AP GOV TEST

Limited Government

A political system in which the powers of the government are restricted to prevent tyranny by protecting property and individual

Social Contract

An agreement between government and the people where the people sacrfice some individual freedoms in order to gain socail benefits (protection, security) from the government (Hobbes and Locke)

Natural Rights

Certain freedoms guaranteed to all citizens; rights that cannot be taken away

Which three rights are mentioned as unalienable in the Declaration of Independence?

Life, liberty, and happiness

Popular Soverignty

A doctrine stating that government is created by and subject to the will of the people (Consent to be governed)

Consent to be governed

Government gets their power from the people

Republicanism

The belief that a form of government in which the interests of the people are represented through elected leaders is the best form of government

Equality

In the context of American Politics, equality means equality before the law, political equality, and equality of opportunity (the equal chance for everyone to realize their potential), but not material equality (equal income or wealth)

Participatory Democracy

Emphasizes the broad partcipation of citizens in the direction and operations of political systems

Ex: Referendums, town hall meetings

Pluralist Democracy

No one group dominates politics and organized groups compete with each other to influence policy

Ex: NRA vs gun-control groups, environmental interests vs business interests

Elite Democracy

A small group of wealthy and well-educated people influence political decision making

Ex: Electoral College

Federalist No. 1

Advocated for a stronger central government, part of a large republic because it would limit the impact of factions

Brutus No. 1

Advocated for a confederacy, because it allows for states to keep many of their sovereign rights while still benefiting from mutual defense and free trade. Wanted more of a participatory democracy than pluralist (didn’t think pluralism was a reality)

Articles of Confederation

A type of government where the power is concertrated on the statess, leaving very little power to the central/national government

Why did the founders establish the Articles of Confederation?

Fear of tyranny/expiernce under the king and they wanted to avoid a unitary system where the national government had too much power

Articles of Confederation Weaknesses

\-Central government couldn’t raise taxes

\-No strong leader

\-Could not declare war

\-Could not regulate trade

\-Did not have the power to tax

Shay’s Rebellion

Uprising in Massachusetts between farmers that highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

The Great Compromise

A compromise between the large and snall states, proposed by Conneticut, in which Congrss would have two houses (bicameral); a Senate with two legislators per state and a House of Representatives in which each state’s representation would be based on population

Electoral College

Some wanted a direct popular vote, others wanted Congress to choose POTUS- compromised on the Electoral College- an indirect method of electing

Three-Fifth Compromise

The state’s decision during the Constitutuional Convention to count each slave as three-fifths of a person in a state’s population of the purposes of determining the number of House members and the distrubution of taxes

The Amendment Process

\-2/3 of both houses of Congress to purpose

\-3/4 of states to ratify

Seperation of Powers

Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branch

John Locke

believed all people have a right to life, liberty, and property

Republicanism

Citizens vote representatives to work on their behalf

Confederation

A joining of several groups for a common purpose

Articles of Confederation

A weak Constitution that governed America during the Revolutionary War

Bill of Rights

The first 10 Amendments of the Constitution

Checks and Balances

System that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

Federalism

distribution of power between the national and state government

Federalists

people who favored a stronger national government

Anti-Federalists

people who favored a stronger state government

Judicial Branch

Determines the Constitutionality of legislation and executive actions

Legislative Branch

\-Can impeach executive and judicial officials

\-Can override veto

Exectuive Branch

\-Veto power

\-Appoint judges

Roles of the Supreme Court

Interprets the Constitution and other laws

Roles of Congress

\-Declares war

\-Writes laws

\-Ratifies treaties

\-Grants money

\-Confirms presidetial appointments

Roles of the President

\-Administers the laws

\-May suggest laws

\-Appoints ambassadors and other officials

\-Conducts foreign policy

\-Commands armed forces

Enumerated Powers

Powers explictly given to the government

\-Article 1, Section 8

Implied Powers

Powers granted to the government that aren’t explicitly stated in the Constitution

\-Necessary and Proper Clause

Reserved Powers

Powers that are not specifically granted to the federal government by the constitution and are reserved to the states

\-10th Amendment

Concurrent Powers

Power held joinlt by the national and state governments

Dual Federalism

system of government in which both the states and the national government are seperate services

Cooperative Federalism

Federal and state governments work together to achieve goals or powers (Most prominent in Great Depression)

Revenue Sharing

The federal government gives money to state governments to use at their dicretion with no mandates from the federal government

Mandate (unfunded mandate)

Federal laws that require the states to do certain things but not provide state governments with funding to implement these policies

