AP Government and Politics Review Notes

AP Gov Crash Course Review

Unit 1: Foundations

  • Limited Government
      - Concept indicating that governmental power is restricted by law, often in a written constitution.

  • Rule of Law
      - Principle that all individuals and institutions are accountable to the law, which is applied equally and fairly.

  • Popular Sovereignty
      - The doctrine that the government derives its power from the consent of the governed; authority ultimately resides with the people.

  • Republicanism
      - An ideology centered on a republican form of government where the interests of the people are represented through elected officials.

  • Social Contract
      - A theory in political philosophy that individuals consent, explicitly or implicitly, to form a government that will provide protection and social order.

  • Declaration of Independence
      - The historic document declaring the thirteen American colonies' independence from British rule, emphasizing individual rights and judicial support of self-governance.

Types of Democracy

  • Participatory Democracy
      - Form of democracy in which citizens are directly involved in decision-making processes.

  • Pluralist Democracy
      - Democracy characterized by diverse groups; interests compete and are represented at various levels of government.

  • Elite Democracy
      - Model of democracy where a small number of elites hold most of the power and influence political decisions.

Federalism

Cooperative Federalism

  • Definition: A system in which powers are shared between the national and state governments.

Federalism: Structure of Power

  • National and State Governments Relationships
      - Division of responsibilities and powers aimed at achieving effective governance.

Federalists vs. Antifederalists

  • Brutus & the Bill of Rights
      - Brutus advocated for a Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties, concerned over the potential for federal overreach.

  • Federalist Papers:
      - A series of articles written to promote ratification of the Constitution, directly addressing fears raised by Antifederalists (like Brutus).

  • Significance of the Articles of Confederation
      - Demonstrated weaknesses in a centralized government which led to the Constitutional Convention.

  • Connecticut Compromise (Great Compromise)
      - Resulted in the bicameral legislature balancing representation for states based on population and equality.

Federalism in the Constitution

  • National Supremacy Clause
      - Establishes that the Constitution and federal laws take precedence over state laws.

Court Cases involving Federalism

  • McCulloch v. Maryland
      - Confirmed the implied powers of Congress and national supremacy.

  • Enumerated Powers
      - Powers explicitly granted to Congress through the Constitution.

  • Implied Powers
      - Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but are necessary to execute the enumerated powers.

  • 10th Amendment
      - Reserves powers not delegated to the federal government for the states and the people.

  • US v. Lopez
      - Defined limits on Congress's power under the Commerce Clause.

  • Dobbs v. Jackson
      - Impacts federalism by addressing the complexities around state rights related to abortion laws.

Additional Constitutional Clauses

  • Full Faith & Credit Clause
      - Requires states to recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of other states.

  • Privileges and Immunities Clause
      - Prevents states from treating citizens of other states in a discriminatory manner.

  • Extradition Clause
      - Requires states to extradite criminals to the state where they are accused of a crime.

Federalism's Impact on Governance

Federal Mandates

  • Definition: Requirements set by the federal government that states must comply with, sometimes without federal funding support.

Grant Systems

Categorical Grants

  • Federal grants limited to specific purposes, ensuring federal compliance and oversight.

Project Grants and Formula Grants

  • Project Grants: Competitive grants for specific projects.

  • Formula Grants: Allocated based on a predetermined formula reflecting state needs or demographics.

Unfunded Mandates

  • Federal regulations requiring states to act without allocated funds to implement them. Example: Americans with Disabilities Act.

Block Grants

  • Federal funds provided for broad purposes, allowing states discretion on how funds are spent, exemplifying state empowerment.

  • Example: Welfare Reform Act of 1996, which enabled states to design their own welfare programs.

Effects of Federalism

  1. Decentralizes Politics
      - Leads to more points of access for citizens, regional representation, state-level executive elections, and reduces conflict.

  2. Decentralizes Policies
      - Raises questions about state rights, regulation responsibilities, and financial obligations.

Evolution of Federalism

  • State-Centered (1787-1868)
      - Post Articles of Confederation with a focus on state authority.

  • Dual Federalism ('Layer Cake', 1868-1913)
      - Distinct separation of state and federal responsibilities.

  • Cooperative Federalism ('Marble Cake', 1913-1964)
      - Increased interconnectivity post-WWII, emphasizing federal influence in state affairs.

  • Centralized & New Federalism (1964-1980)
      - Focus on block grants and attempts to devolve power back to states.

