AP Gov ULTIMATE REVIEW!!!

What are the six basic principles of the constitution? (People from Scary Cats From Japan)

• Popular Sovereignty

• Limited Government

• Judicial Review

• Separation of Power

• Checks and Balances

• Federalism

1st Amendment

Freedom of religion, from religion, speech, press, peaceably assemble, petition

2nd Amendment

Right to bear arms

3rd Amendment

Troops shall not be housed in private homes

4th Amendment

Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures

5th Amendment

Due Process, must be indicted by a grand jury, no double jeopardy, cannot testify against oneself, Eminent Domain

6th Amendment

Due Process, speedy trial, informed on charges, cross examine, attonrney

7th Amendment

Due Process, to sue

8th Amendment

Due Process, no cruel and unusual punishment

9th Amendment

Right to more rights

10th Amendment

Federalism, states can get power

Full faith and credit

A clause in Article IV of the constitution requiring the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of all other states

Extradition

A legal process whereby a state surrenders a person charged with a crime to the state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed

Privileges and Immunities

A state cannot unreasonably discriminate against citizens of other states

Voter turnout in the United States compared to other country’s?

Very Low

The Great Compromise

Makes the House of representatives seats per state based on population, and the senate is given two seats per state

13th Amendment

Slavery is Abolished

14th Amendment

Defines Citizenship

15th Amendment

People of color can vote

16th Amendment

Congress can set and collect income taxes

19th Amendment

Women can vote

22nd Amendment

The President can only serve two terms

26th Amendment

Lower voting age from 21 to 18

25th Amendment

Vice President will become president if the president dies

Elastic Clause

Found in Article I, Section 8, expanded by McCullough V. Maryland. Congress can expand and make new laws based on existing parts of the constitution

Expressed Power

Power set out in the constitution specifically granted to one of the branches of the national government

Implied Powers

Powers that are inferred from the specific powers listed in the US Constitution

Inherent Powers

Power that the government has because they are the governments

Delegated Powers

Specifically granted to the federal government (coin money, regulate commerce, declare war, etc)

Reserved Powers

Powers not specifically granted to federal government, so it is given to the states

Census

Counts everyone in the US, happens every 10 years, apportion the house of reps, determines how taxes are spent, effects the electoral college votes

Open Primaries

Primary election that voters can vote for whatever party they want

Closed Primaries

Primary election that voters have to vote for which party they chose

Three components of a political party

1. In the Electorate (the American people)

2. As an Organization (unelected workers)

3. In Government (elected officials)

How do political parties differ from interest groups in America?

Parties seek to win elections, interest groups seek to influence public policy

Soft Money

Money spent in support of a candidate without directly donating to their campaign, such as paying for ads or campaign events

Pluralist

Policymaking process is very open to the participation of all groups, with no single group dominating

Hyperpluralist

Too many groups controlling the government, thus weaking there power

Elitist

Upper-class elites hold all the power and makes policy

How many seats in house of Reps

435 total, 38 for Texas

How many seats in the senate

100 total, 2 for Texas

Requirements for senate

• Must be 30

• Citizen for 9 years

• Resident of state where running

Requirements for House of Reps.

• 25 years old

• citizen for 7 years

• resident of state where running

Purpose of a filibuster

To use unlimited debate to prolong a vote on a bill

Who can filibuster

The Senate

Impeachment

Done by House of Reps, formally charge president, does not kick them out

Removal

Done by Senate, removes president from office, must be impeached first, requires 2/3 majority

PAC

Political Action Committee, groups that raise money for individuals. Must register with FEC

Super PAC

PAC that is allowed to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money. (Can use dark money)

Flat Tax

A tax that requires everyone to pay the same

Regressive tax

A tax that is lower for wealthy people

Progressive tax

The more income you make, the higher percentages of tax you pay

Proportional Tax

All levels of income pay the same proportion of tax

Where is most of the work of congress accomplished

Congressional and sub committees

How are state electoral votes calculated

Number of Congress Seats

Winner takes all

If someone gets a majority, they get all the votes

Pros of Electoral College System

• All states are involved in selecting the President

• Protects the voices of smaller states

• Gets rid of needs for recounts

Cons of Electoral College System

• Gives too much power to swing states, allowing a small amount of states to determine an election

