influential on the government

liberal

communism = evil

conservative

what were the framers tasked with doing?

revising the AOC

what did the framers do instead of what they were tasked to do?

instead of revising, they scrapped the AOC and created a new document, the Constitution

what were the focuses of the Philadelphia Convention?

hobbes vs locke, political conflict (over wealth) leads to factions, objectives of government (preserve and protect property), good gov = one that sets power against power (AKA checks and balances)

what did framers believe were the objectives of the government?

preserve and protect property

what did the framers believe cause factions?

political conflict over wealth

New Jersey Plan

equal representation in states, weak President controlled by legislature

which compromise created a bicameral congress?

Connecticut Compromise

how did the connecticut compromise benefit smaller states?

originally, the smallest states could only sent 1 person to Congress, but now they could send at LEAST 3 people (2 from senate, 1 from house)

the equality issues

Equality and representation of the states, slavery, and equality in voting.

which 3 plans were proposed in response to the issue of representation of the states?

New Jersey Plan, Virginia Plan, Connecticut Compromise

what compromise was proposed in response to the issue of slavery?

3/5 compromise

3/5 compromise

each slave would count for 3/5 of a person for taxation and representation purposes

Larger vs smaller states over slavery

larger states wanted more advantage; said slaves should count in their votes, smaller states opposed because that would put them at a disadvantage; came up with 3/5 compromise

Congress's powers

lay and collect taxes; pay debts and borrow money; regulate commerce; coin money; establish post offices; protect patents and copyrights; establish lower courts; declare war; and raise and support an Army and Navy, create necessary and proper laws

limitations on congress

No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed. no direct taxes. taxing US exports, cannot create laws which restrict people's rights, no suspending habeas corpus

Bill of Attainder

a law that punishes a person accused of a crime without a trial or a fair hearing in court

ex post facto law

a law that would allow a person to be punished for an action that was not against the law when it was committed

powers of the state

the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States

prohibitions of state power

lay any Duty of Tonnage without Congress's consent, keep troops or ships in time of peace, enter into any agreements with another state/foreign power, engage in war unless actually invaded or in danger

Duty of Tonnage

money charged to freight ships for entering, using, leaving a port

The individual rights issues

state constitutions already provided individual rights, and framers felt this was enough

habeas corpus

An order to produce an arrested person before a judge.