AP Gov Midterm Study

UNIT 1: FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY More than 200 years after the U.S. Constitution was ratified, the compromises that were necessary for ratification—which in some instances led to ambiguity—continue to fuel debate and discussion over how best to protect liberty, equality, order, and private property. This first unit sets the foundation for the course by examining how the framers of the Constitution set up a structure of government intended to stand the test of time. Compromises were made during the Constitutional Convention and ratification debates, and these compromises focused on the proper balance between individual freedom, social order, and equality of opportunity. In subsequent units, students will apply their understanding of the Constitution to the institutions of government and people’s daily lives. Big Idea: • Why are there debates about the balance of power between the federal and state governments? • Is the Bill of Rights necessary? Why or why not? • How does the Constitution affect you and the choices you make? A balance between governmental power and individual rights has been a hallmark of American political development. TOPIC 1.1 Ideals of Democracy LEARNING OBJECTIVE • Explain how democratic ideals are reflected in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE • The U.S. government is based on ideas of limited government, including natural rights, popular sovereignty, republicanism, and social contract. • The Declaration of Independence, drafted by Jefferson with help from Adams and Franklin, provides a foundation for popular sovereignty, while the U.S. Constitution drafted at the Philadelphia Convention and led by George Washington, with important contributions from Madison, Hamilton, and members of the “grand committee,” provides the blueprint for a unique form of political democracy in the U.S. TOPIC 1.2 Types of Democracy LEARNING OBJECTIVE • Explain how models of representative democracy are visible in major institutions, policies, events, or debates in the U.S. ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE • Representative democracies can take several forms along this scale: o Participatory democracy, which emphasizes broad participation in politics and civil society o Pluralist democracy, which recognizes group-based activism by nongovernmental interests striving for impact on political decision making o Elite democracy, which emphasizes limited participation in politics and civil society • Different aspects of the U.S. Constitution as well as the debate between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists in Federalist No. 10 and Brutus No. 1 reflect the tension between the broad participatory model and the more filtered participation of the pluralist and elite models. • The three models of representative democracy continue to be reflected in contemporary institutions and political behavior. The Constitution emerged from the debate about the weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation as a blueprint for limited government. TOPIC 1.3 Government Power and Individual Rights LEARNING OBJECTIVE • Explain how Federalist and Anti-Federalist views on central government and democracy are reflected in U.S. foundational documents. ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE • Madison’s arguments in Federalist No. 10 focused on the superiority of a large republic in controlling the “mischiefs of faction,” delegating authority to elected representatives and dispersing power between the states and national government. • Anti-Federalist writings, including Brutus No. 1, adhered to popular democratic theory that emphasized the benefits of a small, decentralized republic while warning of the dangers to personal liberty from a large, centralized government. TOPIC 1.4 Challenges of the Articles of Confederation LEARNING OBJECTIVE • Explain the relationship between key provisions of the Articles of Confederation and the debate over granting the federal government greater power formerly reserved to the states. ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE • Specific incidents and legal challenges that highlighted key weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation are represented by the: o Lack of centralized military power to address Shays’ Rebellion o Lack of tax-law enforcement power TOPIC 1.5 Ratification of the Constitution LEARNING OBJECTIVE • Explain the ongoing impact of political negotiation and compromise at the Constitutional Convention on the development of the constitutional system. ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE • Compromises deemed necessary for adoption and ratification of the Constitution are represented by: o Great (Connecticut) Compromise o Electoral College o Three-fifths Compromise o Compromise on the importation of slaves • Debates about self-government during the drafting of the Constitution necessitated the drafting of an amendment process in Article V that entailed either a two-thirds vote in both houses or a proposal from two-thirds of the state legislatures, with final ratification determined by three-fourths of the states. • The compromises necessary to secure ratification of the Constitution left some matters unresolved that continue to generate discussion and debate today. • The debate over the role of the central government, the powers of the state governments, and the rights of individuals remains at the heart of present-day constitutional issues about democracy and governmental power, as represented by: o Debates about government surveillance resulting from the federal government’s response to the 9/11 attacks o The debate about the role of the federal government in public school education The Constitution created a competitive policy-making process to ensure the people’s will is represented and that freedom is preserved. TOPIC 1.6 Principles of American Government LEARNING OBJECTIVE • Explain the constitutional principles of separation of powers and “checks and balances.” ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE • The powers allocated to Congress, the president, and the courts demonstrate the separation of powers and checks and balances features of the U.S. Constitution. • Federalist No. 51 explains how constitutional provisions of separation of powers and checks and balances control abuses by majorities. LEARNING OBJECTIVE • Explain the implications of separation of powers and “checks and balances” for the U.S. political system. ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE • Multiple access points for stakeholders and institutions to influence public policy flows from the separation of powers and checks and balances. • Impeachment, removal, and other legal actions taken against public officials deemed to have abused their power reflect the purpose of checks and balances. Federalism reflects the dynamic distribution of power between national and state governments. TOPIC 1.7 Relationship Between the States and Federal Government LEARNING OBJECTIVE • Explain how societal needs affect the constitutional allocation of power between the national and state governments. ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE • The exclusive and concurrent powers of the national and state governments help explain the negotiations over the balance of power between the two levels. • The distribution of power between federal and state governments to meet the needs of society changes, as reflected by grants, incentives, and aid programs, including federal revenue sharing, mandates, categorical grants, and block grants. TOPIC 1.8 Constitutional Interpretations of Federalism LEARNING OBJECTIVE • Explain how the appropriate balance of power between national and state governments has been interpreted differently over time. ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE • The interpretation of the 10th and 14th Amendments, the commerce clause, the necessary and proper clause, and other enumerated and implied powers are at the heart of the debate over the balance of power between the national and state governments. • The balance of power between the national and state governments has changed over time based on U.S. Supreme Court interpretation of such cases as: o McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), which declared that Congress has implied powers necessary to implement its enumerated powers and established supremacy of the U.S. Constitution and federal laws over states laws o United States v. Lopez (1995), which ruled that Congress may not use the commerce clause to make possession of a gun in a school zone a federal crime, introducing a new phase of federalism that recognized the importance of state sovereignty and local control TOPIC 1.9 Federalism in Action LEARNING OBJECTIVE • Explain how the distribution of powers among three federal branches and between national and state governments impacts policymaking. ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE • Multiple access points for stakeholders and institutions to influence public policy flows from the separation of powers and checks and balances. • National policymaking is constrained by the sharing of power between and among the three branches and the state governments.

UNIT 2: INTERACTIONS AMONG BRANCHES OF GOV’T In this unit, students continue to explore policy making, focusing on its complexity and the idea that it is a process involving multiple governmental institutions and actors. Students will look at issues or policies from several different perspectives and then apply their knowledge to better understand the complexity of the policy-making process. The Constitution grants specific powers to Congress, the presidency, and the courts, each of which exercises informal powers (developed through political practice, tradition, and legislation). Because power is widely distributed, and checks prevent one branch from overreaching or usurping powers from the others, institutional actors are in the position where they must both compete and cooperate in order to govern. Big Idea: • Which branch of government is the most powerful? Why? • Are there really checks and balances when one political party controls all three branches of government? Why or why not? • In what ways has the evolution of government powers affected Americans and their daily lives? The republican ideal in the U.S. is manifested in the structure and operation of the legislative branch. TOPIC 2.1 Congress: The Senate and the House of Representatives LEARNING OBJECTIVE • Describe the different structures, powers, and functions of each house of Congress ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE • The Senate is designed to represent states equally, while the House is designed to represent the population • Different chamber sizes and constituencies influence formality of debate • Coalitions in Congress are affected by term-length differences • The enumerated and implied powers in the Constitution allow the creation of public policy by Congress, which includes: o Passing a federal budget, raising revenue, and coining money o Declaring war and maintaining the armed forces o Enacting legislation that addresses a wide range of economic, environmental, and social issues based on the Necessary and Proper Clause TOPIC 2.2 Structure, Powers, and Functions of Congress LEARNING OBJECTIVE • Explain how the structure, powers, and functions of both houses of Congress affect the policy-making process ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE • By design, the different structures, powers, and functions of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives affect the policy-making process • Though both chambers rely on committees to conduct hearings and debate bills under consideration, different constitutional responsibilities of the House and Senate affect the policy-making process • Chamber-specific procedures, rules, and roles that impact the policy-making process include: o Number of chamber and debate rules that set the bar high for building majority support o Roles of Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, party leadership, and committee leadership in both chambers o Filibuster and cloture o Holds and unanimous consent in the Senate o Role of Rules Committee, Committee of the Whole, and discharge petitions in the House o Treaty ratification and confirmation role of the Senate • Congress must generate a budget that addresses both discretionary and mandatory spending, and as entitlement costs grow, discretionary spending opportunities will decrease unless tax revenues increase or the budget deficit increases • Pork barrel legislation and logrolling affect the lawmaking in both chambers TOPIC 2.3 Congressional Behavior LEARNING OBJECTIVE • Explain how congressional behavior is influenced by election processes, partisanship, and divided government ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE • Congressional behavior and governing effectiveness are influenced by: o Ideological divisions within Congress that can lead to gridlock or create the need for negotiation and compromise o Gerrymandering, redistricting, and unequal representation of constituencies have been partially addressed by such Court decisions as Baker v. Carr (1961), which opened the door to equal protection challenges to redistricting and stated the “one person, one vote” doctrine, and the no-racial-gerrymandering decision in Shaw v. Reno (1993) o Elections that have led to a divided government, including partisan votes against presidential initiatives and congressional refusal to confirm appointments of “lame-duck” presidents of the opposite party o Different role conceptions of “trustee,” “delegate,” and “politico” as related to constituent accountability in each chamber The presidency has been enhanced beyond its expressed constitutional powers. TOPIC 2.4 Roles and Powers of the President LEARNING OBJECTIVE • Explain how the president can implement a policy agenda ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE • Presidents use powers and perform functions of the office to accomplish a policy agenda • Formal and informal powers of the president include: o Vetoes and pocket vetoes – formal powers that enable the president to check Congress o Foreign policy – both formal (Commander-in-Chief and treaties) and informal (executive agreements) powers that influence relations with foreign nations o Bargaining and persuasion – informal power that enables the president to secure congressional action o Executive orders – implied from the president’s vested executive power, or from power delegated by Congress, executive orders are used by the president to manage the federal government o Signing statements – informal power that informs Congress and the public of the president’s interpretation of laws passed by Congress and signed by the president TOPIC 2.5 Checks on the Presidency LEARNING OBJECTIVE • Explain how the president’s agenda can create tension and frequent confrontations with Congress ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE • The potential for conflict with the Senate depends upon the type of executive branch appointments, including: o Cabinet members o Ambassadors o White House staff • Senate confirmation is an important check on appointment powers, but the president’s longest lasting influence lies in life-tenured judicial appointments • Policy initiatives and executive orders promoted by the president often lead to conflict with congressional agenda TOPIC 2.6 Expansion of Presidential Power LEARNING OBJECTIVE • Explain how presidents have interpreted and justified their use of formal and informal powers ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE • Justifications for a single executive are set forth in Federalist No. 70 • Term-of-office and constitutional-power restrictions, including the passage of the Twenty-second Amendment, demonstrate changing presidential roles • Different perspectives on the presidential role, ranging from a limited to a more expansive interpretation and use of power, continue to be debated in the context of contemporary events TOPIC 2.7 Presidential Communication LEARNING OBJECTIVE • Explain how communication technology has changed the president’s relationship with the national constituency and the other branches ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE • The communication impact of the presidency can be demonstrated through such factors as: o Modern technology, social media, and rapid response to political issues o Nationally broadcast State of the Union messages and the president’s bully pulpit used as tools for agenda setting The design of the judicial branch protects the Supreme Court’s independence as a branch of government, and the emergence and use of judicial review remains a powerful judicial practice. TOPIC 2.8 The Judicial Branch LEARNING OBJECTIVE • Explain the principle of judicial review and how it checks the power of other institutions and state governments ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE • The foundation for powers of the judicial branch and how its independence checks the power of other institutions and state governments are set forth in: o Article III of the Constitution o Federalist No. 78 o Marbury v. Madison (1803) TOPIC 2.9 Legitimacy of the Judicial Branch LEARNING OBJECTIVE • Explain how the exercise of judicial review in conjunction with life tenure can lead to debate about the legitimacy of the Supreme Court’s power ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE • Precedents and stare decisis play and important role in judicial decision making • Ideological changes in the composition of the Supreme Court due to presidential appointments have led to the Court’s establishing new or rejecting existing precedents TOPIC 2.10 The