AP Gov Midterm Review

Sugar Act, Tea Act, Stamp Act, Townshend Acts, and Intolerable Acts

Laws passed by British government on the colonies that imposed taxes on sugar, tea, printed materials, and other non-British goods and to punish colonies for previous protests

Declaration of Independence

Document written in 1776 by the colonists declaring their issues with the British Government & independence from the British empire

Articles of Confederation

Document that created the first government of the United States-- The government during the Revolutionary War

Confederate Government

a government where most power is with the states. State governments form union with one another to create a federal government.

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

1. No national army/defense

2. No power to fix economic issues & regulate taxes

3. No leader of the nation

4. 1 vote per state regardless of size

5. All states must agree to change anything within government

Constitutional Convention 1787

Meeting in Philadelphia where the US Constitution was written

Unicameral Legislature

One-House Legislature (Articles of Confederation)

Bicameral Legislature

Two-House Legislature (Constitution)

New Jersey Plan

Proposal for US government-- Unicameral Legislature with 2 representatives per state regardless of size; favored by small states.

Virgina Plan

Proposal for US government where representation was determined based on population; favored by large states

The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)

Combining the NJ & VA Plans-- Bicameral Legislature with a Senate (NJ Plan) and a House of Representatives (VA Plan)

3/5ths Compromise

An agreement between Northern & Southern States that allowed for slaves to be counted as 3/5ths of a person towards representation

Timeline of Revolutionary War Era

British Laws Passed --> Declaration of Independence (1776) --> Revolutionary War starts --> Articles of Confederation Written & are government --> Revolutionary War Ends/Independence --> Constitutional Convention & Constitution Written --> Federalist Papers Debates

Article 1 of the Constitution explains the...

Legislative Branch

Article 2 of the Constitution explains the...

Executive Branch

Article 3 of the Constitution explains the...

Judicial Branch

Congress includes the...

Senate & House of Representatives

Main job of legislative branch

Make Laws

Executive Branch is the...

President

The Judicial Branch is the...

Supreme Court

The Judicial Branch interprets laws and actions to declare them...

Constitutional/Unconstitutional

Bill of Rights

First 10 Amendments to the Constitution

1st Amendment Rights

Freedom of: Religion, Speech, Assembly, Press, Petition

2nd Amendment Right

Righ to bear arms (own a weapon)

4th Amendment Right

Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures

Amendments 5-8 protect who?

People who are accused or convicted of a crime

5th Amendment Rights

Due Process (right to trial)

Self-Incrimination

Double Jeopardy

6th Amendment Right

Have an attorney to represent them in court

7th Amendment Right

Trial by jury

8th Amendment Right

Protection against cruel and unusual punishment

13th Amendment

Abolished slavery, unless convicted of a crime

Equal Protection Clause

Clause in the 14th amendment to protects all groups from discrimination

The total amount of Amendments to the Constitution

27

If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

Vice President

25th Amendment

Presidential succession. If President cannot serve, this amendment specifically addresses procedure

Eligibility requirements for the President

- 35 Years old

- Natural Born Citizen

- Resident for 14 years

Eligibility requirements for the members of the House of Representatives

- 25 Years old

- Resident for 7 years

- Resident of state representing

Eligibility requirements for members of the Senate

- 30 Years old

- Resident for 9 years

- Resident of state representing

Inauguration Day

January 20th

20th Amendment

Inauguration Date is set at January 20th

Term Limits for President

2 Terms (8 years)

22nd Amendment

Limits the president to 2 terms

15th Amendment

Expands voting rights to all men regardless of race and previous servitude

19th Amendment

Expands voting rights to women

Number of senators per state

2

Total number of Senators

100

Representatives per state in the House of Representatives is determined by...

