AP Gov Review Unit 1: Foundations of American Democracy

Limited Government

A theory in which the govn’t only has the pwers given by the law

Natural Rights

Rights inherent in humans, not dependent on govn’t

Popular Sovereignty

Govn’t based on the consent of the people

Republican

A person advocating or supporting a republican govn’t

Social Contract

An agreement b/w groups that defines and limits rights and responsibilities of individuals and government.

Representative Democracy

Where representatives are elected by the public

Participatory Democracy

Citizens participate individually and directly in politics

Pluralist Democracy

GOvn’t where there is more than 1 center of power

Elite Democracy

Small, privileged group of people should be in charge

Federalist 10

• Written by James Madison

• Defended the form of government proposed by the Constitution

• Warned against the danger of factions and the need for a large republic to control them.

Brutus 1

• Essay written in 1787

• Opposed the ratification of the US Constitution

• Fought for the Bill of Rights to be aded to the Constitution

• It argues that a large republic would lead to the erosion of individual liberties and the consolidation of power in a central government.

• Large Republic + 1 leader = TYRANNY

Articles of Confederation

• First Constitution of the US

• 1781

• States had al the power, fed govn’t couldn’t do anything without the approval of the states

• Was proven weak by Shay’s Rebellion

Anti-Federalist

Opponents of the Constitution at the time of ratification

Federalist

Supports of the Constitution at the time it was written

Faction

Groups that arise from unequal distribution of $ and cause an unstable govn’t

Shay’s Rebellion

• Attacks on courthouse by small farmers to block foreclosures

• Demonstrated that the fed govn’t can’t do anything to stop them

• Showed the weakness and of AOC and the need for a stronger national government.

• First step to throwing away the AOC

Great/Connecticut Compromist

• Established 2 houses of Congress

• HOR would be based on population (Virginia Plan)

• Senate would have 2 senators from each state, no matter the population (New Jersey Plan)

Electoral College

• Body of people (representatives) who formally vote for POTUS

• Created because the founders didn’t trust the people to directly vote for POTUS because some were uneducated, poor, etc.

3/5 Compromise

• 3/5 of enslaved people were counted in the states population for taxing and representation in the House

• Allowed southern/slaves states to be over represented because the enslaved people couldn’t vote anyway

Constitutional Convention

• Meeting held in 1787 to create the Constitution

• If there is ever another Constitutional Convention, all hell brakes loose and the foundations of American democracy could be at risk

Ratification

To approve/enact a legal act (Amendment, law, etc.)

Separation of Powers

Powers b/w executive, legistative, and judicial branch is shared so no one branch becomes too powerful.

Checks and Balances

• Requires each branch to obtain consent of the others when doing anything

• POTUS can veto a law brought up in congress, Senate has to approve POTUS’s nominations

Impeachment

• Bringing charges against a government official to remove them from office following a trial.

• HOR brings up charges, Senate conducts the trial

Concurrent Powers

Powers shated by both the federal and state govn’ts

Categorical Grants

• Federal grants that can only be used for specific reasons

• Carrot and Stick (Strings attached)

Block Grants

Federal grants given automatically to support state programs

Mandates

A federal statute that gives govn’t agencies to regulate regions

Federalism

Combines a central govn’t with regional govn’t, dividing the powers

10th Amendment

Powers not given to the fed. govn’t in the Constitution is given to the people/states

14th Amendment

Granted citizenship and equal civil and legal rights to the enslaved

Commerce Clause

Congress has broad power to regulate interstate commerce/trade

Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)

Can pass necessary laws to preform enumerated powers

Elastic Clause

• Article 1, Section 8

• Congress has power to make all laws necessary

Enumerated Powers

Powers of the federal govn’t that goes beyond whats in the Constitution

Policymaking

Process by which govn’t/groups create plans, rules, action

McCulloch v. Maryland 1819

Established that federal laws > state laws when they are in conflict of each other

US V. Lopez 1995

• Reaffirmed state control over local issues and the federal govn’t can’t interfere

• Limited the commerce clause

What were the major weaknesses of the AOC that led to the need to create a new Constitution?

The Fed. Govn’t Couldn’t:

• Tax

• Regulate interstate commerace

• Raise an army

• Pass Laws

• No POTUS

Difference in View of the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists

Federalists = wealthy businessmen that wanted the Constitution to be ratified and wanted a strong federal govn’t

Anti-Federalists = Poor farmers that didn’t want the Constitution to be ratified, wanted state rights, and a weak central govn’t

How does the Electoral College work?

• Each state has a certain # of electors bease on HOR and Senate

• Voters in each state choose these electors

• These electors then vote for a POTUS candidate during the general election

• A candidate needs 270/538 votes to win

How does the debate about govn’t surveillance in response to the 9/11 attacks reflect differing attitudes about the rights of individuals?

• Most surveillance was against the rights of people, from tapping to phones ti discriminating against Arabs

• However, some people said the govn’tt has the right to limit rights in time of crisis

How does the debate about the role of the federal government in public education reflect differing attitudes about the role of state govn’t?

• People who believe in a strong state govn’t think the fed. govn’t has no right to interfere in state matters

• Those who think fed > state have no problem with the fed. govn’t butting in

How is the concept of federalism reflected in the US Constitution?

• 10th Amendment: Powers not given to fed. govn’t are given to the states

• Constitution outlines powers that belong to just national, the states, and to both govn’t

How does the SCOTUS cases of McCulloch v. Maryland and US v. Lopez reflect how the balance of power between national and states govn’t has changed over time?

• McCulloch is an older case that allowed a broad interpretation of the elastic clause

• Lopez shrinks the power of the commerce clause

Explain how federalism provides multiple access points for stakeholders and institutions to influence public policy

Federalism divides power on all levels, meaning people have the ability to influence policy

How does the sharing of power between the three branches of govn’t constrain national policy making?

• The policy making process takes longer because it has to go to the senate, house, and POTUS

• Each branch has different opinions so its hard to pass anything