AP US GOV + POL FINAL EXAM S1S2

hobbes

enlightenment thinker known for his social contract theory and the belief in absolute sovereignty. the leviathan

john locke

enlightenment thinker who advocated for natural rights and government by consent. favored a representative government and the right to rebellion against unjust rulers.

charles montesquieu

enlightenment thinker; checks and balances

jean-jacques rousseau

enlightenment thinker; “we the people..”

structure of the US constitution

preamble: states the goals and purposes of government

articles (7): explain how the government is to work

I: legislative branch

II: executive brach

III: judicial branch

IV: all states must respect anothers’ laws + explains the process of adding new states

V: how to be amended

VI: constiution is the supreme law of the land

VII: constitution would take effect when 9 states ratify it

amendments (27 + counting): additions to the constitution

thematic breakdown of the amendments

individual rights

civil war/civil rights

suffrage rights

government operations + powers

prohibition

eminent domain

the government’s right to take private property

double jeopardy

putting someone on trial for the same crime of which he or she was previously found innocent

virginia plan

two chambers, representation based on population (large- state plan)

new jersey plan

one chamber, representation equal (small-state plan)

great compromise

two chamber congress; house representation based on population, senate representation equal

3/5 compromise

slaves counted as 3/5 of a person when counting population. for representation in congress and taxing

federalists v. anti-federalists

feds: in favor of the new constitution, strong national government

anti-feds: not in favor of the new constitution, afraid a strong national government would result in a tyranny, bill of rights

joseph j. ellis on founding fathers

achievements: created the first modern nation-state based on liberal principles, defeated the most powerful army during that time, established the first large-scale republic in the modern world, invented political parties, and established the principle of the legal separation of church and state

failures: allowance of slavery and their inability to implement a just policy toward the indigenous inhabitants of north america

federalist papers

fed 10: james madison; dangers of faction, only way to control them is large-scale republic

fed 51: james madison; separation of powers + checks and balances

fed 70: alexander hamilton; executive branch should consist of a single person (president)

fed 78: alexander hamilton; judicial branch would have the power of judicial review

brutus no. 1

the first publication that began a series of essays: the federalist and anti-federalist papers. poses questions about and critiqued the then-proposed constitution. the proposed national government had too much power.

free exercise clause

protects the rights to practice religion freely.

articles of confederation

the first written constitution of the US. had many flaws. strong federal government, weak national government. only one branch. no power to tax or regulate trade (national gov)

constitutional convention

(1787) meeting in Philadelphia where delegates from twelve states decided to completely scrap the weak articles of confederation and, instead, drafted the entire US constitution, establishing a new, stronger federal government.

key clauses in the consitution

necessary and proper clause: to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper

probable clause: strong reasons to think that the person or property was involved in a crime

supremacy clause: constitution, federal laws, and treaties are the "supreme law of the land."

establishment clause: prohibits congress from making any law respecting an establishment of religion

due process clause: guarantees that the government cannot deprive a person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law

federalism

a system of government in which power is formally divided and shared between a national (federal) government and several regional (state or local) governments

fundamental principles of the constituion

popular sovereignty: government is created and sustained by the consent of its people

limited government: bill of rights; limits the government from taking away peoples rights

separation of powers: three branches that distribute power

checks branches check and balance each other, no branch has more power than others

federalism: a system of government in which power is formally divided and shared between a national (federal) government and several regional (state or local) governments

natural rights: rights given to the people that cannot be taken away

marbury v. madison

established the principle of judicial review

enumerated powers

powers specifically listed for congress

implied powers

powers not specifically stated in the constitution but that are reasonably suggested or inferred as necessary for the federal government

reserved powers

the powers that are neither specifically granted to the federal government nor specifically denied to the states by the constitution, and are therefore kept or "reserved" for the states or the people.

concurrent powers

powers shared by the national and state governments

libel

written false statements that harm someone’s reputation

slander

spoken false statements that harm someone’s reputation

search warrent

court order allowing police to search property

indictment

formal charge accusing someone of a crime

due process clause

guarantees fair treatment under the law

equal protection clause

requires laws to apply equally to everyone

suffrage

the right to vote

why we limit civil liberties

to protect safety, order, and others’ rights

checks and balances

system where the branches limit each others powers

impeachment

process to remove a government official from office

brown v. the board of education

(1954) supreme court case that ended segregation in schools

nonviolent resistance

peaceful protest against injustice

jim crow laws

laws enforcing racial segregation in the south

black codes

laws that kept african americans from holding certain jobs, gave them few property rights, and limited their rights in other ways

voting rights act

(1965) a landmark US federal law that prohibits racial discrimination in voting, enforcing the fifteenth amendment by banning tactics like literacy tests and authorizing federal oversight to ensure all eligible citizens, regardless of race or color, have an equal opportunity to register and vote

civil rights act

(1964) outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in major areas of American life, including public accommodations, public education, and employment