ap gov unit 1

Unit 1 AP Government Review

Principles of the Government 

  • Natural Rights: Enlightenment thinkers (John Locke). Life, liberty, and Property. Eventually changed to the pursuit of happiness. 

  • Social Contract: Governments derive power from the consent of the people in exchange for the protection of rights. 

  • Popular Sovereignty: Ultimate political authority rests with the people.

  • Limited Government: Gov power is restricted to protect individual freedom.

  • Republicanism: Representative form of gov, officials elected by the people.

Types of Democracy

  • Participatory Democracy: Emphasizes broad participation in politics by citizens.

  • Pluralist Democracy: Highlights group-based activism and interest group influence in policymaking.

  • Elite Democracy: Suggests that a small, wealthy, and educated elite holds significant power in decision-making.

Articles of Confederation

  • Weaknesses:

    • No power to tax, regulate trade, or enforce laws.

    • No executive or judiciary branches.

    • Required unanimous consent for amendments.

  • Impact: Led to issues like Shays' Rebellion, revealing the need for a stronger national government.

The Constitutional Convention

  • Held to revise the Articles of Confederation, resulting in a new Constitution.

  • Key Debates:

    • Representation:

      • Virginia Plan: Favored large states with proportional representation.

      • New Jersey Plan: Favored small states with equal representation.

      • Great Compromise: Created a bicameral legislature (House of Representatives and Senate).

    • Slavery: Resolved through the Three-Fifths Compromise, counting enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for representation.

    • Federal vs. State Power: Balancing power between the federal government and states.

Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist Debate

  • Federalists: Supported the Constitution and a stronger national government (e.g., Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay). Promoted the Federalist Papers, especially Federalist No. 10 (importance of a large republic to control factions) and Federalist No. 51 (separation of powers and checks and balances).

  • Anti-Federalists: Opposed the Constitution, fearing a strong central government. Demanded a Bill of Rights to protect individual freedoms.

The Constitution

  • Preamble: Outlines the goals of government (e.g., justice, domestic tranquility, common defense, general welfare).

  • Key Features:

    • Separation of Powers: Dividing power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

    • Checks and Balances: Ensures no branch becomes too powerful.

    • Federalism: Divides power between national and state governments.

  • Amendment Process: Allows for flexibility, requiring proposal (2/3 of Congress) and ratification (3/4 of states).

Federalism

  • Dual Federalism: "Layer cake" model where state and federal governments operate separately.

  • Cooperative Federalism: "Marble cake" model where state and federal governments work together.

  • Key Clauses:

    • Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause): Allows Congress to pass laws needed to carry out its powers.

    • Supremacy Clause: Establishes the Constitution as the highest law.

    • Commerce Clause: Expands federal power through regulation of interstate commerce.

  • Grants:

    • Categorical Grants: Specific purposes with strict guidelines.

Key Supreme Court Cases

  • McCulloch v. Maryland (1819): Reinforced the supremacy of the federal government and upheld the use of implied powers (via the Necessary and Proper Clause).

United States v. Lopez (1995): Limited federal power under the Commerce Clause, reaffirming state sovereignty.