AP Gov Unit 1 Test Review

Describe the Constitutional process: - 1st way to amend the Constitution - 2nd way to amend the Constitution

- By ⅔ vote in both the House and the Senate - By a national constitutional convention called by Congress at the request of ⅔ of the states

Define each - Grants - Incentives - Federal Revenue Sharing - Mandates - Categorical Grants - Block Grants

- Federal money given to the states for some purpose - A valued benefit obtained by joining a political organization - A government unit's sharing of a part of its tax income to other units of government -a requirement or an order from the central gov that all state and local gov must comply with - Federal grants that can only be used for specific purposes of state and local spending- they come with strings attached - Federal grants given more or less automatically to states or communities to support broad programs in areas (ex. Community development, social services)

Federalist 51 - author - main idea - explain how majority abuse is prevented - Explain how public policy is influenced by checks and balances and other stakeholders

- James Madison - The federal gov will be composed of 3 branches and each branch will have its own powers as well as the ability to check the powers of the other branches to create a balance - The government is divided into two distinct levels- federal and state and then each level divides itself into sublevels with different roles; The multiplicity of interest within the US makes it unlikely that a majority faction will develop and oppress the people - Multiple access points to influence public policies; Distribution of powers allows for diff perspectives on the legislation to best represent the ideals of the American people; Checks and balances make the process of passing bills and laws longer though; National policy making is constrained by the sharing of power between and among the three branches and the state governments

Natural Rights

Life, Liberty, and Property

Describe each - 10th Amendment - 14th Amendment - Commerce Clause - Necessary and Proper Clause

- The 10th amendment grants the states any powers that are not granted by the Constitution to the federal government - The 14th amendment grants citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the US- including former slaves and grants everyone "equal protection of the laws" - The Commerce Clause grants Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce - This clause grants Congress the power to make any laws that are necessary for executing its other powers under the Constitution

Define each big idea + list an example from the Constitution - Limited gov - Popular sovereignty - Republicanism - Checks and balances - Separation of powers

- The government is limited in what it can say and do: Amendment 1- Congress is restricted by law from making any laws that prohibit one's right to religion, free speech, free press, and to petition the government. - The power of the government comes from the people: Preamble- The government was created by and for the people; they have the ultimate authority to create (or take away) the government's power - We choose our representatives to accurately represent our interests: Article I, Section 2- Every other years, states have the power to choose their members for the HOR - Each branch can and must control the power of others: Article I, Section 7- A bill must be passed by the Senate and the House and then approved by the President before it becomes a law. - Each branch of government has different and distinct roles: Article I, Section 2- The President is part of the executive branch of the government and thus holds the executive power to execute laws, issue an executive order, and appoint or remove subordinates.

Define each - Virginia Plan - New Jersey Plan - Great (Connecticut) Compromise

- gov similar to articles, bicameral legislature, representation in congress based on population, favored by larger states - strong national gov, unicameral legislature, equal representation in congress, favored by small states - bicameral legislature, equal representation in the Senate, representation based on population in the House of Representatives

Define each and list 5 examples 1. Expressed/enumerated federal powers 2. Concurrent/shared powers 3. Reserved/state powers 4. Implied Federal Powers

1. - All powers explicitly expressed and granted by the Constitution. - Declare war; Maintain armed forces; Establish post offices; Coin money; Regulate interstate commerce 2. - Powers shared by the federal government and the states. - Collect taxes; Borrow money; Charter banks; Establish courts; Punish criminals 3. - Powers not granted to the federal government that are reserved for the states - Establish public schools; Conduct elections; Establish local governments; Make laws about marriage and divorce; Regulate state commerce 4. - Powers that the federal government exercises that are not explicitly granted by the Constitution but are based on other laws. - Create the IRS; Regulate immigration; Set a minimum wage; Regulate firearms; Punish tax evaders

1. Legislative Branch: - checks on the executive branch - checks on the judicial branch 2. Executive Branch: - checks on the legislative branch - checks on the judicial branch 3. Judicial Branch: - checks on the legislative branch - checks on the executive branch

1. - Can impeach and remove President; Can override President's veto - Can impeach and remove judges; Can propose amendments to overrule judicial decisions 2. - Can veto laws; Makes appointments - Appoints federal judges; Can grant pardons to federal offenders 3. - Can declare acts of Congress unconstitutional - Can declare executive actions unconstitutional; Chief justice sits as the judge during impeachment trials

