AP Gov 1,4,5

Unit 1: Foundations of American Democracy

Foundational Documents

  1. Articles of Confederation

    • Purpose: The first constitution of the United States, created during the Revolutionary War to establish a framework for government.

    • Key Weaknesses:

      • No power to tax: The national government relied on state donations, leading to financial instability.

      • No regulation of interstate or international commerce: States often engaged in trade disputes.

      • No executive branch: Lack of central leadership made enforcement of laws impossible.

      • Unanimity requirement for amendments: Made changes to the Articles almost impossible.

      • No national judiciary: Disputes between states had no resolution mechanism.

    • Significance: Exposed by events like Shays' Rebellion, where a weak federal response to an economic crisis highlighted the need for a stronger central government.

  2. The U.S. Constitution

    • Key Features:

      • Replaced the Articles with a robust federal system.

      • Established three branches of government: Legislative (Congress), Executive (President), and Judicial (Supreme Court).

      • Created a system of checks and balances and separation of powers to prevent tyranny.

    • Checks and Balances Examples:

      • Legislative: Override presidential vetoes, approve treaties.

      • Executive: Veto laws, appoint judges.

      • Judicial: Judicial review to declare laws unconstitutional.

    • Federalism: Divided power between federal and state governments.

      • Enumerated Powers: Powers granted to the federal government (e.g., coin money, regulate interstate commerce, declare war).

      • Reserved Powers: Powers left to the states (e.g., education, local law enforcement).

      • Concurrent Powers: Powers shared by federal and state governments (e.g., taxation, building roads).

  3. Brutus No. 1

    • Key Arguments:

      • Anti-Federalist concerns over a strong national government.

      • Warned that a large republic would become disconnected from the people and lead to tyranny.

      • Feared the Necessary and Proper Clause and Supremacy Clause would allow federal overreach.

  4. Federalist No. 10

    • Author: James Madison.

    • Key Arguments:

      • Advocated for a large republic to control factions.

      • A diverse population would make it difficult for any one faction to dominate.

      • A republic (representative democracy) was preferable to direct democracy to filter popular passions.

  5. Federalist No. 51

    • Author: James Madison.

    • Key Arguments:

      • Checks and balances between branches would ensure no single branch became too powerful.

      • Advocated for separation of powers to protect liberty.

      • Famous quote: "Ambition must be made to counteract ambition."

Key Concepts in Unit 1

  1. Federalism

    • Definition: A system where power is divided between the national and state governments.

    • Key Terms:

      • Enumerated Powers: Specifically granted to Congress (e.g., tax, declare war, regulate commerce).

      • Reserved Powers: Protected by the 10th Amendment, powers not given to the federal government belong to the states (e.g., education policies).

      • Concurrent Powers: Shared powers, such as taxing and law enforcement.

  2. Federal Funding to States

    • Categorical Grants: Specific purposes with strict conditions (e.g., Head Start, Medicaid).

    • Block Grants: Broad purposes, offering states flexibility (e.g., Community Development Block Grants).

    • Unfunded Mandates: Requirements imposed by the federal government without funding (e.g., ADA compliance).

Unit 4: American Political Ideologies and Beliefs

Linkage Institutions

  1. Role of Campaigns

    • Shift from party-centered to candidate-centered campaigns, where candidates control messaging and fundraising.

    • Use of social media and direct communication with voters.

  2. Role of Political Parties

    • Functions: Recruit candidates, develop party platforms, mobilize voters, and organize elections.

    • Decline of party influence due to candidate-centered campaigns and polarization.

  3. Role of Media

    • Media shapes public opinion and political participation.

    • Horse-race journalism: Focus on polling and competition, ignoring substantive policy.

    • Increased role of social media as a platform for campaigns and political discourse.

  4. Role of Interest Groups

    • Influence government policy through lobbying, litigation, and public campaigns.

    • Examples: NRA, ACLU, AARP.

    • Free-rider problem: Individuals benefit from the group’s efforts without joining or contributing.

Political Socialization and Demographics

  1. Political Socialization

    • Process by which individuals form political beliefs and values.

    • Influenced by family, schools, peers, media, and major life events.

  2. Demographics and Voting

    • Age: Older voters more likely to participate; younger voters lean progressive.

    • Race/Ethnicity: African Americans and Latinos often lean Democratic; white voters more divided.

    • Education: Higher education levels correlate with higher voter turnout.

    • Income: Wealthier individuals tend to vote more frequently.

Polling and Voting Behavior

  1. Polling

    • Scientific Polls: Random sampling, representative samples, low margin of error.

    • Types:

      • Benchmark polls: Early campaign surveys to gauge public opinion.

      • Exit polls: Surveys of voters as they leave polling places.

      • Push polls: Designed to manipulate opinions through biased questioning.

  2. Voter Turnout

    • Prospective Voting: Based on a candidate’s future promises.

    • Retrospective Voting: Based on past performance.

    • Straight-ticket Voting: Supporting all candidates from one party.

  3. Barriers to Voting

    • Structural: Voter ID laws, limited polling hours, and gerrymandering.

    • Non-structural: Lack of education on issues, apathy, and low political efficacy.

Unit 5: Political Participation

Voting Amendments

  • 14th Amendment: Equal protection under the law, used to challenge discriminatory voting practices.

  • 15th Amendment: Prohibits voting discrimination based on race.

  • 17th Amendment: Allows direct election of senators.

  • 19th Amendment: Grants women the right to vote.

  • 24th Amendment: Abolishes poll taxes.

  • 26th Amendment: Lowers the voting age to 18.

Electoral College

  • Winner-takes-all system in most states: Electoral votes go entirely to the candidate who wins the state.

  • Focus on swing states leads to unequal attention to voters in non-competitive states.

Required Supreme Court Cases

  1. Marbury v. Madison (1803)

    • Established judicial review, allowing courts to strike down unconstitutional laws.

  2. McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

    • Strengthened federal power, allowing Congress to establish a national bank under the Necessary and Proper Clause.

  3. United States v. Lopez (1995)

    • Limited federal power under the Commerce Clause, striking down a federal law banning guns near schools.