AP Gov Unit 1

declaration of independence

political philosophy, break up letter (grievances), birth certificate

john locke

natural rights

limited government

there are things the government/king are not allowed to do

popular sovereignty

the political principle that a government's authority and legitimacy comes from the will and consent of the people it governs

articles of confederation

problems; no chief executive to act in a crisis (eg. shays’ rebellion); no national court system; legislative with one vote per state; supermajority of 9/13 required to do anything meaning a small group of 5 states can stop the government

constitutional convention

Philadelphia 1787, reps from 12/13 states meet to revise the articles, but they realized it was easier to start over completely

delegates

college educated elites, wealthy partners, & men with political experience

james madison

“father of the constitution” contributed to the virginia plan, bicameral legislature, fed papers

ben franklin

rough draft/ notes of constitution

george washington

his presence gave the convention legitimacy

representation

biggest issue in the new, more powerful legislature

new jersey plan

unicameral legislature, all states get 1 vote (favor small states)

virginia plan

bicameral legislature, James madison, states get votes based on population (favor big states)

three fifths compromise

five slaves counts as 3 people to be counted to get votes in the house of representatives, northern states did not favor counting slaves and southern states favored counting slaves because northern states generally had larger populations meaning they would have more government power, this is the compromise

writ of habeas corups

congress cannot suspend the _ (they can’t imprison you for something without evidence, no corpse)

bills of attainder

congress can’t pass laws without a trial (prohibited by Constitution)

ex post facto laws

if it wasn’t illegal when the offense was made, it cannot be punished now

president

has no role in amendments

bill of rights

anti federalists’ argument that needed to be included in the constitution before they would agree to ratify, so that individual liberties are explicitly protected (like many state constitutions included) to limit the government further

federalist 10

madison writes; no single small group/faction can dominate, nor can a big group (a mob); a large, unified republic, rather than a system of direct democracy, is the most effective way to control "factions" (self-interested groups) and their potential to harm the rights of others or the community's interests

federalist 51

checks and balances, spreading out power, come into balance, limiting majority control in the public; only House of Reps is directly elected by the people; state legislatures choose senators (not anymore); electoral college chooses presidents; presidents select federal judges; senators have longer terms and staggered election years (can’t all be replaced at once)

publius

the pen name James madison published the federalist papers under

separation of powers

legislative branch makes laws, executive branch enforces laws, judicial branch interprets the laws & resolves disputes

checks and balances

congress has the power to impeach, override veto, and reject treaties/judges; president can veto bills, appoint judges; marbury v Madison establishes judicial review, federal courts can strike down laws (declare then constitutional/unconstitutional)

framers debate

roger Sherman = weak executive, Ben Franklin = strong executive, James Wilson = elect by popular vote, brokered 3/5th

federalism

decentralizing our politics, more levels of government/people involved, greater state variation, laboratories of democracy

enumerated powers

expressed powers delegated in the constitution, eg. congress is expected to collect taxes, regulate commerce among states, coin/print money & punish counterfeits, establish post offices, declare war, etc

implied powers

“necessary and proper” clause aka “elastic clause” allow federal government to grow/do new stuff

mcculloch v maryland

state v national powers, Maryland tries to tax the national bank; controversial because the power to establish a national bank is not explicitly mentioned in the constitution, supremacy clause

supermacy clause

federal government can overrule states

gibbons v ogden

the national government can make laws about this because Congress can control interstate trade (the commerce clause)

Heart of Atlanta motel v us

1964 can’t have an open business to the public and segregate (eg. whites only, no immigrants, etc) involved in interstate commerce (transporting people) follow congress’ law

us v lopez

gun free school zones (1990) banning freedoms from public schools, lopez brought a gun to school and was charged under federal law, SCOTUS votes in lopez’s favor, rulling that gun possession is not an “economic activity” as the government claimed cannot be regulated in congress, commerce clause didn’t work

dual federalism

operate side by side in states/national government (layer cake)

cooperate federalism

policies are shared in national and state government (marble cake)

devolution

returning decisions to state/local governments

block grants

grants/money given to support broad programs

mandates

strings attached to federal money

unfunded mandate

unpopular with states because it provides little to no money to help implement a required policy change eg. renovating buildings for the Americans With Disabilities act, ramp for wheelchair access, handlebars etc