🏛️AP US Government and Politics simlified study guide

The Enlightenment Period

Significant influence on American government formation.

Key philosophers:

  • John Locke: Advocated for natural rights and the social contract.
  • John-Jacques Rousseau: Promoted the concept of popular sovereignty.
  • Thomas Hobbes: Discussed the social contract and the necessity of government.

Key Enlightenment ideas:

  • Social Contract: Agreement between government and governed where individuals consent to surrender some freedoms for protection and order.
  • Natural Rights: Rights inherent to all individuals that cannot be taken away. If violated, people can revolt.
  • Popular Sovereignty: The government's legitimacy comes from the consent of the people, emphasizing accountability.
  • Republicanism: A limited representative government.

Models of Democracy

Various forms of representative democracy in America:

  • Participatory Democracy: Citizens directly influence policy decisions, implemented by elected officials.
  • Pluralist Democracy: Multiple groups compete for influence, preventing any one group from dominating policymaking.
  • Elite Democracy: Decision-making is concentrated among a small, educated, and wealthy elite.

Articles of Confederation

Initially governed the United States but proved ineffective:

  • Individual states wielded considerable independent power.
  • The national government was weak, lacking enforceable authority and financial stability (no taxation power).
  • Key weaknesses highlighted by Shay’s Rebellion.

Changes proposed by the Constitution:

  • Federalists (supporters) vs. Anti-Federalists (opponents) debate led to the ratification of the Constitution.

Principles of Madisonian Democracy

  • Federalism: Shared power between national and state governments.
  • Checks and Balances: Prevents any branch from gaining excessive power (e.g., presidential veto).
  • Separation of Powers: Division of authority among legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
  • Limited Government: Ensured through the Constitution, restricting the government's actions.

Compromises in the Constitution Ratification

  • Great Compromise: Created a bicameral legislature with population-based and equal representation.
  • Electoral College: System for electing the President; electors represent each state's congressional delegation.
  • Three-Fifths Compromise: Established that each slave counted as $3/5$ of a person for representation purposes.
  • Importation of Slaves Compromise: Prohibited the import of slaves after 1808.

Constitutional Basis of Federalism

  • Enumerated Powers: Specifically granted to Congress.
  • Implied Powers: Not explicitly listed but required for executing enumerated powers.
  • Reserved Powers: State powers not assigned to the federal government (10th Amendment).
  • Privileges and Immunities Clause: States must treat citizens of other states equally.
  • Full Faith and Credit Clause: States must recognize legal documents from other states.
  • Extradition: States must return criminals to their state of origin.

Federalism in Action

  • Fiscal Federalism: Financial assistance from federal to state governments (e.g., grants).
  • Categorical Grants: Used for specific purposes; must comply with guidelines.
  • Block Grants: Flexible funding for broader purposes.
  • Dual Federalism: Separate state and federal responsibilities.
  • Cooperative Federalism: Joint efforts of different government levels.
  • New Federalism: Decentralization of power back to states.

Key Federalism Clauses

  • Commerce Clause: Federal government can regulate interstate commerce.
  • Necessary and Proper Clause: Allows Congress to pass laws necessary for executing its powers.

Key Federalism Cases

  • McCulloch v. Maryland (1819): A landmark decision that strengthened federal power by affirming the federal government's authority to create a national bank. The Court ruled that states cannot tax federal institutions, establishing the principle of national supremacy over state laws.
  • United States v. Lopez (1995): This case marked a significant limitation on federal power by declaring the Gun-Free School Zones Act unconstitutional, asserting that possession of guns in school zones is not an economic activity that Congress can regulate under the Commerce Clause. The ruling emphasized the importance of boundaries on federal authority and outlined the roles of state governments in maintaining public safety.

Key Federalism Legislation

  • Unfunded Mandates Reform Act: Limits unfunded mandates affecting states.
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Provides funds for food assistance to low-income families.
  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination.

Structure of Congress

  • Bicameral Legislature: Comprised of the Senate and House of Representatives, established through the Great Compromise.
  • Senate: 2 senators per state, 6-year terms, responsible for confirming appointments and treaties.
  • House of Representatives: Membership based on population, 2-year terms, introduces tax and revenue bills.

Law-Making Process

  • Bill Introduction: Bills can be introduced in either chamber. Appropriation bills are exclusive to the House.
  • Committee Review: Bills go through committees for initial evaluation. A discharge petition can bring a bill out of committee.
  • Floor Debate: Procedures vary between the Senate (allows filibusters) and the House (more formal debate).

Important Vocabulary in Law-Making

  • Filibuster: A tactic to prolong debate and delay a vote in the Senate.
  • Cloture: Requires 3/5 of Senators (60 votes) to end a filibuster.
  • Rules Committee: Determines how and when bills will be debated in the House.
  • Committee of the Whole: Simplifies rules and procedures for debate.

Committees Types

  • Standing: Permanent committees on specific subjects.
  • Conference: Resolves differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.
  • Select: Temporary, for specific investigations or policy issues.

Congressional Actions

  • Pork Barrel Legislation: Funding for local projects to gain political support.
  • Logrolling: Agreement between lawmakers to support each other’s bills.
  • Gerrymandering: Redrawing district lines to favor one political party.

Voting Behavior Models

  • Rational Choice Theory: Voting based on perceived benefits from a candidate.
  • Retrospective Voting: Based on candidate performance in office.
  • Prospective Voting: Based on expected future performance.
  • Party-Line Voting: Voting aligned with party affiliation.

Voting Rights Legislation

  • 15th Amendment: Granted African American men the right to vote.
  • 19th Amendment: Granted women the right to vote.
  • Voting Rights Act of 1965: Abolished discriminatory voting practices.

Media and Politics

  • Roles of Media: Actors as gatekeepers, scorekeepers, watchdogs, and agenda setters.
  • Regulations: Electronic media face more regulations than print media.

The Constitution and The Bill of Rights

  • The first 10 amendments protecting individual liberties.
  • Establishes guidelines for the government’s behavior toward citizens.
  • Importance of due process and equal protection under the law.

Important Supreme Court Cases and their Implications

  • Brown v. Board of Education: Declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.
  • Roe v. Wade: Recognized a woman’s right to privacy and decision making on abortion, incorporating it under the 14th Amendment's Due Process Clause.