adam norris ap gov review

John Locke

natural rights

Montesquieu

Separation of Power

Examples of Separation of Powers

Congress declares war and makes laws, Pres is commander in chief and enforces laws

Wall of Separation (who and what)

Thomas Jefferson, Separation of Church and State

Impeachment means

Bringing charges against official

Who confirms Supreme Court Justice

Senate

What percentage needed to confirm justice?

51%

Supreme Court on Ruling on Amendments

Cannot rule on amendment

Federalism

Separation of power between states and federal government

10th amendment

powers not given to national gov are reserved for states

Elastic Clause

Federal gov makes laws that are necessary and proper (loose interpretation)

Cooperative Federalism

States and Fed share power (law enforcement)

Devolution

Giving power back to states

Categorical grants

Project, based on application

Formula grants

Money distributed on a formula (medicaid)

Block Grants

States decide how to spend

Primary responsibility of constitution

protect private property

Example of a mandate

Americans with disabilities act

Who decides voting requirements for eligible voters

States

Commerce Clause

Federal Government regulates commerce (increase power of fed gov)

Pluralism

Belief that Interest groups can influence public policy through organizations

Elitism

Belief that Wealthy control government

Hyperpluralism

Belief that too many interest groups exist and are bad for the country, cause gridlock

Federalists vs Anti-Federalist debate

Debate over whether to pass constitution, size and scope of government

Federalist #10

Persuade NY to ratify Constitution

2 states that divide electoral votes

Maine and Nebraska

Plurality Election

Candidate wins election without a majority

Divided Government

Congress and President controlled by different parties

Linkage institution

Connect public to political process, ex Interest groups and political parties

Socialization

How individuals learn about politics

Most common source of political socialization

family

Ticket splitting

Person votes for both democrats and republicans on their ballot

Most common form of political participation

voting

Political Efficacy

Belief that my vote matters

Horse-race journalism

Media focuses on poles, not issues

Iron Triangle

Congress, interest groups, bureaucracy and their interactions

Franking Privilege

Can send things in the mail to their constituents free of charge

PORK-BARRELL

Allocating funds to constituents

Who appropriates money

Congress

What has to happen to override a veto

2/3 votes in both chambers

Congressional Oversight

Congress reviews agency, department, or office

Where are committees more significant

House (more members can do more work)

Standing committees

permanent- ex foreign relations and agriculture

Conference Committees

settle differences between Senate and House versions of bills

Rules committee

Only in house, determines rules for bills

Closed Rule

Set time limits, no amendments to bills (House rules committee)

Subcommittees

Research specific issue, committee within a committee

Ways and Means

House, deals with money related stuff, members cannot be on another committee

Who impeaches officials

House of Reps

Who creates revenue bills

House of Reps

Who determines house districts

State legislatures

Henry Clay

Influential speaker of house, influenced power of speaker

Who approves presidential appointments

Senate

Who approves treaty

Senate

"The jury" of an impeachment trial (decides whether to remove them from office)

Senate

Cloture motion

only way to stop a filibuster

Who has more say over formation of bills, Senate or House

Senate

Delegate voting approach

official votes according to how most people in their district view an issue

Trustee voting approach

Officials vote based on their own judgement

22nd Amendment

Limits president to 2 terms (2 terms, 22nd)

Pocket Veto

President does nothing to a bill for 10 days, eventually is automatically vetoed

Famous Executive Orders examples

Internment during WWII, Emancipation Proclamation, Truman desegregating military during Korean War

How can Congress influence executive orders

Funding

Delegates are more ____ than population

ideological

Line-tem veto

vetoing specific parts of bill, president cannot do this

Chief of Staff

Basically President's secretary, right-hand person, does not require confirmation so can be fired at any time

Attorney General

Leader of Justice Department

Inherent Powers

Presidential powers not specifically states by Constitution (inferred), ex acquiring territory

Where has Presidential powers increased?

Foreign affairs, government services, economic and domestic issues

"Bully Pulpit"

President using media to influence legislation

Why are justices appointed for life?

Independent of political pressure, can make unpopular decisions

Minimum number of justices who must agree to hear case

4

Most common source of cases to Supreme Court

Appellate courts

District Courts

Deal with most federal cases (most end in a plea bargain)

Appellate Court

Reviews decisions of district courts

Amicus Curiae

Friend of court, people/interest groups write letters saying how this court impacts them

Original intent

how would framers of Constitution view this

Incorporation Doctrine aka selective incorporation

Bill of Rights are applied to state government (Mapp vs Ohio)

State Decisis

Court makes decisions based on precedent

Writs of Certiorari

Supreme Court orders case from lower court to be reviewed

Judicial Restraint

Supreme court should rely on precedent

Judicial Activism

Supreme Court can correct injustices (Brown vs Board of Education)

When can free speech be limited?

If it poses clear and present danger (Schenk vs Ohio)

Marbury v Madison (1803)

Established Judicial Review

McCulloch v Madison (1819)

States cannot tax federal government agency (reinforces elastic clause and increases authority of federal gov)

Plessy v Ferguson (1896)

Separate but Equal doctrine

Miranda v Arizona

Warren Court, Suspects must have Constitutional Rights read to them

5th Amendment

Right to remain silent during police interrogations

Brown v Board of Education

Warren Court, Desegregated schools

Mapp v Ohio

Warren Court, Exclusionary rule, illegally obtained evidence cannot be used in court (Warren Court), selective incorporation

Gideon v. Wainwright

Warren Court, Defendant must be provided a lawyer free of charge if they cannot afford one

Major Warren Court Cases

Brown v Board of education, Mapp v Ohio, Gideon v Wainwright, Miranda v Arizona, Griswold v Connecticut

Time period of Warren Court

1953-1969

Griswold v Connecticut (1965)

Overturned prohibition of contraceptives (right to privacy)

Roe v Wade (1973)

NOT WARREN COURT, abortion legalized, right to privacy

US v Nixon (1974)

Executive privilege is not absolute

Baker vs Carr (1962)

One person, one vote, addresses gerrymandering, state legislature districts have to be as close to equal as possible

Gitlow v New York (1925)

Begins selective incorporation

NYT vs Sullivan (1964)

Public officials must prove malice if trying to win a lawsuit for defamation

Largest portion of uncontrollable spending

Entitlements (Social Security)