Everything you must know for AP GOV

scotus cases, amendments, essential documents, etc

1st amendment

freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition

cloture

2/3 majority ends a filibuster (remember filibusters are ONLY in the Senate)

pocket veto

if Congress adjourns within the 10-day period and the president does not sign the bill, it is automatically vetoed, and the veto is absolute.

2nd amendment

right to bear arms

3rd amendment

quartering of soldiers

4th amendment

search and seizure ( Protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures by requiring warrants, based on probable cause, to be issued by a judge.)

5th amendment

rights of the accused are protection against double jeopardy, self-incrimination, and due process

6th amendment

right to a fair trial

7th amendment

trial by jury in civil cases

8th amendment

cruel and unusual punishment

9th amendment

there are unenumerated rights/rights not in the constitution

10th amendment

powers that the fed gov doesn’t have are reserved to the states and the people

11th amendment

suits against states: prevents citizens of one state or foreign nations from suing another state in federal court

12th amendment

separate ballots required for prez and vp (b/c of issues in the 1800 election)

13th amendment

abolition of slavery

14th amendment

equal protection and due process

15th amendment

voting rights for all regardless of race, color or previous condition of servitude (now african american men can vote)

16th amendment

congress can now levy an income tax on individual’s earnings

17th amendment

direct election of U.S. senators by the people of each state (no longer appointed by state legislatures )

18th amendment

prohibition of the manufacture, sale, or transportation of alcoholic bevs

19th amendment

women’s suffrage

20th amendment

inauguration date of the prez = jan 20, new dates for the start of congressional terms

21st amendment

no more prohibition/18th amendment

22nd amendment

Prez can’t have >2 terms in office

23rd amendment

grants citizens of D.C. the right to vote in elections by awarding them electoral votes

24th amendment

abolition of poll taxes

25th amendment

Establishes procedures for presidential succession and addresses presidential disability and temporary transfer of power.

26th amendment

lowers voting age to 18 (people upset that they can get drafted but can’t vote)

27th amendment

Restricts Congress from passing laws that immediately change its members' salaries, ensuring transparency and accountability.

establishment clause

prevents the government from establishing or favoring a religion

free exercise clause

protects individual’s right to practice their religion w/o government interference

strict scrutiny

highest level of judicial review; if a law infringes upon a fundamental right the government must have a compelling state interest to justify its execution

the exclusionary clause

prohibits the introduction of illegally obtained evidence in court

popular sovereignty

government derives its power to govern from the people

participatory democracy

power in a democracy is based on the participation of individual citizens

pluralist democracy

power in a democracy is largely in the hands of organized groups of citizens who fight for a common goal (e.g. interest groups)

elite democracy

wealthy and educated elite are those who hold the real power in a democracy

Articles of confederation weaknesses

no power to tax or command troops

Federalist 10 main point

large republic is the best way to control the danger of factions

what is a faction

groups of people sharing a common belief that threatens the rights of other citizens or community interests

brutus 1 main point

anti-federalist perspective, argued for a small, decentralized government, large republic can’t meet the needs of all citizens. cited necessary and proper clause and supremacy clause as making the national government much more powerful than the states

federalist 51 main point

separation of powers and checks and balances prevent any branch from getting too powerful

what is federalism

division of powers between national and state governments

necessary and proper clause/elastic clause

gives congress the ability to expand national power

mcculloch vs. maryland 1819

Maryland tried to tax the National Bank. SCOTUS ruled that the Supremacy clause states that fed law > state law when the 2 are in conflict. also created implied powers

what are implied powers

gives congress the power to do things needed to implement enumerated powers

US v. lopez 1995

Lopez brings gun to school violating GFSZA (Gun free school zones act). SCOTUS struck down GFSZA b/c congress overstepped its power by citing the commerce clause. bringing gun to school doesnt constitute interstate commerce.

commerce clause

Congress can ONLY regulate interstate commerce (not within a state like in us v. lopez)

categorical grants

money given to states required to be spent in a federally mandated way

block grants

money given to states that they can spend how they wish

funded vs. unfunded mandates

a mandate is a federal requirement to a state; the fed gov can either fund the mandate or not

republicanism

Political power is exercised by elected representatives who act on behalf of the people

social contract

citizens agree to form a government that serves them, agree to follow its laws

how many representatives are there

435

when is hor re-elected

every 2 years

how often can a state redistrict

every 10 years

what is gerrymandering

redistricting that gives the majority political party an advantage in future elections

Baker v. Carr 1962

began the 1 person, 1 vote doctrine. courts can hear challenges to redistricting based on claims of equal protection violations (not a political question, it’s justiciable)

Shaw v. Reno 1993

race-based gerrymandering = unconstitutional

number of senators and re-election process?

