Ultimate AP Gov review

Here's a document going more in depth into the required documents and cases: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cHfZwY1Tly6s0T9bYgv1cBAqasTvJ-1-kP9F0XuxsGQ/edit?usp=sharing

Politics

The process of influencing the actions and policies of government

Government

The rules and institutions that make up a system of policy making

Democracy

A system of government in which power is held by the people

Social Contract

People allow their government to rule over them, giving up some freedom, in order to ensure order and function in society

Popular Sovereignty

The concept that a government’s right to rule derives from the people

Republicanism

A system in which the government’s power comes from the people

Inalienable Rights

Rights which the government cannot take away

Participatory Theory

A theory that widespread political participation is essential for democratic government

Civil Society Groups

Independent Aassociations outside of Government control

Pluralist Theory

A democratic theory that emphasizes the role of groups in policy making

Elitist Theory

A theory that the societal elite have a disproportionate amount of influence in policymaking

Constitutional Republic

A democratic system where people elect representatives and the constitution is the supreme law

Montesquieu

A french political philosopher who emphasized belief in the separation of powers

John Locke

An english political philosopher who is primarily credited for the idea of unalienable rights in the American constitution

Staples of American politics (6)

Popular Sovereignty, Free enterprise, Liberty, Individualism, Limited Government, Equality

The job of government

Balancing freedom and security of the people

Constitution

A document which sets out the fundamental principles of government and establishes the institutions of government

Articles of Confederation

A governing document that created a union of 13 sovereign states in which the states, not the national government, were supreme

Unicameral legislature

A legislature with a singular house

Shay’s Rebellion

A popular uprising under the Articles of Confederation which is primarily credited for exposing the flaws in the document

Constitutional Convention

A meeting attended by state delegates in 1787 to fix the Articles of Confederation

Writ of Habeas Corpus

The right of detainees to know their charges

Bill of Attender

when the legislature declares someone guilty without trial

Ex post facto laws

punishing people for acts that were not crimes at the time they were committed

James Madison

The “Father of the Constitution”

Reason for the constitution’s successful drafting

Delegates were practical, rational, pragmatic, professional politicians who had to seek popular approval of their new form of government

Great compromise

Debate over state representation in the legislature. Created the bicameral legislature

3/5 compromise

Debate over representation in the house of representatives, counted a slave as 3/5 of a person

Critical issue of individual rights

ensured writ to habeas corpus, banned ex post facto laws and bills of attainder, banned religious qualifications for office, and pledged to make a bill of rights.

Separation of Powers

A design of government to distribute the power across institutions in order to avoid one institution becoming too powerful (concept from John Locke)

Checks and Ballences

A system of government where each branch can prevent the other from making policy

Federalism

Sharing power between the national and state governments

Legislative branch

institute responsible for making laws

Expressed/Enumerated Powers

Authority specifically assigned to a branch of government in the constitution

Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)

Grants congress the power to carry out its enumerated powers in any way necessary to the health of the nation

Implied Powers

Authority of the federal government that goes beyond its expressed powers

Executive Branch

Institution responsible for carrying out laws decided by congress

Judicial Branch

Institution responsible for hearing the decided cases from the federal courts and penning national law

Supremacy Clause

the constitutional provision declaring that the constitution and all national laws and treaties are the supreme law of the land

Marbury vs. Madison

The case of the midnight judges which established the supremacy clause and judicial review

Amendment

The process to make changes to the constitution

Federalists

Supporters of the proposed constitution who supported a strong national government

Anti Federalists

Opposers of the proposed constitution who favored state and individual rights

Federalist papers

A series of essays written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay that laid out the theory behind the constitution

Federalist no. 51

“If men were angels.” Argued for separation of powers arguing it would help keep the government from harming the people as each branch would jealously guard their own power

Faction

A group of self interested people who use the government to get what they want, trampling the rights of others in the process

Federalist No. 10

Madison Argued the dangers of factions and how they could be mitigated by a large republican government in order to maintain majority rule while protecting individual rights