Court in Action LEARNING OBJECTIVE • Explain how the exercise of judicial review in conjunction with life tenure can lead to debate about the legitimacy of the Supreme Court’s power ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE • Controversial or unpopular Supreme Court decisions can lead to challenges of the Court’s legitimacy and power which Congress and the president can address only through future appointments, legislation changing the Court’s jurisdiction, or refusing to implement decisions • Political discussion about the Supreme Court’s power is illustrated by the ongoing debate over judicial activism versus judicial restraint TOPIC 2.11 Checks on the Judicial Branch LEARNING OBJECTIVE • Explain how other branches in the government can limit the Supreme Court’s power ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE • Restrictions on the Supreme Court are represented by: o Congressional legislation to modify the impact of prior Supreme Court decisions o Constitutional amendments o Judicial appointments and confirmations o The president and states evading or ignoring Supreme Court decisions o Legislation impacting court jurisdiction The federal bureaucracy implements federal policies. TOPIC 2.12 The Bureaucracy LEARNING OBJECTIVE • Explain how the bureaucracy carries out the responsibilities of the federal government ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE • Tasks performed by departments, agencies, commissions, and government corporations are represented by: o Writing and enforcing regulations o Issuing fines o Testifying before Congress o Issue networks and “iron triangles” • Political patronage, civil service, and merit system reforms all impact the effectiveness of the bureaucracy by promoting professionalism, specialization, and neutrality TOPIC 2.13 Discretionary and Rule-Making Authority LEARNING OBJECTIVE • Explain how the federal bureaucracy uses delegated discretionary authority for rule making and implementation ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE • Discretionary and rule-making authority to implement policy are given to bureaucratic departments, agencies, and commissions, such as: o Department of Homeland Security o Department of Transportation o Department of Veterans Affairs o Department of Education o Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) o Federal Elections Commission (FEC) o Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) TOPIC 2.14 Holding the Bureaucracy Accountable LEARNING OBJECTIVE • Explain how Congress uses its oversight power in its relationship with the executive branch ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE • Oversight and methods used by Congress to ensure that legislation is implemented as intended are represented by: o Committee hearings o Power of the purse • As a means to curtail the use of presidential power, congressional oversight serves as a check of executive authorization and appropriation LEARNING OBJECTIVE • Explain how the president ensures that executive branch agencies and departments carry out their responsibilities in concert with the goals of the administration ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE • Presidential ideology, authority, and influence affect how executive branch agencies carry out the goals of the administration • Compliance monitoring can pose a challenge to policy implementation TOPIC 2.15 Policy and the Branches of Government LEARNING OBJECTIVE • Explain the extent to which governmental branches can hold the bureaucracy accountable given the competing interests of Congress, the president, and the federal courts ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE • Formal and informal powers of Congress, the president, and courts over the bureaucracy are used to maintain its accountability

UNIT 3: CIVIL LIBERTIES AND CIVIL RIGHTS Students will connect the founding principles of our government to the debates over the appropriate balance of liberty and order, noting how citizens and other groups have pursued policy solutions to protect the civil liberties and civil rights of all Americans, laying the foundation for later discussions about other ways citizens can participate in the government. The U.S. Constitution, primarily through the Bill of Rights and the Fourteenth Amendment, protects the civil liberties and civil rights of citizens, though the extent of those protections and the need to protect the safety and general welfare of individuals has long been debated. Through social movements, legal challenges, and acts of Congress, citizens have attempted to restrict the government from unduly infringing on individual rights and from denying equal protection under the law. Big Idea: • In what ways does the Constitution attempt to limit abuse of government powers? • How can individuals and groups help protect civil liberties and civil rights? • Why have Supreme Court decisions about civil liberties and civil rights changed over time? Provisions of the U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights are continually being interpreted to balance the power of government and the civil liberties of individuals. TOPIC 3.1 The Bill of Rights LEARNING OBJECTIVE • Explain how the U.S. Constitution protects individual liberties and rights ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE • The U.S. Constitution includes the Bill of Rights specifically designed to protect individual liberties and rights • Civil liberties are constitutionally established guarantees and freedoms that protect citizens, opinions, and property against arbitrary governmental interference • The application of the Bill of Rights is continuously interpreted by the courts LEARNING OBJECTIVE • Describe the rights protected in the Bill of Rights ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE • The Bill of Rights consists of the first ten Amendments to the Constitution, which enumerate the liberties and rights of individuals