AP US Government and Politics

Understanding American Politics

• Conflicts within the government reflect real divisions among Americans.

• Government provides order and promotes general welfare.

• Without government, rights are not protected.

• Government provides common defense and ensures domestic tranquility.

• Government tackles problems citizens can't solve alone.

• Public goods are not efficiently provided by the free market.

• People are self-interested and form factions.

• Government avoids anarchy and oppression.

• Separation of Powers: Judicial, Executive, Legislative.

• Checks and Balances: Each branch has power over the others.

• Federalism: Power divided among local, state, and national governments.

• Types of government:

  • Monarchy: Rule by one

  • Aristocracy: Rule by the few

  • Polity: Rule by many

• Presidential systems: Separation of power.

• Parliamentary systems: Chief executive from legislature.

• Confederations: States retain sovereignty.

• Authoritarian government: Suppresses conflict.

• Theocracy: Religious figures have a veto.

• Democracy depends on the consent of the governed.

• American ethos embraces conflict and political freedom.

• Liberty is outlined by the Bill of Rights.

• Democracy requires compromise.

• Political equality means people are treated the same in the political system.

• Politics is the process that determines what the government does and is conflictual.

• Governmental actions result from choices by elected officials and bureaucrats.

• Media often covers political campaigns as a game.

• Politics influences everyday lives.

• Compromising and bargaining are essential in American politics.

• Unelected members of the federal bureaucracy have influence.

• Citizens participate in politics.

• Rules have an impact on outcomes.

• Interest groups and political parties raise public awareness.

• Commitment to the free market and economic individualism is central.

• Democrats favor redistributive tax policies and social spending.

• Republicans favor lower taxes and less spending.

• Ideology is a cohesive set of beliefs.

• Conservatives promote traditional practices, while liberals support social tolerance.

• Libertarians prefer limited government and personal liberty.

The Constitution and the Founding

• Founders aimed for a general Constitution, leading to interpretation conflicts.

• Articles of Confederation created a decentralized and limited government.

• Shays's Rebellion exposed discontent with the Articles.

• Key principles:

  • Popular control through republican democracy

  • Rejection of monarchy

  • Limitations on government power.

• Republicanism: Elected leaders represent the people.

• Common Sense advocated for elected representatives.

• Declaration of Independence: Equality, self-rule, natural rights.

• Government legitimacy from consent of the governed.

• Social contract: Government protects rights.

• People can alter or abolish governments violating rights.

• John Locke: Natural rights, property rights.

• Baron de Montesquieu: Branches should check each other.

• Federalist Papers: Explained the Constitution.

• Federalist 51: Government must control itself.

• Federalist 10: Control factions.

• Pluralism: Variety of parties.

• Federalists: Empower national government.

• Antifederalists: Strong state governments.

• Constitutional Convention discussions:

  • Minority rule v. minority rights

  • Large states v. small states

  • Legislative power v. executive power

  • National power v. state and local power

  • Slave states v. non-slave states

• Virginia Plan: Representation based on population.

• New Jersey Plan: Equal representation.

• Great Compromise: Senate (equal), House (population).

• Electoral college selects the President.

• Tenth Amendment: Reserved powers for states.

• Three-Fifths Compromise: Slaves counted as ⅗ of a person.

• Antifederalists: Worried about President and civil liberties.

• Bill of Rights:

  • Designed to protect individual rights and liberties

  • Congress given power to raise revenue, regulate commerce, coin money, establish post offices, declare war, raise armies, make rules for the military, and create and maintain a navy

• Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause) gives Congress the power to execute powers vested by the Constitution.

• President is Commander in Chief.

• Executive Powers Clause: President ensures laws are faithfully executed.

• Courts relatively independent.

• President negotiates treaties and makes appointments with Senate consent.

• Congress can impeach the President, Vice President, or other officers.

• Congressional oversight of executive agencies.

• President can veto Congress.

• Judicial review: Courts can strike down unconstitutional laws.

• Enumerated powers: Federal government powers.

• Implied powers: Inferred from enumerated powers.

• Congress proposes amendments; states ratify.

Federalism

• Federalism: Divides sovereign power.

• Police powers: State and local governments enforce laws.

• Concurrent powers: Shared by all levels.

• Unitary government: National government has authority.

• Confederal government: States hold power.

• States prohibited from treaties and wartime troops.

• Supremacy Clause: Constitution is supreme law.

• States choose electors and play a role in amending the Constitution.

• Full Faith and Credit Clause: States respect each other's laws.

• Privileges and Immunities Clause: States treat visitors the same as residents.

• States' rights: Self-government free of federal intervention.

• Dual federalism: National and state governments are distinct.

• Dred Scott v. Sandford: Slaves were not citizens.

• Fourteenth Amendment: Initially limited national power.

• Cooperative federalism:

  • National and state governments work together.

  • Occurred during the Progressive Era

• Great Depression: States lacked resources.

• Picket fence federalism: Policy makers work together across levels.

• Fiscal federalism: Federal funds allocated to lower levels.

• Categorical grants: Specific purposes.

• Block grants: States have discretion.

• New Federalism: States have more control.

• Unfunded Mandate Reform Act: Limits unfunded mandates.

• Coercive federalism: Federal government pressures states.

• Federal preemption: National priorities imposed on states.

• States lead on environmental policy.

• Competitive federalism: States compete for businesses.

• Religious Freedom Restoration Act struck down.

• State's sovereign immunity expands.

• Liberals favor national power; conservatives favor state power.

• States can be laboratories of democracy.

• States encourage participation and check national power.

• Unequal resource distribution and