Ap gov review unit 1

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Natural rights, popular sovereignty, social contract.

Articles of Confederation (1781–1789)

Weak central gov: no power to tax, no executive, no judiciary, states had most power. Shays’ Rebellion showed weakness.

Constitution (1787)

Replaced Articles, stronger central gov, based on separation of powers & federalism.

Federalist No. 10 (Madison)

Factions inevitable, but large republic & pluralism protect against tyranny of majority.

Brutus No. 1 (Anti-Federalist)

Warned that large republic = loss of liberty, elites will abuse power.

Federalist No. 51 (Madison)

Checks and balances, separation of powers to control gov.

Federalist No. 70 (Hamilton)

Need for strong, single executive (energy in the executive).

Federalist No. 78 (Hamilton)

Judiciary = weakest branch, but needs independence & judicial review.

Letter from Birmingham Jail (MLK, 1963)

Defense of civil disobedience, equality under the law.

Popular sovereignty

power to the people.

Social contract

gov gets power from people; people can abolish unjust gov (Locke).

Republicanism

representative democracy, people elect leaders.

Separation of powers

different branches w/ different roles.

Checks and balances

branches control each other’s power.

Federalism

• power shared between state & federal gov.

Participatory Democracy

direct involvement of many people.

Pluralist Democracy

group-based activism, competing interests.

Elite Democracy

limited participation, power in hands of wealthy/influential.

Enumerated powers

written in Constitution (ex: coin money, declare war).

Implied powers

Necessary & Proper Clause (elastic clause).

Reserved powers

10th Amendment → powers not given to fed gov = states.

Concurrent powers

shared (tax, borrow money, courts).

Supremacy Clause

Constitution = supreme law.

Commerce Clause

expands fed power over states.

Necessary & Proper Clause

expands fed power.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Congress has implied powers (bank is constitutional), states can’t tax fed gov.

U.S. v. Lopez (1995)

Limited Congress; Gun-Free School Zones Act struck down → commerce clause not unlimited.

Categorical grants

money with strings attached (federal control).

Block grants

money given to states for a broad purpose, with few rules on how to spend it.

Mandates

orders to states, funded or unfunded.

Devolution

giving power back to states (ex: welfare reform).

Shays’ Rebellion

exposed weakness of Articles.

Great Compromise

bicameral Congress (House = population, Senate = equal).

3/5 Compromise

slaves count as 3/5 for representation.

Electoral College

compromise between direct democracy & elite choice.

Dual federalism (“layer cake”)

clear separation of powers.

Cooperative federalism (“marble cake”)

shared responsibilities.