AP GOV GOD MODE

Amendments:

• 1st Amendment – Protects freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.

• 2nd Amendment – Right to bear arms.

• 4th Amendment – Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

• 5th Amendment – Protects against self-incrimination and double jeopardy; guarantees due process.

• 6th Amendment – Right to a fair and speedy trial, legal counsel, and to confront witnesses.

• 8th Amendment – No cruel and unusual punishment or excessive bail.

• 10th Amendment – Powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states.

• 14th Amendment – Grants citizenship, due process, and equal protection under the law.

• 15th Amendment – Prohibits denying the right to vote based on race.

• 17th Amendment – Direct election of U.S. Senators.

• 19th Amendment – Women’s suffrage.

• 24th Amendment – Prohibits poll taxes.

• 26th Amendment – Lowered voting age to 18.

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Clauses:

• Necessary and Proper Clause – Allows Congress to make laws required to carry out its powers (Elastic Clause).

• Commerce Clause – Congress can regulate interstate and international trade.

• Supremacy Clause – Federal law is supreme over state law.

• Establishment Clause – Government can’t establish an official religion.

• Free Exercise Clause – Citizens can freely practice their religion.

• Due Process Clause (14th Amendment) – States must respect all legal rights owed to a person.

• Equal Protection Clause (14th Amendment) – Requires states to provide equal protection under the law.

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Foundational Documents:

• Federalist No. 10 – Warns about factions; argues a large republic is best to control them.

• Federalist No. 51 – Argues for separation of powers and checks and balances.

• Federalist No. 70 – Supports a strong, single executive (President).

• Federalist No. 78 – Supports judicial independence and judicial review.

• Brutus No. 1 – Anti-Federalist paper warning against a powerful central government.

• Declaration of Independence – Declares independence; lists grievances against the king.

• Articles of Confederation – First U.S. government; weak central authority.

• U.S. Constitution – Framework of the U.S. government.

• Letter from a Birmingham Jail – MLK defends civil disobedience to fight unjust laws.

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Required SCOTUS Cases (short descriptions):

• Marbury v. Madison (1803) – Established judicial review.

• McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) – Expanded federal power using Necessary and Proper Clause.

• U.S. v. Lopez (1995) – Limited Congress’s power under the Commerce Clause.

• Engel v. Vitale (1962) – School prayer violates the Establishment Clause.

• Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) – Amish kids can’t be forced to attend school past 8th grade.

• Tinker v. Des Moines (1969) – Students have free speech rights in schools (armbands).

• NY Times v. U.S. (1971) – Protected freedom of the press (Pentagon Papers).

• Schenck v. U.S. (1919) – Speech can be limited if it presents a “clear and present danger.”

• Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) – Right to an attorney in state trials.

• Roe v. Wade (1973) – Legalized abortion using right to privacy.

• McDonald v. Chicago (2010) – Incorporated 2nd Amendment to the states.

• Brown v. Board of Education (1954) – Ended school segregation (“separate but equal” is unconstitutional).

• Baker v. Carr (1962) – Enabled courts to rule on legislative redistricting.

• Shaw v. Reno (1993) – Racial gerrymandering is unconstitutional.

• Citizens United v. FEC (2010) – Allowed unlimited independent political spending by corporations.

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Key Terms/Concepts:

• Checks and Balances – Each branch can limit the powers of the others.

• Separation of Powers – Division of government into 3 branches.

• Federalism – Power is divided between national and state governments.

• Popular Sovereignty – Government power comes from the people.

• Limited Government – Government is restricted by laws and the Constitution.

• Judicial Review – Courts can declare laws unconstitutional.

• Political Socialization – Process by which people form their political beliefs.

• Political Efficacy – Belief that your vote or political participation matters.

• Majoritarian Democracy – Majority rules in elections and policy decisions.

• Pluralist Democracy – Power is distributed among many groups.

• Elite Democracy – Small number of people influence decision-making.

• Block Grants – Federal money to states with broad spending guidelines.

• Categorical Grants – Federal money to states with strict spending rules.

• Mandates – Federal rules that states must follow (funded or unfunded).

• Split-Ticket Voting – Voting for different parties for different offices.

• Incumbency Advantage – Incumbents often win re-election due to name recognition, fundraising, etc.

• Interest Groups – Groups that try to influence public policy.

• Iron Triangle – Relationship between bureaucracy, Congress, and interest groups.

• Lobbying – Attempting to influence policymakers.

• Political Action Committees (PACs) – Groups that raise money to support candidates.

• Super PACs – Can raise unlimited money but can’t coordinate directly with candidates.

• Electoral College – System used to elect the president.

• Bureaucracy – Agencies that implement federal laws and programs.

• Stare Decisis – Let the decision stand; using precedent in court rulings