AP Gov Unit 1

Declaration of Independence

Because of British Crown’s violation of the natural rights of citizens, the American colonies are declaring themselves independent states

• All men are created equal and are born with unalienable rights (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, trial by jury, representation in government, etc.)

• When these rights are violated, people have the right to revolt (consent of the governed)

• Specific grievances: unfair trials, dissolved rep. houses, refusal to pass laws, standing army, taxation w/o representation, suppressing economy v Navigation Acts, impressment of soldiers”

Gettysburg Address

The Civil War is a test of the ideals the founding fathers built this country upon, and the men who died in this war are fighting for these ideals

• The nation was built upon ideals of equality and popular sovereignty

• The men who are fighting for these ideals are advancing the nation

• There will be a new birth of freedom and democracy shall not die

Articles of Confederation

The United States of America is a loose alliance of states with a decentralized government and a representative Congress that will control affairs b/w states and other nations

• The gov. will avoid conditions that led to monarchical tyranny in colonial times

• Conditions include representation in gov., no taxation, no standing army, no head executive, equal rep. b/w states

• All states in this loose alliance will support each other, and states’ rights are equal with the government

US Constitution

The United States will have a national government, and powers are divided, separated, and checked upon to protect the rights of the people

• The gov is split into 3 branches of equal power but different responsibilities

• Each branch can check and balance the others in different ways so no branch overthrows the others

• The Constitution fixes the errors of the Articles of Confederation ex: power to tax, raise army, regulate commerce, have president, have judiciary)

Federalist No. 10

Having a Union will protect against a faction’s overrule and insurrection

• Factions are a part of nature due to differences in ideas and passions

• A Union protects against factional overpower b/c a large Union will have more diversity and it’ll be more difficult to take advantage

• Therefore the Constitution should be ratified

Federalist No. 39

The US Constitution creates both a national and a federal government in different aspects

• Ratification of the Constitution depended on the consent of the separate, sovereign states, making its foundation federal

• The ordinary operation of federal laws acts directly on individual citizens rather than on the states as corporate bodies, making it national

• The sources of government power mix both systems. The House of Representatives derives its authority from the people (national), while the Senate draws its power from the state legislatures (federal)

Federalist No. 51

Separation of powers is necessary for a government to not become overpowered, and checks and balances keep those separate branches from gaining too much power

• Feed gov must have separate but equal branches (Montesquieu)

• Each branch will have the power to check another branches power

• States will still have power, so government is even more separated and citizens will have even more protection

Brutus No. 1

Because the Constitution creates a strong centralized government, that gov. will not represent its people adequately, so the Constitution shouldn’t be ratified

• Reducing America to a Union is not practiical bc the nation is too large, so not everybody will be represented

• The wealthy will outnumber the minority and exert too much power

• States separate is better bc the people in each state will have their individual needs catered towards

McCulloch v. Maryland

Congress charters US Bank, Maryland taxes it. Cashier (McCulloch) refuses to pay tax. Maryland argues Congress can’t make the bank b/c that right isn’t written in constitution

• Ruled in favor of McCulloch

  • Congress can create the bank thru the Necessary and Proper Clause

  • Maryland can’t tax the bank thru Supremacy Clause

U.S. v. Lopez

Lopez brings firearm to school. Fed gov charges him with violating Gun Free School Zones Act of 1990. Congress argues they can enforce this act bc firearms→school shootings→worse town→worse economy→worse interstate economy thru Commerce Clause

• Ruled in favor of Lopez

  • Congress can’t enforce this law b/c thru the 10th Amdt/Reserved powers

    • Schools are a state’s problem

  • Commerce Clause argument doesn’t make sense

Necessary and proper clause

Art. 1 Sec 8: Grants Congress the power to pass all laws needed to execute its explicitly stated powers

Supremacy clause

Art. 6: Federal law takes priority over any conflicting state law

Commerce clause

Art. 1: Congress has the power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce

Full faith and credit

Art 4: Each state must respect and honor the public acts of another state. Must return fugitives back as well

Amendment process in Article V

2/3 vote in both chambers + ¾ of state legislatures OR

2/3 state legislatures + ¾ state ratifying conventions called by Congress

10th Amendment

Any powers not given to the federal government are given to the states/people

14th Amendment

Civil liberties protections are state responsibilities

Limited government

Government’s power is restricted by the Constitution and laws; government officials cannot exercise unlimited authority.

Strict interpretation of the constitution

Popular sovereignty

Authority comes from the people

Republicanism

The people govern through elected representatives rather than directly making every governmental decision.

Social contract

People agree to give government some power in exchange for government protecting their rights and maintaining order

Participatory democracy

Broad and direct participation by ordinary citizens in politics and government.
Example: Voting, protests, petitions, town meetings, and other forms of direct political involvement.

Elite democracy

Small number of people with greater wealth, influence, knowledge, or political power have a large role in policymaking.

Example: senate, electoral college

Pluralist democracy

A model of democracy in which many competing groups attempt to influence government policy.

Example: labor unions

Bicameral v. unicameral legislature

2 houses v 1 house

Great Compromise

AKA Connecticut Compromise

House based on population

Senate equal representation

Virginia Plan

Bicameral legislature based on population

Favored large states

NJ Plan

Unicameral legislature w/ equal representation

Favored smaller states

Electoral College

Constitutional system used to formally select the president. Each state receives electors equal to its total number of House members + senators

⅗ Compromise

Every slave=3/5 of a person

Gave south more representation but also more taxes

Checks and balances

One branch can limit the power of other branches

Examples: Presidential veto, congressional override, Senate confirmation, judicial review.
Purpose: Prevents one branch from becoming too powerful.

Separation of powers

Constitutional division of governmental authority among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
Legislative: Makes laws
Executive: Enforces laws
Judicial: Interprets laws

Federalism

Governmental power is divided b/w national and state governments

Layer cake federalism

National and state governments operate in separate areas of authority AKA dual federalism

Marble cake federalism

Federal, state, and local governments have overlapping responsibilities and work together to make and implement policy.

preemption

When valid federal law overrides conflicting state or local law. (Supremacy Clause in action)

Exclusive powers

Powers only one level of gov has

Delegated powers

Powers only the FEDERAL gov has (AKA Enumerated powers)

Reserved powers

Powers only the STATE govs have (given by the 10th amendment)

Concurrent powers

Powers both the federal AND state govs have

Implied powers

Federal powers not explicitly mentioned, but derived under various clauses/powers

Inherent Powers

Powers possessed by the national government because the United States is a sovereign nation, even when they are not specifically stated in the Constitution.
Examples: Conducting foreign relations and controlling national borders.

Revenue sharing

Fed money granted to states with relatively few restrictions

Fiscal federalism

Federal govs use of money to influence state and local policy (all the grants in use)

Incentives

Money used as a reward to adopt policy

Categorical grants

Fed grants given to states for a specific purpose

Example: highway construction

Block grants

Fed grants given to states for broad purpose

Example: reduce energy use

Mandates

Requirements imposed by fed to states, sometimes with no incentive

Devolution

Return of power back to states, started by Reagan