AP Gov
de facto segregation
segregation of schools and other public facilities through circumstance with no law supporting it.
Reconstruction Amendments
13th, 14th and 15th Amendments
Shay's Rebellion
A 1787 rebellion in which ex-Revolutionary War soldiers attempted to prevent foreclosures of farms as a result of high interest rates and taxes; made founding fathers realize that the Articles of Confederation needed to be reformed
TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families)
A block grant program under the Clinton administration that replaced AFDC
Amendment
A new provision in the Constitution that has to be ratified by the states
Political culture
A patterned and sustained way of thinking about how political and economic life ought to be carried out; a set of general attitudes, ideas and beliefs which broadly informs and shapes a region's politics
Articles of Confederation
A weak constitution that governed America during the Rev. War; had lots of flaws, purposely written to keep central government as weak as possible
Dred Scott v. Sandform 1857
African Americans are NOT citizens and thus could not petition the Supreme Court - overturn by the 14th Amendment
Full faith and credit clause
Article IV: Section One --> states that states must recognize legislative acts, public records, and judicial decisions of the other states within the United States
checks and balance
Authority shared by three branches of government in order to ensure that one branch will not become more powerful than the others
Liberalism
Belief that government can and should achieve justice and equality of opportunity. Support political and social reform, government regulation of the economy, expansion of programs for the poor, minorities, and women, national health care system and abortion rights; Oppose increase military spending, foreign wars and school prayer
Conservatism
Belief that limited government insures order competitive markets and opportunity. Support expansion of military power, free market economy, less government regulations, and school prayer; Oppose federal social and welfare programs, abortion rights and a national health care system
-Many states were hesitant to ratify because they believed that the Constitution did not guarantee them any rights -Framers believed that with an inclusion of the Bill of Rights that they would be creating a government with limited powers -The Constitution included liberties before the Bill of Rights (writ of habeas corpus may not be suspended, no bills of attainder or ex post facto laws, trial by jury guaranteed, no religious test for fed. office, no law impairing contractual obligations) -Most states already had their own Bill of Rights
Bill of Rights Debate
Unitary System
Concentrates power in a central government. Ex: Great Britain, France, and China
Framers Rationale for Federalism
Confederate system under the Articles of Confederation caused too many problems; unitary system is what the colonists revolted against
Political ideology
Consistent pattern of beliefs about political values and the role of government.
Separation of powers
Constitutional authority is shared by three branches of government
Dual federalism
Doctrine holding this the national government is supreme in its sphere, the states are supreme in theirs, and the two spheres should be kept separate; necessary and proper clause should be narrowly defined, national government powers are purposefully limited by the Constitution, and nation and states are sovereign in their spheres
Socialism
Economic and governmental system based on public ownership of the means of production.
NCLB (No Child Left Behind)
Example of an underfunded mandate/waiver
To Propose: a) 2/3 of both Houses vote to propose Amendment b) 2/3 of state legislatures ask Congress to call a national convention to propose amendment To Ratify: a) 3/4 of the state legislatures approve it b) Ratifying conventions in 3/4 states approve it
Explain the process of proposing/ratifying an Amendment
Agents of Political Socialization
Family (#1), Education and Social groups
Random Sampling
Gauging public opinion through a scientific process with carefully designed survey questions to avoid bias. Ex: Gallup
federalism
Government authority shared by national and local governments
categorical grants
Grants may be spent only for narrowly-defined purposes; many strings attached
Madison: emphasized fragmentation and spread of power Hamilton: emphasized concentration of powers especially strong executive branch
Hamilton vs. Madison
Libertarianism
Ideology that cherishes individual liberty and insists on minimal government, promoting a free market economy, a noninterventionist foreign policy, and an absence of regulation in one's life.
1) Congressional Legislation 2) Presidential Actions (i.e. as Commander in Chief, he/she can deploy troops) 3) Custom and Usage (political parties) 4) Judicial Review (Marbury v. Madison)
Informal Methods to Change Constitution (4)
Federalists
Proponents of the Constitution and favor a strong national government
Changing American Attitude Towards Government
Less trusting of government since 1950s due to political efficacy (does my political participation even matter?)
Core American Values
Liberty/freedom, equality, individualism & democracy. Economic equality is NOT a core American value
1) Religious freedom 2) People have the gift of reason (the ability to think) 3) Government should operate with the consent of the governed: formed to protect the right to life, freedom, and property for ALL 4) People have the right to rebel if government abuses its authority 5) Slavery is unacceptable 6) Equality for women
Locke's views (6)
Layer Cake: based on a clear delineation of authority and programs among the levels of government Marble Cake: based on a pragmatic mixing of authority and programs among the national, state, and local governments
Marble Cake vs. Layer Cake
Elite
Persons who possess a disproportionate share of some valued resource, like money, prestige, or expertise
Enumerated powers
Powers given to the national government alone
Divine right theory
Rulers/leaders inherit their power from God
Public opinion polls
Scientific surveys aimed at gauging public preference of candidates and issues.
