AP US Government & Politics Content Review Flashcards

AP US Government & Politics flashcards for exam review.

Describe the purpose of government.

To keep order, have authority, and protect citizen rights.

What is the difference between a monarchy and a dictatorship?

Dictatorship gains power by force; monarchy is inherited.

Direct vs. Indirect Democracy

Direct: people vote directly. Indirect: elect representatives.

What is Traditional Theory of Democracy?

People have power, majority rules, minority rights heard.

What is Pluralist Theory of Democracy?

Groups have power, no group is dominant.

What is Elite Theory of Democracy?

Elite group (status/money) controls government, limited participation.

What is Hyperpluralism Theory of Democracy?

Too many powerful groups compete, government is ineffective.

Sources of political socialization

Friends, family, social media, news.

Steps of the policy-making cycle

Raise awareness, create agenda, prioritize, enact, evaluate.

Compare Hobbes and Locke.

Hobbes: People are selfish, need strong ruler. Locke: Natural rights.

Locke's ideas in Declaration of Independence

Natural rights, right to change government if not protected.

Powers of the central government under the Articles of Confederation

Declare war, raise army, coin money, borrow money.

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Weak government, unicameral Congress, no executive/judicial, states sovereign.

How did Shay's Rebellion show Articles of Confederation?

Showed the weak federal response due to lack of centralized military.

Define factions.

Groups with interests against others.

Features of Connecticut (Great) Compromise

Bicameral legislature (two houses).

Controversy over Three-Fifths Compromise

Counting slaves as three-fifths of a person, morally wrong.

What is Popular Sovereignty?

Authority from consent of the people.

What is Limited Government?

Governmental power limited by law.

What is Separation of Powers?

Power divided into three separate branches.

What is Checks and Balances?

Each branch limits the others' powers.

What is Judicial Review?

Courts review laws for constitutionality.

What is Federalism?

Power divided between national and state governments.

What is Writ of Habeas Corpus?

Challenges the legality of someone's imprisonment.

What are Bills of Attainder?

Declares a person guilty without a trial.

What are Ex Post Facto Laws?

Changes a law after the crime.

What is the Full Faith and Credit Clause?

Every state must have full faith in another state's records.

What is the Supremacy Clause?

Federal government above all else.

Why a Bill of Rights?

To guarantee rights.

Barron v. Baltimore (1833)

Bill of Rights only restricts federal government.

Gitlow v. New York (1925)

Speech and press apply to the states.

Freedoms contained in 1st Amendment

Speech, religion, petition, press, assembly.

Freedoms contained in 2nd Amendment

Right to bear arms/guns.

Freedoms contained in 3rd Amendment

Do not have to house soldiers during wartime.

Freedoms contained in 4th Amendment

Unreasonable searches and seizures.

Freedoms contained in 5th Amendment

Protects from self-incrimination, double jeopardy, due process.

Freedoms contained in 6th Amendment

Speedy and impartial jury.

Freedoms contained in 7th Amendment

Right to have a jury during your trial.

Freedoms contained in 8th Amendment

No excessive bails and unlawful treatment.

Freedoms contained in 9th Amendment

Peoples rights aren't limited to those in constitution.

Freedoms contained in 10th Amendment

Reserves power not listed in constitution to the states.

Explain 11th Amendment in 10 words or less

One citizen can not sue an outside state.

Explain 12th Amendment in 10 words or less

Seperate ballots for president.

Explain 13th Amendment in 10 words or less

Ended slavery.

Explain 14th Amendment in 10 words or less

Due process, equal protection, privacy, naturalization.

Explain 15th Amendment in 10 words or less

Gave most races the right to vote.

Explain 16th Amendment in 10 words or less

Income tax.

Explain 17th Amendment in 10 words or less

Direct election of us states.

Explain 18th Amendment in 10 words or less

Prohibition.

Explain 19th Amendment in 10 words or less

Gave women the right to vote.

Explain 20th Amendment in 10 words or less

President takes office on january 20.

Explain 21st Amendment in 10 words or less

Ends prohibition.

Explain 22nd Amendment in 10 words or less

2 term limit.

Explain 23rd Amendment in 10 words or less

Dc can vote for president.

Explain 24th Amendment in 10 words or less

No poll tax.

Explain 25th Amendment in 10 words or less

What happens if the president dies.

Explain 26th Amendment in 10 words or less

18 year olds can vote.

Explain 27th Amendment in 10 words or less

Senators can't accept pay raise until after their term.

What is federalism?

A type of government split up between the states.

Why did the Founders divide power?

So no one person could have all the power.

Dual vs. Cooperative Federalism

State and federal have defined differences. Cooperative: work together.

Define decentralization.

Spreading the power among multiple offices or people.

What are Enumerated powers?

Powers explicitly stated in the constitution.

What are Implied powers?

Powers not stated, but assumed.

What are Inherent powers?

Powers necessary to running a democracy.

What are Reserved powers?

Powers not stated are for the states.

What are Concurrent powers?

Shared between states and federal government.

Why is the “necessary and proper clause” elastic?

Because it can mean many things and be stretched.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

It didn’t allow states to tax federal banks.

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

Established government authority to regulate interstate commerce.

Why is cooperative federalism marble cake?

The powers are more mixed like a marble cake.

How US became more cooperative

States needed federal help to end economic struggle, shared powers.

Define fiscal federalism.

The distribution of departments of government in finance relation.

Fiscal federalism as carrot and stick

Carrot: reward (grants). Stick: punishment.

What are Categorical Grants?

Funded by government to certain activities.

Define Formula Grants.

Distribute funds to recipients to accomplish a purpose.

What are Project Grants?

Funds toward a specific project.

What are Block Grants?

Funds to a state for broad purpose.

Government creating unfunded mandates.

Unfunded mandates didn’t get funding.

Define devolution.

The transfer of power from a central to local government.

Five functions of political parties.

Nominate candidates, influence party, unite government, create balance, inform citizens.

Define partisanship.

Bias

How and why third parties begin

To make an impact on politics for opinions to be understood.

How the political system limits third party influence.

The winner takes all the system.

How third parties act as “spoilers”.

Drawing votes to have one party have less/spoil votes.

Organization of American political parties.

National and state level, strategy and fundraising.

Purpose of primary elections.

Narrow down candidates before the general election.

Pros and cons of political machines.

Pros: Prepare voters Cons: Possibly corrupt.

Trends of party identification.

Religion, education, age, and economics impact votes.

What happens during party realignment?

Countries representatives goes from being for one to another.

What happens during party dealignment?

Representatives switch to no party, makes no party dominate.

Political efficacy affects voter intensity?

Voters think they have a higher impact on the government.

Internal vs external efficacy?

Internal: belief in understanding gov. External: what can do with vote.

What determines if a person votes?

Vote matters, younger people vote less.

Why campaigns cost so much.

They are allowed to spend as much as possible.

Interest groups participate in electioneering?

Candidate supports their cause to win.

Why Political Action Committees (PACs) began?

Direct money to candidates was banned.

What is soft money?

Money goes towards campaigns, but is not directly given out.

Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

Restrictions on individual spending, campaign spending free speech.

Job of Federal Elections Commission (FEC).

Enforces the campaign finance law.