AP U.S. Government Notes

Foundations of American Democracy

  • Enlightenment Philosophies: emphasis on reason and individual rights; philosophers influenced the structure of government.

  • Key Figures:
      - Thomas Hobbes: advocated for absolute monarchy; social contract theory.
      - John Locke: natural rights (life, liberty, property); government must protect these rights.
      - Montesquieu: separation of powers; checks and balances.
      - Rousseau: general will; society corrupts inherently good individuals.

Forms of Democracy

  • Participatory: broad engagement of citizens.

  • Pluralist: group-centered political activity.

  • Elite: power held by educated and wealthy.

  • Republicanism: emphasizes the role of elected officials and popular sovereignty.

Key Documents

  • Declaration of Independence: formal declaration of war against Britain; articulated grievances and justified separation.

  • Articles of Confederation: first governing document; created federalism but had significant weaknesses such as inability to tax.

Constitutional Convention

  • Convenes in 1787 due to the flaws of the Articles of Confederation; resulted in a new Constitution.

  • Major compromises included the Great Compromise (bicameral legislature) and Three-Fifths Compromise (slaves counted as 3/5 person).

Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist Debate

  • Federalists: supported a strong central government; included figures like Madison and Hamilton.

  • Anti-Federalists: opposed the Constitution fearing tyranny; insisted on a Bill of Rights.

Structure and Powers of Government

  • Constitution creates the three branches: Legislative, Executive, Judicial.

  • Checks and Balances: ensures no one branch becomes too powerful; mechanisms include veto power, appointments, and judicial review.

Bill of Rights

  • First 10 amendments; protect civil liberties and limit government power.

  • Contains various rights including freedom of speech, religion, and due process.

Federalism

  • Defines the relationship between national and state governments; includes delegated, reserved, and concurrent powers.

  • Supremacy Clause: federal law prevails over state law.

Political Participation

  • Voting: elections are fundamental; voter turnout varies by demographic factors.

  • Interest Groups: advocate for specific policies; influence legislation through lobbying and PACs.

The Electoral Process

  • Electoral College: mechanism for electing the president; candidates focus on swing states.

  • Campaign Financing: regulated by laws with significant influence from PACs and super PACs.

Contemporary Issues in Politics

  • Ongoing debates on civil rights, economic policy, and health care; impact of public opinion, demographics, and the media on elections.