AP US Government Study Guide

I have to study this and cry so in me which we all cry together :,)

Which period yielded many ideas that influenced the making of the American government?

The Enlightenment period

Who are some famous philosophers of the Enlightenment period?

John Locke, John-Jacques Rousseau, and Thomas Hobbes

What is a Social Contract?

A contract between the government and the governed. With this contract, the governed understands that they must give up some of their natural rights in exchange for protection from the government, alongside other benefits.

What is Natural Rights?

The rights given to every person. These rights can not be taken away by the government. If these rights are violated, then the people have the right to revolt.

What is Popular Sovereignty?

The idea that people should have the main voice in the government, and the government should be held accountable to the people. The power is in the people

What is Republicanism?

A representative form of government that is limited.

What is a Participatory Democracy?

Citizens have the power to decide on a policy, but the politicians that are elected by the people implement the people’s decisions.

What is a Pluralist Democracy?

Nobody dominates policymaking, but instead, different groups of people compete for influence in the government.

What is an Elite Democracy?

A small group of people makes decisions for everybody; these people are usually wealth and well-educated.

What was the first important document of the United States?

The Articles of Confederation.

Why were the Articles of Confederation so loose?

The Framers made it like this because they were coming from a very abusive and powerful monarchy under King George III’s rule in Britain, causing the American people to want safeguards to make sure the government wouldn’t abuse their powers.

When was the weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation highlighted?

Shay’s Rebellion

What was Shay’s Rebellion?

A violent revolt of farmers led by Daniel Shay. Due to the government’s weakness and lack of control, they didn’t have enough power to successfully control this revolt.

Who supported the ratification of the Constitution?

The Federalists.

Who did not supported the ratification of the Constitution?

The Anti-Federalists.

What are some of the weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation?

States had their own currency, could tax other states’ goods, and every state had its own militia.

What is Federalism?

Having shared power between the national, state, and local governments.

What are checks and balances?

Having systems incorporated into the government that prevent it from abusing power and becoming too powerful.

What is an example of checks and balances?

The presidential veto checks the power of the legislative branch by requiring approval from the President before a law is passed.

What is Separation of Powers?

Having authority and jurisdiction divided up in the government.

What is Limited government?

The government cannot do anything it wants because it is restricted by a written document.

What is The Great (Connecticut) Compromise?

The merged Virginia and New Jersey plan, creating a *bicameral legislature*. In one house, the number of representatives each state gets is based on their population. In the other house, the number of representatives for each state is the same.

What is the Electoral College?

Body that determines how the President and Vice President gets elected. Electors from each state vote for the President and Vice President and the number of electors each state gets is determined by the number of representatives they have in Congress.

What is the Three-Fifths Compromise?

Each slave was counted as 3/5ths of a person when it came to determining representation in Congress.

What was the Compromise on the Importation of slaves?

No new slaves can be imported into America after 1808.

What are the Enumerated powers?

The powers explicitly given to Congress in the Constitution.

What are Implied Powers?

Powers not expressed in the Constitution but are understood as powers given to the federal government.

What are Inherent powers?

Powers of the President.

What are Reserved Powers?

Powers reserved for the states (10th amendment)

What is the Privileges and Immunities Clause?

States can’t discriminate against people based on what state they are from.

What is the Full Faith and Credit Clause?

States must trust documents that come from other states.

What is Extradition?

If you commit a crime and flee to a different state, the state you fled to must bring you back to the state you committed the crime in.

What is Dual Federalism?

The federal and state government are independent of each other and have separate duties. (1789- 1932)

What is Grants-in-aid for Fiscal Federalism?

Money given to the states by the federal government that doesn’t have to be paid back.

What is Categorical grants for Fiscal Federalism?

Grants that are given to the states for a specific reason.

What is Block Grants for Fiscal Federalism?

Grants given to the states for board use.

What is Mandates for Fiscal Federalism?

When the federal government requires governments to do something.