• Allows one person vote to be more meaningful than someone in another state

• Sometimes will not show the will of the majority

Mean-tested

Benefits given based on need (Ex- Food stamps)

Entitlement Programs

Individuals contribute to fund through payroll taxes and receive benefits based on lifetime contributions (Ex- Social Security)

Social Security

provides economic assistance to people faced with retirement, made by Franklin Roosevelt

Third Parties

Bring issues to publics attention, pulls votes from a major party

Impeachment Process

House investigates through inquiry → house must pass articles of impeachment

Motor Voter Act

You can register to vote while getting your drivers license

Voting Rights Act

Outlawed discriminatory voting practices, including literacy tests

National Debt

Over 33 trillion

Budget Deficit

When you spend more than you bring in

Budget Surplus

When you bring in more money than you spend

McCulloch V Maryland (FRQ)

Birth of implied powers and Elastic Clause, Maryland sued National government saying that they can not create a national bank

United States V. Lopez (FRQ)

Commerce Clause, The national government can not regulate bringing guns to school but the state can

Engel V Vitale

1st Amendment, the state government can not make you pray at school

Wisconsin V Yoder (FRQ)

1st Amendment, Mormon can not be forced to go to school past 16

Tinker V Des Moines Independent Com. School District (FRQ)

1st Amendment, student can where armbands in a form of protest

New York Times V. United States (FRQ)

1st Amendment, halting the publican of important information is agonist the first Amendment

Schenck V. United States (FRQ)

1st Amendment, yelling fire in a movie theater, can not create chaos in times of war

Citizens United V. Federal Election Commission (FRQ)

1st Amendment, Cooperate spending on political campaigns can not be limited

Barker V Carr (FRQ)

14th Amendment/Gerrymandering, the Supreme Court can see over legislative apportionment, Tennessee has to redraw districts

Shaw V. Reno (FRQ)

14th Amendment/Gerrymandering, North Carolina made a majority black district, racially gerrymandered district

Marbury V. Madison (FRQ)

Judicial Review, first time the government declared an action of government unconstitutional

Who presides over the Senate

Vice President

What are Congressional Caucuses

Members of congress who band together to protect mutual interest

Government Budget

A police determination of how much to spend

Feature of Incremental budget

Agencies must justify their budget request

Standing Committees

Appointed to resolve differences in bills for house of reps. + senate

Checks + Balance Example

The senate may remove a sitting president after the house votes to impeach

When do critical election happen

When lots of voters change pattern of long lasting party voting

Party Dealignment

process by which a large group of people loses their loyalty to a political party without developing loyalty to another party.

What did Madison believe in

it was the nature of those who governed to need to check their power

Green Party

Single issue group

Where do political parties receive their power from

Interpretation of the constitution

Party realignment

Very Rare, only happens when a major crisis happens, one party domination is replaced with another

Amicus brief

a written argument submitted of one side of a court case

Federalist 70

Written by Hamilton, we should have a strong president, the legislative branch should be good at making decisions

Brutus I

Written by Robert Yates, the proposed Constitution would usher in a consolidated national government, and that this was a gross error and likely to lead to disaster

Federalist 10

Written by James Madison, wants a large republic, factions are inevitable but can be controlled in a large area

Declaration of Independence

Written by Thomas Jefferson, address to the world that the united states is a thing

Articles of Confederation

Proto type for the constitution

Federalist 51

Written by James Madison, factions must be managed, each branch should be separate and independent

Federalist 78

Written by Alexander Hamilton, need for separate judiciary, must have judicial review

Letters from Birmingham Jail

Written by Martin Luther King, racism bad, civil disobedience can be used to protest unjust laws