AP GOV Unit 1 : Foundations of American Democracy & Federalism

Democratic principles

principles that define who holds political power (the people) & outlines that the gov serves the ppl

Constitutional Principles

define how political power is structured and limited by the law

Demo Principles in the DOI

Natural rights, Social contract, Popular sovereignty, Limited gov

Demo Principles in Gettysburg Address

Issue : all men created = disregarded slaves,

civil war = trial to the American experiment (equality)

Further established popular sovereignty (gov of/for/by the ppl)

Constitution & its Constitutional Principles

Outlined the gov & its powers/limits

Sep of power + checks & balances

Federalism (state &gov)

Republicanism

What is Republicanism?

a form of gov where citizens elect their representatives

Types of democracy :

Participatory, Puralist, Elite

Participatory Democracy

Direct particitapiton in gov by the the individual (board participation) protesting, voting, petitioning.. active engagement (CP : “we the people”)

Puralsit Democracy

Group based democracy who intend to influence political decisions protected by the (CP: 1st & Fed 10(groups))

Elite Democracy

ppl and groups with $ , power, edu (tops) emphasized limited participation to only the powerful supported b yIndirect Elections (constitution)

Referendum Definition

Principle / practice of submitting to popular vote

Madasonial Model

• Social contract establishing a limited democratic republic with the consent of the governed for the purpose of protecting natural rights (established through compromise of the “Grand Committee”              

*Fed 51

Foundational doc explaining the division of powers (branches, checks & balances + FEDERALISM)

Constitutional convention (debate & comp)

Great Compromise (House & senate) + Presidential elec + Slavery Cennsus + S;Avery trade

Formally Amending the constitution

Proposal with 2/3 vote from Congress then ratification from ¾ states

Informally Amending the Constitution

SC reinterperts the words of the constitution (ex. Plessy & Board, right to privacy)

Federalism powers explained

Exclusive - named powers for nat gov A1S8

Concurrent - powers delegated to nat (A1S8) but not denied to the state (A1S10)

Reserved - powers for the states

*Fed 39 - Madison

constitution creates conditions of federalism incl amendment process, Congress structure, and FEDERALISM with citizen participation.

Supremacy clause

A6  “the constitution & laws of the US are supreme “ *

Commerce clause

ONLY the nat gov can regulate interstate trade between states (A1 S8)

Equal protection clause (14th)

gov must protect the = treatment of all individuals 

Due Process clause (14th)

gov cannot take “life, liberty, or property” without following a specific process 

*McCulloch v. Maryland

• Congress = nat bank using necessary & proper clause (Congress was allowed to create nat bank)

• Maryland taxed that nat bank (states cant tax nat institution →supremacy clause)

*Preempttion

nat policy surpredes state policy 

US v. Lopez 1995

deals with Constitutional principle of the Commerce clause and enumerated powers SC : rules congress had no right to interfere bc the gun free school had nun to do with the commerce & regulating guns on school property bc it was a policy power (state)

Dual federalism

layer cake federalism - Nat & state gov stay in their spheres of power (until FDR)

Cooperative federalism

marble cake federalism - nat gov helps states solve domestic issues (fiscal fed nat gov uses tax $aid to solve state issues = revenue sharing)

Mandates (funded/unfunded) 

form of cooperative federalism — national standards states must implement regardless of federal funding (with Constitutional basis)