AP US Government & Politics Review

Democracy

  • Democracy is the freedom to elect our own dictators.

Constitutional Underpinnings

  • Historical context: Articles of Confederation, motivations of framers (Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau), Shays Rebellion, VA Plan, NJ Plan, CT Compromise, 3/5 Compromise, Bill of Rights, Ratification Battle.
  • Key Issues: "necessary and proper" clause, judicial power, presidential power, presidential elections, and representation in legislature.
  • Radical document

Theories of Democratic Government

  • Pluralism: Definition and contrast to "corporatism".
  • Elitism
  • Hyperpluralism

Federalism

  • Definition: Federalism defined and contrasted to unitary systems.
  • Benefits: Advantages of federalism (3-4).
  • Downfalls: Disadvantages of federalism (3-4).
  • Expansion of federal power: Supremacy Clause, Necessary and Proper Clause, Commerce Clause (Heart of Atlanta v. US), federal taxing and spending, 16th Amendment, McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), Gibbons v. Ogden (1824), Civil Rights Era, national highway building (Categorical Grants), federal deficit, federal mandates.
  • Preserving state power: Articles of Confederation, guarantee of "Republican Form of Government," 10th Amendment, Full Faith and Credit Clause, Jim Crow Era, Block Grants, Baaron v. Baltimore (1822), United States v. Lopez

Interactions Among Branches of Government

Congress

  • Demographic composition considerations.
  • 435 seats in the US House of Representatives.
  • Reapportionment (done by Congress): reassignment of seats per state.
  • Gerrymandering (done by State lawmakers): drawing district lines to benefit a party, limitations established by the US Supreme Court.
    • Baker v. Carr (1962): Districts must be equal in size (one man, one vote).
    • Westbury v. Sanders (1964): Congressional districts must be "compact and contiguous”.

Gerrymandering

  • Safe seats – a seat predictably won by one party.
  • More partisan Congress
  • Majority minority districts

Congressional Elections

  • High reelection rates for incumbents.
  • Pork Barrel Projects

The Healthcare Bill of 2009 Key

  • Health insurance definition.
  • Medicare definition.
  • Medicaid definition.
  • Single payer system definition.
  • Uninsured in US = 40+ million.
  • Rising healthcare costs.
  • Bankruptcies.
  • Guaranteed issue (no dropping clients).
  • No denial based on pre-existing condition.

Health Care Timeline

  • Goals outlined by President Obama in Sept. 2009.
  • House passes Bill / Senate passes Bill with 60 votes.
  • Bill goes to conference committee.
  • House votes on Senate version of the bill.
  • Obama/Pelosi lobby progressive caucus to vote in favor of Senate bill.
  • House passes Senate version of bill, passes changes to bill via “reconciliation” which only require 51 votes.

Healthcare Bill Summary

  • Extends coverage to 96% of Americans by 2014.
  • Increase in taxes on families making $250,000/yr.
  • Requires more employers to provide health ins.
  • Raises eligibility for Medicaid/provides subsidies to buy insurance for low income.
  • Mandates middle income purchase Health Insurance.
  • Establishes state run insurance exchange program (which can not cover abortion).
  • Bans discrimination based on preexisting conditions/forbids dropping the sick.
  • Kids can stay on parents health insurance until age 26.
  • National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius (2012)

How a Bill Becomes a Law

  • Bill Drafting
  • Assignment to Committee/Subcommittee
  • Committee/Subcommittee Markup
  • Rules Committee (House only)
  • Full House/Senate Debate and Amendment
  • Conference Committee (if necessary)
  • Full House/Senate Vote
  • Presidential Action (Sign or Veto)

Legislative Process – Impact of Bicameralism

  • House: Speaker, Rules Committee, Majority/minority leaders, Whip, Ways and Means, Open/Closed Rule.
  • Senate: Majority/minority Leaders, President Pro Tempore, Whip, Filibuster, Rider.
    Importance of Committees