  • Representational Federalism (1985-present)
      - Continues evolving towards a more integrated approach.

Branches of Government

Checks and Balances

  • Executive Branch
      - Enforces laws (President).
        - Checks on Legislative Branch: Can propose laws and veto them.
        - Checks on Judicial Branch: Appoints federal judges, grants pardons, can call special sessions.

  • Legislative Branch
      - Makes laws (Congress).
        - Checks on Executive Branch: Can override vetoes, ratify treaties, declare war, control funding, impeach the President.
        - Checks on Judicial Branch: Can create lower courts, impeach judges, and propose amendments.

  • Judicial Branch
      - Interprets laws (Supreme Court).
        - Checks on Legislative Branch: Can declare acts of Congress unconstitutional.
        - Checks on Executive Branch: Can declare executive actions unconstitutional.

Congressional Powers

Expressed Powers in Article 1, Section 8

  • Includes Powers Related to:
      1. Taxation (Establish and collect taxes)
      2. Borrowing Money
      3. Regulating Commerce
      4. Naturalization and Bankruptcy Laws
      5. Coining Money
      6. Punishing Counterfeiting
      7. Establishing Post Offices
      8. Granting Patents and Copyrights
      9. Creating Courts
      10. Defining Crimes at Sea
      11. Raising Armies
      12. Declaring War
      13. Exclusive Jurisdiction over certain areas
      14. Necessary and Proper Clause for executing powers.

How a Bill Becomes Law

  1. Disruption of State Bill followed by Committee Hearings.

  2. Action on the Floor, potential passing to the other house.

  3. Bill goes to Governor if passed.

  4. Most bills become law on January 1st of the following year.

Presidential Powers

Formal Powers

  • Enumerated/Explicit Powers:
      - Commander-in-Chief, negotiate treaties, appoint officials, grant pardons, etc.

Informal Powers

  • Implementation of Laws:
      - Exceptional persuasion power, use of media and one-on-one negotiation to push agendas.

  • Executive Privileges:
      - Withholding information, issuing executive orders and agreements.

Power of the Bureaucracy

  • Implementation and Discretionary Authority:
      - Bureaucracies execute laws and set regulations.

  • Regulatory Power:
      - Agencies issue public rules (e.g., EPA).

  • Administrative Law:
      - Regulations by agencies that carry the effect of law.

  • Advisory Role:
      - Help in drafting legislation and settling disputes.

Iron Triangle

  • Components:
      - Interest Groups, Congress, and Bureaucracy interact to create favorable legislation and secure funding.

Judicial Branch Structure

  • Federal Court System:
      - Includes U.S. District Courts, Circuit Courts of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Unit 3: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

  • Emphasizes understanding key court cases, associated amendments, and their significance.

Selective Incorporation

  • Starting with Gitlow v. New York (1925), the Bill of Rights is applied at the state level through the 14th Amendment.

Letters and Civil Rights

  • Letter from Birmingham Jail: Highlights the responsibilities to resist unjust laws and the struggle for civil rights.

Unit 4: Political Parties and Ideologies

  • Discusses the nature of third parties, electoral system impacts, and linkage institutions such as media and interest groups.

Polling Techniques

  • Different polling types include exit/entrance polls, benchmark polls, random sampling, etc.

Economic Policies

  • Keynesian Economics: Advocates for government spending to stimulate growth (liberal approach).

  • Supply-Side Economics: Focuses on tax cuts to boost spending (conservative approach).

  • Fiscal Policy: Relates to government budgeting and spending rates.

  • Monetary Policy: Involves managing the money supply and interest rates (buying and selling bonds).

Ideologies

  • Liberalism: Advocates for government intervention in economic matters while upholding personal liberties.

  • Conservatism: Emphasizes limited government intervention in economics.

  • Libertarianism: Supports minimal government in all aspects—economic, social, individual rights.

Unit 5: Elections and Voting

  • Discusses party line voting, the significance of the Electoral College, and the incumbent advantage in elections.

Campaign Finance and Super PACs

  • Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002: Aimed at regulating contributions to political campaigns.

  • Super PAC: Campaign committees that can raise unlimited funds but cannot coordinate directly with candidates.

Understanding Key Documents and Supreme Court Cases

  • Identify the authors, reasons for writing, significant quotes, and impacts.

Constitutional Principles

  • Equal Protection Clause and Due Process Clause alongside their emphasis on selective incorporation in the judicial system.

Conclusion

  • Remember, perfection is not the goal. Stay calm and continue your studies!