AP Government Unit 1 Notes

1. Ideals of Democracy

  • Popular Sovereignty: The principle that the authority of a state and its government are created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives, who are the source of all political power.

  • Republicanism: A form of government in which power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than an inherited monarch.

  • Limited Government: The idea that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens.

  • Natural Rights: Rights inherent in human beings, not dependent on governments, which include life, liberty, and property (as articulated by John Locke).

  • Social Contract: An agreement among people to set up a government and obey its laws, giving up some individual freedom in exchange for protection and order.

2. Models of Representative Democracy

  • Participatory Democracy: Emphasizes broad participation in politics and civil society. Citizens rule themselves directly (e.g., town meetings, referendums).

  • Pluralist Democracy: Group-based activism by non-governmental interests striving to impact political decision making. Multiple groups compete for influence on policy outcomes.

  • Elite Democracy: Emphasizes limited participation in politics and civil society; power is concentrated in the hands of a small group of people, usually those with wealth or high status.

3. Founding Documents and Their Impact
3.1 Declaration of Independence

  • Authored by Thomas Jefferson in 1776.

  • Expressed the philosophy behind the colonists' desire for independence from Great Britain.

  • Articulated the belief in popular sovereignty, natural rights (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness), and the right of the people to alter or abolish a government that violates these rights.

  • Influenced by John Locke's ideas of natural rights and the social contract.

3.2 Articles of Confederation

  • The first governing document of the United States, adopted in 1781.

  • Created a weak central government with strong states' rights.

  • Weaknesses of the Articles:

    • No power to tax: Congress could not compel states to pay taxes, leading to financial instability.

    • No national army/navy: States controlled their own militias, making national defense difficult.

    • No national currency: Each state printed its own, creating economic chaos.

    • No judicial or executive branch: Central government lacked enforcement and interpretation power.

    • Required unanimous consent to amend: Extremely difficult to make changes.

    • Shays' Rebellion (1786-1787): Highlighted the weakness of the central government and the need for a stronger national system.

3.3 U.S. Constitution

  • Ratified in 1788, it established the framework for the U.S. federal government.

  • Adresses the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation by creating a stronger central government with defined powers, while still preserving state sovereignty through federalism.

4. Constitutional Convention and Compromises

  • Great (Connecticut) Compromise: Established a bicameral legislature:

    • House of Representatives: Representation based on population (pleasing larger states).

    • Senate: Equal representation for all states (two senators per state, pleasing smaller states).

  • Three-Fifths Compromise: Addressed the issue of how to count enslaved persons for both representation and taxation. Every 5 enslaved individuals would count as 3 persons.

  • Electoral College: A system devised for electing the President, balancing direct popular vote with state representation.

  • Compromise on Importation of Slaves: Congress could not ban the slave trade until 1808.

5. Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist Debates
5.1 Federalist No. 10 (James Madison)

  • Argued that a large republic is the best way to control factions (groups united by a common interest opposed to others).

  • A large republic prevents any single faction from gaining too much power, as the greater variety of interests makes it harder for one to dominate.

  • Emphasized that elected representatives refine and enlarge the public views.

5.2 Brutus No. 1 (Anti-Federalist argument)

  • Argued against a large republic, claiming it would lead to a tyrannical government.

  • Believed that a large republic would make it impossible for elected representatives to truly represent the will of the people.

  • Advocated for small, decentralized republics where citizens' voices could be better heard and protected.

  • Feared the "necessary and proper" clause and the supremacy clause would give the federal government too much power.

6. Principles of the Constitution

  • Separation of Powers: Divides governmental power among three branches: legislative (Congress), executive (President), and judicial (Supreme Court).

  • Checks and Balances: Each branch has powers to limit, or check, the powers of the other branches, preventing any single branch from becoming too powerful.

  • Federalism: Divides power between the national government and state governments, allowing both to have their own spheres of authority.

  • Popular Sovereignty: The idea that the government's power comes from the consent of the people.

  • Limited Government: The principle that the government is restricted by the Constitution and has only the powers delegated to it.

  • Judicial Review: The power of the courts to determine whether acts of the legislative and executive branches are constitutional (established in Marbury v. Madison).