Define each and describe how it challenged the Articles 1. Shay's Rebellion 2. Power to Tax

1. - Daniel Shays led an armed uprising in MA in opposition to a debt crisis among the citizenry, for the gov had increased its efforts to collect taxes on individuals and their trades. - The rebellion challenged the Articles because it emphasized the weaknesses of the Articles, as the national gov wasn't able to put down the rebellion. Thus, the first movements of federalism began to gather strength. 2. - The gov of MA decided to raise taxes instead of issuing paper money to pay off its debts. The tax fell mostly on poor farmers. - This challenged the Articles because it exposed that the national gov could not help the farmers because they had no power. The states could only levy taxes because the national gov wanted to avoid the problem of "taxation without representation."

List the foundational doc of each group, its author, and main ideas 1. Federalists 2. Anti-Federalists

1. - Federalist 10 - James Madison - (reasons to ratify constitution): The gov should protect its people from factions; Gov should represent all populations through elected reps; Gov should hold supreme power over decisions; Gov should encompass the "perfect" proportion of voters to reps 2. - Brutus 1 - Brutus was a pseudonym used by either Robert Yates, Melancton Smith, or John Williams. - (reluctance to ratify constitution): The gov needs to give equal & fair rep to its people; The gov needs to tend to the personal interests of each state; The gov should support its pple by granting everyone power; The central gov should not hold power over the state govs

Name the author(s), purpose, and main idea: 1. Declaration of Independence 2. US Constitution

1. - Thomas Jefferson (main author) but also included Franklin, Adams, Sherman, & Livingston - To rally the troops, win foreign allies, + announce the creation of a new country and revolutionary gov - We can free ourselves of a gov that jeopardizes our natural rights; History aside, we have the right to abolish a tyrant gov; A barbarous king can't represent us; Our belief in God and ourselves will birth a new nation 2. - James Madison (others contributed in other ways) - To establish a set of ideals for citizens to believe in and share, to create a structure of gov, & provide the supreme law for the country - 6 main ideas: limited gov, republicanism, checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, popular sovereignty

For each court case, list its year, a brief description, and the constitutional question 1. McCulloch v. Maryland 2. United States v. Lopez

1. - 1819 - This case expanded federal power. The Court ruled that Congress had implied powers derived from the "Necessary and Proper" Clause- thus Congress had the power to establish a national bank. - Does the Constitution grant Congress the authority to commission a national bank? 2. - 1995 - This case limited federal power. The Court ruled that Congress had exceeded the authority granted to it under the Commerce Clause and thus, declared the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 unconstitutional. - Does the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 exceed the powers granted to Congress by the Commerce Clause?

Define each type of democracy, list examples of it in major gov institutions, and list examples of it in US debates on policy 1. Participatory 2. Pluralist 3. Elite

1. - citizens influence policies while politicians impose them - Town hall meetings, initiatives, referendums - The HOR, presidential town hall events 2. - organized groups fight for control over creating and implementing policies because there is no specific group in charge - Interest groups and media - The lack of new gun regulations despite public opinion polls 3. - a prestigious group of upper-class individuals has the power of making political decisions - Electoral college - Tax debates

Electoral College

A body of individuals (state electors) that formally cast votes for the Pres and vice Pres; they officially cast their state's electoral votes

Three-Fifths Compromise

A slave counts as only three-fifths of a person for representation in Congress

Which of the following is one example of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation? A. Amending the Articles required a unanimous vote of the states, which was nearly impossible B. The Articles placed too much power in the hands of the central government, which threatened to become tyrannical C. The Articles required that the United States maintain a standing army, which was too expensive to fund D. The Articles stipulated a steep tariff on foreign products that threatened to undermine American exports

A. Amending the Articles required a unanimous vote of the states, which was nearly impossible

Which of the following describes an exclusive power of the federal government? A. Coining money B. Setting education policy C. Regulating healthcare D. Taxing citizens' income

A. Coining money

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government." - Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence Which of the following ideas does this passage advocate? A. Popular sovereignty B. Pluralism C. Checks and balances D. Constitutional monarchy

A. Popular sovereignty

Faction

An interest group made up of individuals with common interests that operate to push the group's political agenda

What is an accurate comparison between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution?