100 senators, 2 from each state. serve 6 year terms, 1/3 of the senate up for re-election every 2 years.

article 1 section 8 of the constitution outlines the powers of congress which are…

power to tax, declare war, borrow money, regulate commerce, raise an army, establish post offices

congress main power?

power of the purse (control over funding and gov spending)

special power of the hor?

can initiate tax and spending bills

special power of the senate?

confirms presidential appointments and ratifies treaties

pork barrel legislation

lawmakers pass specific bills to help the place they represent by acquiring funding (“bringing home the bacon! for the people that elected them“)

delegate model of congressional representation?

congressperson makes decisions based off of the wishes of the people that elected them

trustee model of congressional representation?

congressperson makes a decision based on their own judgement

politico model of congressional representation?

congress person sometimes uses delegate model, sometimes trustee model

federalist 70 main points?

unitary and thus strong, energetic executive

war powers act 1973

requires that Congress be notified within 48 hours of troop deployment and that troops be brought home after 60 days without formal Congressional approval (this was done to limit the power of the president)

what can presidents do

command the military, sign treaties w/other countries, executive orders, political appointments

what is a bully pulpit

terrific platform from which to advocate an agenda (thanks teddy roosevelt!)

fed 78 main point?

judicial branch = weakest, works best when judges have lifelong tenure (on the condition of good behavior)

Marbury vs. madison 1803

courts have the authority of judicial review, they can deem actions taken by the other branches as unconstitutional

stare decisis

precedent (literally latin for “to stand with the things having been decided”)

judicial restraint

judges ought to interpret constitution strictly!

judicial activism

judges ought to protect the rights of the people even if they aren’t explicitly stated in the Constitution

spoils system

nepotism

discretionary authority

bureaucracy can interpret how to implement congress’ laws

what is the iron triangle

relationship between Congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups

selective incorporation

certain parts of the bill of rights also applies to state governments (originally BOR only prevented the nat’l gov from infringing upon people’s rights but now expanded so states cant either in specific situations)

due process clause of the 14th aMendment

protections for our civil liberties against the abuse of power by the government

equal protection clause

protection for our civil rights against discrimination based on race, religion, gender, etc

tinker vs. des moines 1969

symbolic speech is protected by the first amendment in schools as long as it doesn’t pose a “substantial and material disruption” to education

schenck vs. us 1919

speech can be limited in times of war or when it poses a “clear and present danger”

engel vs. vitale 1962

school sponsored prayer (even if its non denominational) violates the establishment clause

wisconsin vs. yoder 1972

amish family fined for not having their kids go to high school. claimed it interfered w/religious practices. free exercise (of religion) can’t be interfered w/unless there’s a compelling gov interest (in this case, the religious reasons outweighed the benefits the kids would receive from going to school)

ny times vs. us 1971

efforts to prevent the publication of “classified materials” is unconstitutional. it doesn’t pose a significant threat to american troops so you can’t use prior restraint

prior restraint

censorship

mcdonald vs. chicago 2010

incorporated the 2nd amendment to state governments (fed gov can’t infringe, state gov can’t either now). based on 14th amendment due process clause (states cant infringe upon rights)

gideon vs. wainwright 1963

scotus incorporated 6th amendment right to an attorney to the states.

civil rights act of 1964

prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin

voting rights act of 1965

removed discriminatory voting practices

brown v. board of education 1954

separate but equal = unconstitutional. segregation = unconstitutional under the 14th amendment’s equal protection clause

what is liberalism

government regulates the economy, policies that are beneficial for the public good, less gov interference in private lives

what is conservatism

less gov regulation of the economy, want laissez-faire (no gov involvement in the free market)

what is libertarianism?

limited government & gov influence on economy and social issues

supply side economics

cut taxes on the wealthy to help the poor (trickle down effect), favored by the republican party

keynesian economics

increase gov spending to stimulate the economy, favored by the democratic party

horse race journalism

type of political journalism that focuses on the competition and strategies of political campaigns, rather than the issues and candidates.