Population

Total representatives in the House of Representatives

435

Other Jobs of the Legislative Branch

Impose taxes; confirm presidential appointments; impeachment process; declare war; sign treaties

Term length for House of Representatives

2 Years

Term length for Senate

6 years

Number of justices on the Supreme Court

9

Who appoints Supreme Court justices and other appointments

President

Who confirms justices & presidential appointments

Senate

Term length for Supreme Court Justice

Life

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

A person has the right to an attorney regardless of economic status OR crime

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Separate but Equal doctrine is established; state discrimination in public facilities is legal

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Overturns Plessy v. Ferguson; Separate is inherently unequal; minoritity group is especially discriminated against when separated

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

Suspects must be informed of their rights before answering; "right to remain silent"

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Formal prayer is not allowed in public schools; this is a violation of establishment clause-- state's supporting 1 specific religion

Establishment Clause

The US government cannot establish a national religion for all citizens to follow

Free Exercise Clause

The US government cannot prohibit your freedom of religion regardless of faith

Tinker v. Des Moines School District (1969)

Students can protest in school as long as speech/protest is not disruptive to the school procedures and does not violate school policies agreed upon by students and families

Shay's Rebellion

Farmer rebellion in Massachusetts that highlighted the need for a strong national government because of lack of effective leadership

Slave Trade Compromise

Agreement to appease Southern states at the Constitutional Convention (1787) to not outlaw the slave trade until 1808.

Federalists

Individuals who supported the US Constitution as written (articles, no Bill of Rights); supported a strong federal government

Anti-Federalists

Individuals who opposed the US Constitution as written; believed it was necessary for the inclusion of a Bill of Rights; supported strong state governments

Federalist Papers

Collection of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay supporting the immediate ratification of the US Constitution

Federalist No. 10

James Madison argues that liberty is safest in a large republic because a powerful faction will not be able to exist

Faction

A group with a distinct political interest; a small political party

In The Federalist No. 10, James Madison argued that factions in a republic are

Dangerous

Federalist No. 51

James Madison argues that separation of powers within the national government is the best way to prevent the concentration of power in the hands of one person or a single group.

Separation of Powers

the division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government

Montesquieu

Supporter of separation of powers

Federalist No. 70

Hamilton argues that a strong single executive leader is essential for the new government

Federalist No. 78

Hamilton covers the role of the federal judiciary, including the power of judicial review. Argues that the federal branch is the weakest and must be protected

Brutus No. 1

Anti-Federalist essay that argued against a strong central government and promoted strong state governments.

Brutus No. 1 favors state governments because...

State governments are smaller, understand the population & constituents better, and with a strong federal government, small government is invisible

Necessary & Proper Clause

Clause of Article 1 of the Constitution that grants Congress the power to create any legislation deemed "necessary and proper"

Supremacy Clause

Article 6 of Constitution which declares the Constitution & Federal government the supreme law of the land. State governments must follow lead of federal government

Exclusionary Rule

A rule that states that evidence obtained without a warrant (4th amendment right) cannot be used against the individual in a court of law

Federalism

System of government where power is shared between the national and state government levels

Amendments 9 & 10

Expands individual rights & power of the state governments

Due Process Clause

Included in the 5th and 14th Amendments that guarantees an individual's right to life, liberty, and property and fairness of the law

24th Amendment

Abolished poll taxes

26th Amendment

Established 18 as the voting age

16th Amendment

Allows Congress to implement a federal income tax

Leader of the Senate

Vice President

When does the Vice President vote in the Senate

If there is a tie

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Establishes judicial review; determines if a law or action is constitutional

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Established national supremacy; an action previously conducted by the federal government under the necessary and proper clause cannot be undone by state government.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

Compelling Amish students to attend school past the eighth grade violates the free exercise clause

Schenck v. US (1919)

Court determined that an individual's freedom of speech can be limited if it creates a "clear and present danger"; "Fire" in a crowded theater

NYT v. Sullivan (1964)

An individual must prove that a publication knowingly published false information before sueing; press has freedom to criticize or have "negative" opinion about event/individual

NYT v. US (1971)

Government wanted NYT to not be able to publish Pentagon Papers about Vietnam; SCOTUS rules that government cannot censor press if there is no proof that national security would be in danger

Texas v. Johnson (1989)

Flag-burning is a protected form of symbolic speech; court ruled that government cannot place high importance on a symbol and just because speech might offend some, cannot be limited in this way

DC v Heller (2008) and McDonald v Chicago (2010)

2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms for self-defense is protected

U.S. v. Lopez (1995)

SCOTUS ruled that Congress could not make a law concerning gun restrictions by using the Commerce Clause-- Commerce Clause must concern interstate commerce and did not apply here

Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

Established exclusionary rule and expanded 4th amendment right to unwarranted search and seziure