Ex: Americans with Disabilties Act, No Child Left Behind Act, Clean Air Act

Categorical Grant

Federal aid to state governments that is provided for a specific purpose

Block Grant

The federal government will give the states money and it is up to the states to decide what to do with it

1st Amendment

No law can prhobit the freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition

2nd Amendment

Right to bear arms

3rd Amendment

No quartering of troops

4th Amedment

Government may not search or seize a person’s property without a warrant

5th Amendment

A person cannot be tried for the same crime twice

6th Amendment

A person charged with a crime has the right to a speedy trial

7th Amendment

A person in a civil case is guaranteed to trial by jury

8th Amendment

No cruel or unusual punishment

9th Amendment

The people have right's other than those mentioned in the Constitution

10th Amendment

Any power not given to the federal government by the Constitution is a power of the state or the people

11th Amendment

Citizens of a state or foreign country can’t sue another state

12th Amendment

The electoral college will vote seperately for Vice President and President

13th Amendment

Slavery is outlawed

14th Amendment

Due process clause protects all individual rights from being alienated without due process and equal protection clause gives everyone equal protection under the law

15th Amendment

Citizens are guaranteed the right to vote no matter race, color, or status

16th Amendment

Congress has the right to collect income tax

17th Amendment

US Senators are elceted directly by voters in each state

18th Amendment

Making or selling alcohol is illegal (prohibition)

19th Amendment

Citizens are guaranteed the right to vote, regardless of gender (women’s sufrage)

20th Amendment

The President takes office on January 20th, Congress January 3rd

21st Amendment

Repealed the 18th Amendment

22nd Amendment

President limited to two terms

23rd Amendment

Citizens living in Washington DC can vote in presidential elections

24th Amendment

People can vote for President and Vice President without paying a tax

25th Amendment

Vice President becomes President if something happens to the President

26th Amendment

Citizens who are 18 years of age guaranteed the right to vote

27th Amendment

Any pay raise the House of Representatives may aprrove for its members doesn’t take effect until the next election

Commerce Clause

Congress has the power to regulate interstate commerce with foreign nations, among the several states, and with the Indian tribes

War Powers Clause

Congress has the power to decalre war

Necessary and Proper Clause

Congress has the power to make all laws necessary and proper

Emoluments Clause

Generally prohibits federal officeholders from recieving any gift, payment, title of nobility, office, or other thing of value from a foreign state or its rulers, officers, or representatives

Ex Post Facto Clause

Prohbits Congress from punishinh someone for a crime committed before it was actually a crime

Bill of Attainder Clause

Prohibits Congress from passing a law which singles out someone for punishment without a trial

Contracts Clause

Prohibits a State from passing any law that impairs the obligation of contracts

Vesting Clause

Executive power shall be vested in a president of the United States, gives president authority to execute laws

Take Care Clause

Makes president implement all laaws, even those with which he disagrees

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Court rulings, records, and government documents have to be recognized state to state

Prvileges and Immunities Clause

Have to enforce laws equally to citizens and non-citizens of your state

Extradition Clause

If a person tries to escape punishment for a crime by going to another state, governor can demand they be extradited back to state where crime was committed

Supremacy Clause

Says that the federal government and their decisions are supreme over state government decisions

Establishment Clause

Prohibits federal government from establishing a national religion (seperation of church and state)

Free Exercise Clause

Prohibits federal government from interfering with the practice of one’s religion

Takings Clause

Private property cannot be taken for public use without just compensation (Eminent domain)

Due Process Clause

No state shall deprive any person of life, liberty, and propety without due process of law

Equal Protection Clause

No state shall deny any person under US jurisdiction equal portection of the laws

Reserved Powers Clause

Any power that is not granted to the national government, or denied to the states, is automatically reserved to the states

McCulloch v Maryland (1819)

Maryland may not impose a tax on the national bank due to the Supremacy Clause. The court held that Congress had the power to incorporate the bank due to the Necessary and Proper Clause.

United States v Lopez (1995)

Lopez ruled that gun possession is not an economic activity that has any impact on interstate commerce so the federal government cannot base a law prohibiting gun possession near schools on the Commerce Clause.

Access Points

Opportunities or places where stakeholders and instituions can interact with parts of governments

Stakeholders

voters, interest groups, state and local officials, businesses, non-profit organizations that have in interest in the policies that the government creates

Senate

\-2 per state

\-100 total members

\-serve 6 year terms

\-less formal

\-Vice President breks ties

House of Representatives

\-Population (at least 1 per state)

\-435 members

\-2 year terms

\-more formal