What is New Federalism(includes fiscal federalism)?

Instead of having centralized federalism where the power is mostly in the federal government, devolution is occurring, and there has been a movement to return some of the power back to the states (1963- Present)

What is Cooperative Federalism?

The levels of government work together to get different goals done. (1933- 1962)

What is the Commerce clause?

The government can regulate interstate commerce.

What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?

The government can stretch its enumerated powers in order to perform its job.

What is the McCulloch v. Maryland?

Maryland tried to tax the Second Bank of the United States in an attempt to close it. The owner of the bank refused to pay the tax and Maryland sued. Maryland argued that they could tax any business in the state and that the federal government was expanding their powers too far, since they shouldn’t be able to open a national bank. McCulloch, the cashier of the Baltimore branch of the bank, argued that under the necessary and proper clause, the government could create a bank. Plus, according to the supremacy clause, taxing is state inference with the a federal law, which is illegal. The Supreme Court voted unanimously in favor of McCulloch.

What is the United States v. Lopez?

Congress passed the Gun-Free School Zones Act, which prohibited people from carrying a gun in a school zone. Lopez was found with a gun in a school zone, and the case reached the Supreme Court. Lopez argued that Congress never had the authority to pass the law in the first place, and the US argued that through the elastic (necessary and proper) and commerce clauses, Congress had the power to pass that law. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Lopez, stating that guns were not related to commerce, and therefore Congress didn’t have the power to pass that law.

What is the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act?

Legislation that aimed to minimize the effect of unfunded mandates (mandatory things that states have to do without receiving money from the federal government) on state and local governments.

What is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program?

Provides money for low-income families for food (food stamps).

What is the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)?

A temporary social welfare program that provides money for the basic needs for income families but requires beneficiaries to be in a program that prepares them for work.

What is the National Voter Registration Act (Motor Voter Act)?

Allowed people to register to vote when they got their driver’s license. Also required states to develop a mail voter registration option. Its goal was to make it easier for people to vote.

What is the Clean Air Act?

It Established the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the agency which would develop standards for releasing hazardous emissions into the air. It also required that states had to meet the standards pushed by the EPA while giving citizens the right to sue against anybody that violates the standards set by the EPA.

What is the American with Disabilities Act?

An act passed to stop discrimination against people with disabilities. Also mandated that educational institutions and employers make accommodations for people with disabilities.

What is Brady Bill?

A bill to reduce gun violence by requiring federal background checks when buying firearms.

What is No Child Left Behind Act?

Provided money to low-income students so they were able to attain extra assistance.

Which Branch is the legislative branch?

Congress

What is a Filibuster?

Where a member holds the Senate floor to prevent a bill form going to vote.

What is a Cloture?

Used to end a filibuster. You need 3/5ths of the Senate’s vote to have successful cloture (60 votes).

What is Rules Committee?

Decides how a proposed bill will be voted on debated.

What is Committee of the Whole?

Simplifies the rules of debate and opens the conversation.

What is the Discharge Petition?

Filed to get a bill out of the committee and take it straight to the floor.

How many types of Committees are there?

4\.

What is a Standing Committee?

Committees that are always in operation.

What is a Conference Committee?

A committee formed with members from both the Senate and the House to iron out differences in similar legislation.

What is a Select Committee?

Created for a specific purpose and will eventually end.

What is a Joint Committee?

A Committee with people from both the Senate and the House, that is created for a specific reason.

What is Discretionary spending?

Programs in which Congress and the President have to renew spending for it every year.

What is Mandatory spending?

Programs in which the government has already made a commitment to pay

What is Pork barrel legislation?

When Congressmen negotiate for legislation that helps their specific district but not the whole country.

What is Logrolling?

When Congressmen agree to support each other’s bills.

What is Ideological Divisions within Congress?

People often vote along party lines, making it harder for legislation to be passed due to partisan differences (deadlock).

What is Gerrymandering?

