Knowt
Unit 1 - AP Gov
Unit 1 - Democracy & the ConstitutionĀ
Chapter 1 - American Gov & PoliticsĀ
Politics - the process of influencing the actions & politics of the government
Government - the rules & institutions that make up that system of policy making
Democracy - a system of government where power is held by the peopleĀ
Natural Rights - Ā John LockeĀ
the right to life liberty & property, which government cannot take awayĀ
Social contract - John LockeĀ
People allow their governments to rule over them to ensure an orderly & functioning societyĀ
American political culture - the set of beliefs, customs, traditions, & values thatĀ
Ā Americans share.Ā
Popular sovereignty - the idea that the governmentās right to rule comes from the people
Ā Political equality among citizens (b/c all have the right to vote notĀ Ā Ā Ā
Ā Ā Ā just a small % of the population
Republicanism - a system in which the governmentās authority comes from the peopleĀ
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā through their elected representatives
Inalienable rights - rights the government cannot take away
Liberty - social, political & economic freedomsĀ
Participatory democracy - a theory stating that widespread political participation isĀ
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā essential for democratic government
Civil Society - broad citizen involvement (like through social justice groups)Ā
Civil society groups - independent associations outside the governmentās controlĀ
Pluralist theory - emphasizes the role of groups in the policymaking processĀ
Elitist theory - a theory democracy that the elites have a disproportionate amount ofĀ
Ā Ā influence in the policymaking process
Political institutions - the structure of government including the executive, legislativeĀ
Ā Ā Ā & judiciary
Constitutional republic - a democratic system with elected representatives in which theĀ
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā constitution is the supreme law
Constitutional government - the powers of the government are both described &Ā
Ā Ā Ā limited by the constitution
Totalitarian governmentĀ
All power claimed by central governmentĀ
Authoritarian governmentĀ
Central government claims most power but some independent social & economic institutions exist & government does not exert total control over the citizensā livesĀ
Representative government
Citizens select representatives who vote on policy. Individual liberties are protectedĀ
Chapter 2 - The Constitution
Constitution - a document that sets out the fundamental principles of governance &Ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā establishes the institutions of the gov.Ā
Republic - gov. Ruled by representatives of the people
Articles of Confederation & Perpetual Union - a governing doc that created a union of
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 13 sovereign states in which the states,Ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā not the national gov, were supremeĀ
Unicameral - one-house legislature
Bicameral - two house legislatureĀ
Shaysās Rebellion - uprising against the gov of massachusetts. Sparked b/c manyĀ
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Americans did not want to replace articles of confederation, worryĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā about equal representation & outlawing slaveryĀ
Constitutional Convention - meeting attended by state delegates to fix arts. ofĀ Ā Ā Ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā confederation
ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ These were important to the colonists especially b/c ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹Britain did not allow them these rights. So they implemented rights that wereĀ Ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā notĀ allowed to them in EnglandĀ Ā
Writ of habeas corpus - right of people detained by gov. to know the charges againstĀ
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā them
Bills of attainder - when the legislature declares someone guilty w/o a trialĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā (is prohibited by states & congress)Ā
Ex post facto laws - laws punishing people for acts that were not crimes at the time theyĀ
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā were committedĀ
ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹
Virginia Plan - plan of gov. for a 3 branch gov. w/ bicameral legislatureĀ
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā So states w/ bigger population ā more rep in congress
New Jersey Plan - plan of gov. w/ unicameral legislature w/ equal votes for each state
Great Connecticut Compromise - A compromise between the Virginia plan & the newĀ Ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Jersey plan creating a bicameral legislature, with theĀ
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā House of representatives & Senate
Grand Committee - committee @ constitutional convention ā worked out compromiseĀ
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā about representation
Three-Fifths Compromise - counting slaves as three fifths of a person. While slaves wereĀ
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā not considered equal citizens considering slaves as ā meansĀ
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā that slave-states would get more representation in gov
Compromise of Importation - Congress could not restrict slave trade until 1808
Separation of powers - division of the gov. To avoid any one branch becoming tooĀ
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā powerful on its ownĀ
Checks & balances - gov design āeach branch has powers that can prevent otherĀ
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā branches from making policy ā aka the enforcement ofĀ Ā Ā Ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā separation of powers
Federalism -the sharing of power between national & state
Legislative branch - makes legislationĀ
Expressed or enumerated powers - authority specifically granted to a branch of gov.Ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā In the constitution
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā ā Expressed powers as in powers EXPRESSED in the constitutionĀ
Necessary & proper or elastic clause - granting the powers necessary to carry outĀ
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā expressed power
Implied powers - powers beyond what is expressed in the constitution
Inherent powers - powers of the national gov. in foreign affairs that the Supreme CourtĀ
Ā Ā Ā Ā ā Ā Ā Ā Ā declare do not depend on constitutional grants but rather grow out ofĀ
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā the very existence of the national gov.Ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Inherent b/c they are INHERENT of the national gov. In its role as sovereign
Ā Like how humans inherently breathe completely independently & canāt removeĀ
Ā Ā Ā that w/o killing the alive personĀ
Executive branch - carries out the laws from legislative branchĀ
Judicial branch - responsible for hearing & deciding cases through federal courtsĀ
Supremacy clause - constitutional provision declaring all national laws & treaties are
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā ā Ā Ā Ā Ā he supreme law of the l&
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā ā supremacy like the constitution is SUPREME & has 100s of clausesĀ
Amendment - the process by which changes may be made to the constitution
Federalists - supporters of a strong national government pro constitutionĀ
Anti federalists - opposed constitution b/c favored stronger state govs
Federalist Papers - Essays detailing the theory behind the constitution
Faction - group of self interested people who use the gov. to achieve their desires &Ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā trample over the rights of othersĀ
ā Preamble U.S. Constitution
Sovereignty comes from the people and the constitution will create a āmore perfect unionā.
ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹
ā Federalist No. 51
An essay by Madison which argues separation of powers + federalismĀ
Will prevent tyranny
ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹
ā Federalist No. 10
Federalist, for the ratification of the ConstitutionĀ
Madisonās take on factions theyāre dangerous.Ā
However, factions are unavoidable as long as people will continue to haveĀ
diff. values, & to prevent factions is to destroy libertyĀ
w/ the Constitution
The large republic ā dilutes power of factions
w/ so many factions competing ā have to compromiseĀ
ā protecting common good & reducing risk of tyrannyĀ
To protect from tyranny from the majority ā since there are so many competing interests ā fewer distinct parties āharder for one faction to dominateĀ
The only way to add variety into the political sphere means a large republic
ā meaning ratifying the constitutionĀ
Protecting majority rule while not oppressing the minorityĀ
ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹
ā Brutus No. 1
Anti-federalist paper arguing against the Constitution.Ā
Representationā¦the growing nation would become too large to truly rep. the people
Either under the constitution they could have many reps. However nothing would get passed (b/c inefficiency)
& historically large republics (such as rome) have ended up tyrannicalĀ
Or smaller # of reps. but the reps would no longer vote on behalf of the people b/c they donāt know the desires of the multitude they are representingĀ
ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹
Economically
Giving congress the power to tax would be amazing if in the right handsā¦if not would be used tyrannicallyĀ
What about changing your mind in retrospect?
This doc. argues if the people no longer desired the Constitution they would have to fight to reverse it (b/c of ratification)Ā
Having a standing militia ādamage liberty
Representatives would only grow more powerful ā not relinquishing office
āgateway into tyranny (worried about tyranny of the majority)
Brutus No. 1 argues for statesā sovereignty, how thirteen small republicsĀ
would be more functional and equal than one large republicĀ
& supports participatory democracyĀ
Individual rightsĀ
Chapter 3 - FederalismĀ
ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹Systems of dividing state & national govļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹
Unitary system - a system where the central gov. has all the power over subnational
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Govs. (ex. Subnational = states)
Confederal system - a system where the subnational govs. have most of the power
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā (ex. States had more power under the articles of confederation)
Federal system - a system where power is divided between the national & state govs.Ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā š“ this is what the U.S. is
ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹
Exclusive powers - powers only the national gov. Have the right to exerciseĀ
Commerce clause - grants congress the authority to regulate interstate businessĀ
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā & commercial activityĀ
Necessary & proper clause - grants the federal gov. the authority to pass laws
Ā Ā NECESSARY to carry out its enumerated powers
Aka the elastic clauseĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā b/c it is flexible so federal gov. Can pass laws ācarry out enumerated powers
Supremacy clause - establishes the constitution as the supreme law of the l&Ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā & the laws of federal gov. under constitutions authorityĀ
Tenth Amendment - reserves powers not delegated to the national gov. to the states & the people; the basis of federalismĀ
Reserved powers- powers not given to the national gov. which are retained by the states
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā & people
Concurrent powers - powers granted to both states & federal gov. in the ConstitutionĀ
Full faith & credit clause - constitutional clause requiring states to recognize public acts,
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā records & civil court proceedings from another stateĀ
Extradition - the req. that officials in one state return a defendant to another state where Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā a crime was committedĀ
Privileges & immunities clause - constitutional clause that prevents states from
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā discriminating against people from out of stateĀ
ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹
ā McCulloch v. MarylandĀ Ā Ā 1819
Centered on the Second Bank of the U.S. (national bank chartered by Congress)
Maryland passed laws to tax the Second Bank of the U.S.Ā
Bank officials refused to pay the state tax ā went to the supreme courtĀ
Question brought to Supreme CourtĀ
Did congress have the authority to establish the bank?