Articles created a weak central gov w few independent powers and the Constitution created a string national gov w many powers

In 1972, the federal government established the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). Recipients of aid must be women who are pregnant or breastfeeding or children under the age of 5 whose family income falls below 185% of the federal poverty line. This is an example of which of the following types of federal aid? A. Mandate B. Categorical grant C. Revenue sharing D. Block grant

B. Categorical grant

Which of the following aspects of the US Constitution best illustrates the concept of elite democracy? A. The process for adding amendments to the Constitution B. The original wording of the Constitution regarding the selection of US senators C. The ban on "corruption of the blood" in cases of treason D. The apportionment of representatives in the House according to state population

B. The original wording of the Constitution regarding the selection of US senators

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of "separation of powers" in the US Constitution? A. Mississippi can set educational policy for its students, while California can set education policy for its students B. Congress can pass a measure, while the president can veto it C. Congress has authority over the federal budget, while the president appoints Supreme Court justices D. Congress can pass a measure, while the Supreme Court can declare it unconstitutional

C. Congress has authority over the federal budget, while the president appoints Supreme Court justices

Which of the following statements best summarizes the decision in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)? A. The Supreme Court has the right to declare whether a law is unconstitutional B. State laws have supremacy over federal laws as granted under the Tenth Amendment C. Congress has implied powers not listed in the Constitution in order to implement its enumerated D. Congress cannot use the commerce clause to regulate the possession of firearms in public schools

C. Congress has implied powers not listed in the Constitution in order to implement its enumerated

Which of the following may Congress do to limit the power of the executive? A. Nominate a Supreme Court justice B. Declare an executive order unconstitutional C. Impeach the president D. Veto a bill in the Senate

C. Impeach the president

Read the passage and answer the following question. "As long as the reason of man continues fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it, different opinions will be formed . . . The diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not less an insuperable obstacle to a uniformity of interests. The protection of these faculties is the first object of government. From the protection of different and unequal faculties of acquiring property, the possession of different degrees and kinds of property immediately results; and from the influence of these on the sentiments and views of the respective proprietors, ensues a division of the society into different interests and parties." - Publius (James Madison), Federalist No. 10 Which of the following statements best summarizes the argument of this excerpt? A. A large republic does not represent the interests of individuals B. A small republic will help prevent factions C. A direct democracy will best protect personal liberties D. A large republic can control the negative aspects of factions

D. A large republic can control the negative aspects of factions

Participatory democracy is best defined as which of the following? A. Individual citizens electing representatives who would then articulate and fight for their interests B. Nongovernmental interest groups influence political decisions through lobbying and donations C. Limited political participation by a small group of people that make and influence political decisions D. Direct individual participation by citizens in political decisions that affect their daily lives

D. Direct individual participation by citizens in political decisions that affect their daily lives

Which statement accurately summarizes the impact of the United States v. Lopez (1995) decision? A. It upheld supremacy of the federal laws over state laws B. It increased the Supreme Court's power to declare laws unconstitutional C. It ruled that an individual's right to bear arms for self-defense applied to state and local governments D. It established limits to federal power under the commerce clause

D. It established limits to federal power under the commerce clause

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of limited government? A. A president is reelected after a successful first term in office B. An unpopular governor is replaced with his opponent on election day C. A senator decides to vote in favor of a law after a public opinion poll showing massive support for it in her district D. The Supreme Court ruled that a law passed by Congress was unconstitutional

D. The Supreme Court ruled that a law passed by Congress was unconstitutional

Explain how grants, incentives, and aid programs meet federal societal changes AND balance power.

States are given the freedom to implement social programs to advance disadvantage groups(welfare)

Compromise on the importation of slaves

The Slave trade compromise: N worried the S could control Congress by importing more slaves so a limit on importation was agreeed upon = slves could be imported only until 1808, each imported slave would have a 10.00 tax levied upon the transaction + in exchange for the delay in ending the import of slaves S agreed to let the national gov regulate the slave trade

Explain how the appropriate balance of power between national and state governments has been interpreted differently over time.

The balance of power between the national government and stat governments has been interpreted differently over time based on how the US Supreme Court has chosen to interpret the 10th and 14th Amendments, the Commerce Clause, and the Necessary and Proper Clause. The biggest source of change has been the debate between enumerated and implied powers.

Popular sovereignty

The power of the government comes from the people.

Social Contract

There are certain freedoms we have to give up to live in an organized society.

Republicanism

We choose our representatives to accurately represent our interests.