Redistricting strategically to ensure one party gets more representation in that district, a process that can lead to a majority to have representation in Congress.

What is Redistricting?

The redraw of district lines for representation.

What is Reapportionment?

The delegation of representatives to different districts based on population. This determines which states get more representation.

Define Elections that have tend to lead to a “divided government”.

When the Congress is controlled by a different party than the White House. This can lead to a gridlock, which is when no legislation is passed because the two parties can not come to an agreement.

Define Congressional refusal to confirm appointments of “lame duck” presidents of the opposite party.

When the next President has been chosen and the current president’s term is almost up, they usually try to appoint people to governmental positions so their political ideologies continue, even though they are technically out of office.

What is the Trustee model?

When representative votes based on what they think is right, even if it is different from what their constituents want.

What is the Delegate model?

When representative votes based on what his constituents want, even when other representatives don’t agree with what the constituents want.

What is the Barker v. Carr case?

Tennessee residents were upset that the government had not redistricted in quite some time so the districts didn’t reflect the current population, causing residents in rural areas’ votes to count more than people in urban areas. The Supreme Court ruled that they could make decisions on the fairness of the districts under the equal protection clause of the 14 Amendment to make sure everyone’s vote had the same weight.

What is the Shaw v. Reno case?

North Carolina residents were mad about a majority-minority district and the case reached the Supreme Court where the government ruled that race can’t be the predominant factor in redistricting because that violates the 14th Amendment.

Define Chief Political/Party Leader.

Presidents can endorse people in their party, acting as a spokesperson for their party.

Define Head of state.

The President represents the nation by receiving ambassadors and performing many ceremonial roles.

Define Chief Legislator.

The President proposes legislation that he wants to see passed. He can also veto bills.

Define Chief Economic Planner.

The President proposes the budget and has to approve it.

What does a Bully Pulpit do for the President?

It allows the president to get support for their agenda which will make it easier for the President to get legislation passed that they support through.

What are the Formal Powers of the President?

Powers are explicitly given to the President in the Constitution.

Define Chief Executive.

The President makes sure that the laws are passed are obeyed. He can issue executive orders and employ many people to carry out laws.

Define Chief Diplomat.

The President must negotiate with foreign nations. He also has the power to make and enforce treaties.

Define Commander in Chief.

The President can make war. He can also use nuclear weapons.

Define the Cabinet.

A group of advisors that aid the President on numerous topics that he may not be as knowledgeable in.

What is included in the cabinet?

The Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland, Housing and Urban Development, and the Vice President.

What are ambassadors?

Diplomats that travel to other countries as the United States’ representatives and negotiate for the President.

What is the White House Staff?

Assistants to the President that counsel him on many things; led by the Chief of Staff.

What is the Bill of Rights?

The first 10 amendments of the constitution that protect individual liberties and rights of the people of the United States that the government cannot take way from its citizens. The government’s job and purpose is to protect these rights since they are ”god-given”. They are also meant to protect rights, not give them.

What are Civil Liberties?

The limitations that are put on the government; actions the government can’t take as they may interfere with your personal freedom.

What are Civil Rights?

Guarantees of equal citizenship and protects citizens from discrimination by majorities.

What does the 1st amendment protect?

Freedom of Religion, Speech, and Press

What is the Wisconsin v. Yoder case (1972)?

The state of Wisconsin fined Amish families that refused to send their children to school after eighth grade. Yoder argued that it went against their religious beliefs. The court ruled in favor of the Amish families saying their 1st amendment right was outweighed the state’s want to push their attendance.

What is the Schenck v. United States case?

Schenck was an anti-war activist who sent out 15,000 flies telling men to resist the draft for the first world war. He was arrested under the Espionage Act, which prohibited inference with military operations. Schenck argued that it went against his 1st Amendment right, eventually leading this case to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ended up voting against Schenck, saying his freedom of speech did not apply because of time, place, and manner restrictions