Tyranny of Majority and Minority

Either the minority loses their voice or the majority does not get represented enough, neither is good

Brutus No. 1

Argued that the constitution was tyrannical as it would take too much power from the states and the people, specifically saying a standing army and the necessary and proper clause would give the national government way too much power

The Constitution of the United States: Article 1

Detailed the Legislative Branches and their enumerated powers

The Constitution of the United States: Article 2

Detailed the executive branch and the power of the president with less enumerated powers, along with the electoral college

The Constitution of the United States: Article 3

Detailed the power of the judicial branch, at the time rather unpowerful

Brutus

An antifederalist who feared the power of the constitution to infringe on individual and state rights

McCullough vs. Maryland

State tried to tax the national bank and it was deemed unconstitutional under the supremacy clause

Brown vs. Board of Education

Overruled Plessy vs. Ferguson’s separate but equal and ruled for equal protection under the law regardless of color

10th Amendment

Reserved powers amendment which gave all reserved powers to the states

Dred Scott decision

Overrode the Missouri Compromise

Dual Federalism

The idea that a separation of state and federal power is desirable and achievable

Modern Federalism

Also known as cooperative federalism, it is where the state and federal government work together and occasionally overlap

Fiscal Federalism

Spending of federal funds on state and local programs (often used to control states)

Categorical Grants

Money granted by the government which can only be used on a specific project

Block Grants

Money granted by the government that allows the states to decide what is to be done with it

Devolution

Passing down authority to the states and away from the national government

Unfunded state mandates

The government telling the states to do something without giving them money to accomplish the task

Unitary system

A system where the central government has authority over all subnational governments and is able to delegate any powers

Confederate System

Subnational governments have more power than the national government and the national government is heavily dependent on the states

Exclusive Powers

Powers which only the national government may exercise

Commerce Clause

Gives congress the power to regulate interstate commerce

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared by both the state and federal governments (ex. taxing)

Full faith and credit clause

Requires states to recognize the public acts, records, and civil court proceedings from other states

Extradition

Requirement that officials in one state must return a defendant to another state where the crime was committed

Privileges and Immunities Clause

Prevents states from discriminating against people from out of state

13th Amendment

Outlawed slavery

14th Amendment

Established naturalized citizenship and outlawed denying citizenship

Equal Protection clause

all citizens are granted equal protection under the law

15th Amendment

Gave african americans the right to vote

Selective Incorperation

The process through which the supreme court applies fundamental rights in the bill of rights to the states on a case by case basis

Revenue sharing

the federal government rerouting tax revenue back to the states to spend on any governmental task

U.S. vs. Lopez

Limited the legislatures power to pass laws under the commerce clause and gave more power to the states (Gun in a school zone)

1st amendment (5 freedoms)

Freedom of speech, religion, press, petition, and assembly (RAPPS)

2nd Amendment

Right to bear arms

8th amendment

outlawed cruel and unusual punishment and excessive bail fines

4th amendment

unreasonable search and seizure

5th amendment

right to a jury and due process

6th amendment

right to a speedy, public trial

9th amendment

ensured the constitution would not limit the rights of citizens

Requirements for being in the house

Must be at least 25, a US citizen, and a resident in their elected district for at least a year

Requirements for being in the senate

Must be at least 30, a US citizen for 9 years, and a resident of their state

Requirements for being the president

Must be at least 35, a born US citizen, and a resident of the US for 14 years

The Constitution of the United States: Article 4

Relationship between the different branches

The Constitution of the United States: Article 5

The amendment process

The Constitution of the United States: Article 6

The supremacy clause

The Constitution of the United States: Article 7

The Ratification requirements

16th Amendment

Gave congress the power to tax income

21st Amendment

Ended prohibition, nullifying the 18th amendment

18th amendment

Prohibited alcohol

22nd Amendment

created the two term limit for presidents

25th amendment

detailed the process in the case that the president died, became incapacitated, or otherwise unfit to lead

26th Amendment

Made the voting age 18

Incumbency

Once you get your foot in the door, it’s a lot easier to stay in politics