Did individual states have the authority to tax its branches operating within state borders
Ultimate ruling aligned with the supremacy law, siding with the national gov.Ā
instead of federal gov.Ā
ā ruled Congress had the right to establish the bank b/c it was an implied power
ā ruled that Maryland & other states did not have the authority to tax the bankās stateĀ Ā Ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā BranchesĀ
This case established that Congress has the implied power to charter a bank b/c implied power under the necessary and proper clause and states may not tax the federal gov
ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹
Thirteenth Amendment - constitutional amendment that outlawed slaveryĀ
Fourteenth Amendment - constitutional amendment that provides that persons born inĀ
Ā āĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā the U.S. are citizens and prohibits states from denying personsĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā due process or equal protection under the law
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Meaning southern states couldn't deny citizenship to former slaves
Fifteenth Amendment - gave African American males the right to vote
Dual federalism - a form of American federalism in which the states & the national
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā gov. operate independently in their own areas of public policyĀ
Selective incorporation - the process through which the Supreme court applies
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā fundamental rights in the Bill of Rights to the states on aĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā case-by-case basisĀ
Cooperative federalism - a form of American federalism in which the states & national
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā gov. work together to shape public policyĀ
Fiscal federalism - federal gov.ās use of grants-in-aid w/ specific provisions on their use
ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Grant-in-aid - federal provided to statesĀ
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā to implement public policy objectives
Categorical grants - grants-in-aid provided to states with specific conditions on their use
Ā āĀ Ā categorical like CARROT. Carrot on stick b/c the grant encourages states toĀ
carry out national policy objectives while if they fail the federal gov. Threatens to take away their
Unfunded mandates - federal req. that states must follow w/o being provided fundingĀ
Block grant - type of grant-in aid that gives state officials more authority in the
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā disbursement of federal funds
Revenue sharing - when the federal gov. apportions tax money to the states w/
Ā Ā Ā Ā No strings attached
Devolution - returning more authority to state or local govs.Ā
Statute - written law passed by a legislative bodyĀ
Americans with Disabilities Act ofĀ 1990
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āĀ Ā Ā Example of an unfunded mandateĀ
Ā Ā Ā Required states to change existing public buildings to make them accessible toĀ
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā disabled americans. It supported disabled americans though at the cost ofĀ
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā state budgetsĀ
ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹ļ¹
ā United States v. Lopez Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 1995
Facts of case:Ā
Lopez went to a local public high school w/ an unloaded gun & cartridges & ammunition
He planned to sell the gun on campus to another studentĀ
He was charged w/ (after state charges were dropped) violating federal Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990Ā
Question brought to Supreme Court:Ā
Is the 1990 Gun-Free School Zones Act forbidding individuals from knowingly
carrying a gun in a school zone unconstitutional b/c it exceeds the power of Congress to legislature under the Commerce Clause?
Ruled: that it wasn't economic activity that would affect interstate commerce
Reasoning: if they were to accept bringing a gun to a local high school as interstate
commerce āthen everything would be classified as a violation ofĀ
commerce clause. Like all activities related to economic productivity (marriage, child custody etc.)Ā
& nothing would be left to the states
& affirmed 10th Amendment, federal system protecting state power.Ā
This case limited the federal gov.ās ability to pass legislation under the commerce clause ā giving more power to the statesĀ
Required ArticlesĀ
ā Article IVĀ
States will respect other states
States must return prisoners/slavesĀ
States cannot be formed inside another stateĀ
U.S. guarantees republican gov. & protects states from riots if stateĀ
legislatures askĀ
ā Article V
Lays out how many votes are req. to ratify the constitution
(ā of congress ā Ā¾ of state legislatures)
(or ā of states hold constitutional convention to propose amendments)Ā
& No amendment prior to 1808 can affect slave trade/taxesĀ
ā Article VI
Supremacy ClauseĀ
All gov. Officials bound to constitutionĀ
& no religious test can be used to serve in public officeĀ
ā Article VII
To ratify constitutional meetings reqs. 9 states approvalĀ
This agreement 12 years after nationās independenceĀ
Electoral college - way of electing the pres. Indirectly via electorsĀ
Ā Ā Ā Ā & the # of electors are based on each stateās # of senators
