AP/IB U.S. Government & Politics Study Guide

AP/IB U.S. Government & Politics: Fall Final Exam Study Guide

Foundations of the U.S.

• Declaration of Independence

  • Social contract

  • Concept where individuals consent to form a government that will protect their rights.

  • Natural rights

  • Rights inherent to all human beings; often referenced as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

  • Inalienable rights

  • Fundamental rights that cannot be surrendered or transferred.

  • Popular sovereignty

  • The authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people.

• Articles of Confederation

  • Powers given to the states and to the federal government

  • States retained sovereignty, while the federal government had limited powers.

  • Issues/weaknesses

  • Lack of a strong central government led to various challenges, including economic instability.

  • Shays’ Rebellion

  • An armed uprising in 1786-1787 aimed at protesting economic injustices and the lack of government response; highlighted weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation.

• Constitutional Conventions

  • Gatherings to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, leading to the drafting of the U.S. Constitution.

• U.S. Constitution

  • Three branches of government

  • Legislative (Congress): Makes laws.

  • Executive (President): Enforces laws.

  • Judicial (Courts): Interprets laws.

  • Powers reserved to the states

  • Powers not specifically granted to the federal government are reserved for the states (10th Amendment).

  • Writ of habeas corpus

  • Legal order requiring a person to be brought before a judge or court, ensuring protection against unlawful detention.

  • Bills of attainder

  • Legislative acts that declare a person or group guilty without a trial; prohibited by the Constitution.

  • Ex post facto laws

  • Laws that make an act illegal retroactively; also prohibited by the Constitution.

  • Expressed/enumerated powers

  • Powers specifically defined and granted to the federal government by the Constitution.

  • Implied powers

  • Powers not explicitly stated but necessary for the government to perform its functions, derived from the Necessary and Proper Clause.

  • Supremacy clause

  • Establishes the Constitution as the highest law of the land, overriding conflicting state laws.

  • Bill of Rights

  • First ten amendments to the Constitution guaranteeing individual liberties and rights.

  • Limited government

  • Government's powers are restricted by law and primarily defined through the Constitution.

  • Separation of powers

  • Division of government responsibilities into distinct branches, ensuring no one branch exercises too much power.

  • Amendment process

  • Process that allows the Constitution to be altered and updated to reflect changing values; requires a two-thirds majority in Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states.

  • Federalism

  • A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units (states).

  • Necessary and Proper Clause

  • Grants Congress the power to pass all laws necessary and proper for carrying out the enumerated list of powers.

Federalists and Antifederalists

• Beliefs

  • Federalists supported a strong central government and the Constitution; Antifederalists wanted to maintain state sovereignty and opposed the Constitution.

• Documents (main ideas/arguments, relevant sections of the Constitution)

  • Federalist 10

  • Argues for a large republic to prevent factions from taking control.

  • Federalist 51

  • Discusses the necessity of checks and balances to maintain separation of powers.

  • Brutus 1

  • Addresses concerns regarding the potential for federal overreach and encroachment on states’ rights.

Theories of Democracy

• Republic vs. Direct Democracy

  • Republic: A system where representatives are elected to make decisions on behalf of the people.

  • Direct democracy: Citizens directly participate in decision-making.

• Elitist

  • A theory suggesting that a small group of elites holds political power.

• Pluralist

  • A theory positing that multiple groups influence policy and decision-making, leading to compromise and consensus.

• Participatory

  • Advocates for active citizen involvement in political processes beyond just voting.

Court Cases

• Marbury v. Madison

  • Established the principle of judicial review, empowering courts to invalidate laws that violate the Constitution.

• Shaw v. Reno

  • Addressed issues of racial gerrymandering, emphasizing equal protection under the law.

• Baker v. Carr

  • Addressed the issue of legislative redistricting, establishing the principle of one person, one vote.

• McCulloch v. Maryland

  • Affirms the supremacy of federal laws over state laws and endorses implied powers.

• U.S. v. Lopez

  • Limited Congress's power under the Commerce Clause, reinforcing state authority over local issues.

Congress

• Apportionment

  • Process of distributing congressional seats based on population, occurring every ten years after the census.

• Redistricting

  • The process of redrawing district boundaries to reflect population changes post-apportionment.

• Gerrymandering

  • Manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor a particular political party or group.

• Incumbency

  • The current holder of an office; incumbents often have advantages in elections such as recognition and funding.

• House of Representatives & Senate

  • Roles:

  • House: Initiates revenue bills and impeaches federal officials.

  • Senate: Confirms presidential appointments and treaties; holds trials for impeached officials.

  • Qualifications:

  • House: Must be at least 25 years old, a citizen for 7 years, and reside in the state.

  • Senate: Must be at least 30 years old, a citizen for 9 years, and reside in the state.

  • Powers/responsibilities:

  • Legislative oversight: Congress's authority to oversee and investigate executive branch activities.

  • Senate advice and consent: The Senate's power to approve presidential appointments and treaties.

  • Budgetary power: Control over federal budget and taxation.

  • 17th Amendment

  • Established the election of U.S. Senators by popular vote instead of being appointed by state legislatures.

• Filibuster

  • A procedural tactic used to delay or block legislative action, typically requiring 60 votes to end.

• Partisanship

  • Increased division and loyalty to political parties, impacting governance and legislative processes.

The Executive Branch

• War on Terror

  • A global military campaign launched in response to the September 11 attacks, involving various military actions and policies aimed at countering terrorism.

• War Powers Resolution

  • A law limiting the president's ability to engage in military action without congressional approval.

• Presidential term limits

  • Established by the 22nd Amendment, limiting presidents to two terms in office.

• Powers and roles

  • Chief executive: Enforces laws and leads the executive branch.

  • Chief diplomat: Manages foreign relations and international treaties.

  • Chief legislator: Influences legislation and can propose bills.

  • Commander in chief: Oversees the armed forces and military operations.

  • Pardons: The president’s power to grant clemency to individuals convicted of federal crimes.

  • Veto power: Ability to reject legislation passed by Congress.

• Impeachment

  • The process by which the president or other federal officials can be removed from office for misconduct.

• 25th Amendment

  • Establishes procedures for presidential succession and addressing presidential incapacity.

• Bargaining and persuasion, bully pulpit

  • The ability of the president to influence public policy and opinion through direct communication and leadership position.