AP US Government & Politics Content Review

Describe some of the purposes of government

Make economic decisions, promote general welfare

Compare/contrast a direct democracy with an indirect democracy

An indirect democracy elects representatives whereas a direct democracy is voted entirely by the citizens

Traditional theory of democracy

Promote majority rule, ex small town meeting

Pluralist theory of democracy

More than one center power, ex interest groups

Elite theory of democracy

Small minority rule, ex oil industry, corporate

Hyperpluralism theory of democracy

Ruled by multiple small groups, ex interest groups

From what sources do Americans become politically socialized?

Family and level of education (school)

Summarize the steps of the policy-making cycle

Agenda setting, policy formulation, legitimization, implementation, evaluation, policy maintenance

Raise awareness

Raise public awareness of an issue

Create policy agenda

Decide which issues will be showcased

Prioritize the agenda

Determine the importance of issues

Enact new public policy

Translate campaign promises into law

Evaluate the policy

Review the issues and public approval

Political theories of Thomas Hobbes

Humans are self-centered, need monarchy

Political theories of John Locke

Citizens have god-given rights, does not need monarch

Similarities between Locke and Hobbes

Natural equality of all men, consent of the governed

Explain how the Declaration of Independence incorporated some of the ideas of Locke

Incorporated Locke's unalienable rights of life liberty, and pursuit of happiness

List some of the powers held by the central government in the Articles of Confederation

Incorporate territories

Describe some of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Inability to tax or declare war

How did Shay's Rebellion show some of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

Showed the consequences of not having a strong central government

Describe the concept of factions

A small organized dissenting group

List the features of the Connecticut (Great) Compromise

Equal representation in Senate, proportional representation in the House of Representatives

Explain the controversy over the creation of the 3/5ths Compromise

One slave would count as 3/5th vote in representation which would give southern states an unfair advantage

Popular sovereignty

Created by and subject to the will of the people

Limited government

Power exists within pre-defined limits

Separation of powers

Split of powers into other bodies within the government

Checks and balances

The ability of other bodies of government to supervise the proceedings of another

Judicial review

Allows the Supreme Court to decide the constitutionality of laws passed by Congress

Federalism

Dual bodies of government, state and a federal government

Writ of Habeas Corpus

Determine the legality of an imprisonment

Bills of Attainder

Declaring someone guilty of a crime without trial

Ex Post Facto Laws

Criminalizing conduct that was originally legal

Full Faith and Credit Clause

States recognizing laws of other states

Supremacy Clause

Federal law (the Constitution) is supreme law of the land

Why did many states want the US Constitution to include a Bill of Rights?

To also have checks on the federal government while also guaranteeing rights

Barron v Baltimore

Define the concept of federalism in US consitutional law

Gitlow v New York

First time that the Supreme Court applied the 14th amendment to the states

1st Amendment

Freedom of speech, press, assembly, religion

2nd Amendment

Military, bear arms

3rd Amendment

Quartering of soldiers illegal

4th Amendment

Unreasonable search and seizures illegal

5th Amendment

Self-incrimination illegal

6th Amendment

Speedy and public trial, counsel

7th Amendment

Trial by jury

8th Amendment

Cruel and unusual punishment

9th Amendment

Rights shall not be denied

10th Amendment

Powers not delegated are reserved to the states

11th Amendment

Suits against states

12th Amendment

Election of President/Vice-President

13th Amendment

Slavery illegal

14th Amendment

Bill of rights applies to the states

15th Amendment

Right to vote- race, color, servitude (Universal male suffrage)

16th Amendment

Income tax

17th Amendment

Popular election of Senators

18th Amendment

Prohibition of intoxicating Liquors

19th Amendment

Equal suffrage- sex, female

20th Amendment

Death/Disqualification of President Elect

21st Amendment

Repeal of 18th amendment

22nd Amendment

Presidential tenure limit of 8 years

23rd Amendment

Inclusion of DC to Presidential election system

24th Amendment

Right to vote in federal elections/Poll tax illegal

25th Amendment

Presidential succession

26th Amendment

Right to vote- age 18

27th Amendment

Congressional pay

What is federalism?

The combination of a central and regional government

Why did the Founders feel that dividing power was necessary?

In order to ensure that one body of gov did not accumulate too much power and to better govern the nation

Dual federalism

Two different bodies governing separately

Cooperative federalism

National, state, and local govern together

Similarities between dual and cooperative federalism

Requires separate ruling bodies

Define the meaning of decentralization. How does the US federal system display decentralization?

Transfer of power from federal to state governments

Enumerated powers

Specifically defined in the constitution, ex power to tax

Implied powers

Not explicitly stated, ex to establish a bank

Inherent powers

Needed by Congress and the President, ex border control

Reserved powers

Not delegated to federal gov is for the states, ex 14th amendment

Concurrent power

Shared by the federal and state gov, ex create lower courts

Why is the necessary and proper clause commonly called the elastic clause?

Because it gives the federal gov more reasons to increase their power

McCulloch v Maryland

Establish the necessary and proper clause and defined implied powers

Gibbons v Ogden

Federal gov have the right to regulate interstate commerce

Why is cooperative federalism often referred to as marble cake federalism?

Involves all levels of gov to work together

Describe how the US gov has become more cooperative

By allowing states to pass their own laws

Fiscal federalism

Federal gov fund the different levels of gov

How does fiscal federalism resemble the carrot and a stick metaphor?

State and local gov must obey the federal gov in order to recieve funding

Categorical grants

Funding that must be spent for narrowly defined purpose

Formula grants

Funding determined by a mathematical formula

Project grants

Funding for research development

Block grants

Funding that can be allocated for various purposes

Explain the controversy of the federal government creating unfunded mandates for states. How does No Child Left Behind exemplify the meaning of an unfunded mandate?

Federal gov making a new policy mandatory for states but without allocating extra funds

Devolution

The delegation of powers to a lower level

List and describe 5 functions of political parties

Create groups, develop policies, organize campaigns, bring issues to increased awareness, influence gov

Partisanship

To support or show prejudice for a political party

Describe how and why third parties begin

To promote a specific issue/political ideology that is not supported by popular legislation

Explain how the American political system limits the influence of third parties

Majority of campaign sponsors are to the main political parties

Describe how third parties can act as spoilers in elections.

Third parties usually can alter voting if they side with a similarly viewed candidate

Describe the organization of American political parties regarding the impact of federalism, national committees, national chairpersons, national conventions, and state committees.

America has political parties in both level of gov because of federalism. Major parties have national and state committees and hold national conventions during election year. National chairpersons are the leaders of these parties.

Primary elections

Chooses presidential nominees

Pros and cons of political machines

Pros- effective

Cons-rampant corruption

Describe the trends of party identification when it comes to religion education age and economics

Religious, higher education, rich- Republicans

Opposite- Democrats

Party realignment

The balance of power within the party shifts

Party dealignment

People abandon partisan affiliation without noticeable turnover

Divided government

Different political parties are in control in both the House, Senate, and presidency