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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
Note 
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