Art. I: Legislative Branch Art. II: Executive Branch Art. III: Judicial Branch Art. IV: Interstate Relations Art. V: Amendment Process Art. VI: Supremacy clause, oath of office, no religious test Art. VII: Ratification Process **(Let's Eat Jelly In Aunt Nelly's Raft)**
Structure of the Constitution
Conditions of aid
Terms set by the national government that states must meet if they're to receive certain federal funds
Mandates
Terms set by the national government that states must meet whether or not they accept federal grants
1) Marxists/Class View: those who control the economy 2) Power Elite: top (non-gov) leaders in the major sectors of society 3) bureaucratic: civil servants and appointed officials 4) pluralists: competition among all groups above; no single elite can dominate the whole process
Theories on who Governs
Anti-Federalists
Those who favor a weaker government
Straw Polling
Trying to gauge public opinion thru counting the size of a crowd, noting the level of audience applause or asking random people questions on the street
1) Direct or Participatory Dem: A government in which all or most citizens participate directly 2) Rep. Democracy: a government in which leaders make decisions by/after winning a competitive struggle for the popular vote -Parliamentary Democracy: two branches, leader is a member of legislature, Prime Minister -Presidential Democracy: 3 branches, president has political power, separation of powers is a typical concept
Types of democracy (2)
Confederate System
Weak central government with limited power over the states. Ex: US under the Articles of Confederation
1) 9/13 states required to pass any measure 2) No official currency (could vary from state to state) 3) Small army and dependent on state militias 4) No national judicial system 5) Didn't have power to collect taxes 6) Each state had only one vote in Congress (no matter the population size) 7) All 13 states needed to approve amendments 8) Weak central government which lead to increased state to state conflict
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation (7)
Political culture
Widely shared beliefs, values, and norms about how citizens relate to governments and to one another.
orthodox
a belief that morality and religion ought to be of decisive importance
representative democracy
a government in which leaders make decisions by winning a competitive struggle for the popular vote
political ideology
a more or less consistent set of beliefs about what policies government ought to pursue
elastic clause
a statement in the U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 8) granting Congress the power to pass all laws necessary and proper for carrying out the enumerated list of powers
Americans with Disabilities Act
act that required employers, schools, and public buildings to reasonably accommodate the physical needs of handicapped individuals by providing such things as ramps and elevators with appropriate facilities.
Immigration Act of 1991
act that shifted the quota of immigrants to Europe and aimed to attract immigrants who were trained workers.
Civil Rights
application of equal protection under the law to individuals - laws prohibiting racial and gender discrimination
Plessy v. Ferguson 1896
case that ruled that states had the right to impose "separate but equal" facilities on its citizens as well as create other laws that segregated the races.
AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children)
commonly known as "welfare;" a federal guarantee of cash assistance to states that offered support to low-income, unmarried mothers and children since 1935. Was changed to a block grant program called TANF under the Clinton administration
culture war
conflict between the two broadly defined groups, the orthodox and progressive; conflict is animated by deep differences in people's beliefs about private and public morality
Reed v. Reed 1971
created a new standard for judging constitutionality in sex discrimination cases
social contract theory
developed during the Enlightenment: theory that humans formed government and chose rulers in order to establish order in a chaotic world
ADA (American With Disabilities Act)
direct order mandate set out by federal government that made states comply to building codes that would be suitable for the handicapped
revenue sharing
distribution of federal revenue to states for any purpose; phased out decades ago
Civil Rights Act of 1964
ended Jim Crow segregation by making racial discrimination illegal in public accommodations; prohibited employment discrimination; expanded upon through interstate commerce clause (Heart v. Atlanta)
white primaries
excluded African American form voting in primary elections
Equal Rights Amendment
failed constitutional amendment that stated equality under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the US or by any state on account of sex
Title IX of the Education Act of 1972
forbids educational institutions receive federal funds from discriminating against female students (created women athletics in colleges
limited government
government can only do things that the people have given it the power to do
Seneca Falls Convention
in 1848, Elizabeth Cady Stanton led the fight for political suffrage and supported a doctrine very similar in nature to the Declaration of Independence called the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions. It became a rallying document in the fight for women's rights.
Jim Crow Laws
legislation that legalized segregation even after the adoption of the Fourteenth Amendment.
racial gerrymandering
oddly shaped districts designed to give minority groups voters a numerical majority
Voting Rights Act of 1965
outlawed literacy tests and other discriminatory practices that have disenfranchises African Americans; provide for federal oversight of voter registration
Poll tax
pay to vote
Federalist Papers
series of propaganda written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay in order to gain support for the ratification of the Constitution; emphasized wisdom of a strong central government along with autonomy for states
Grantz v. Bollinger 2003
stuck down undergraduate admission policy that automatically awarded appellants from underrepresented racial and minority groups - violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th
Muller v. Oregon 1908
that spoke about inherent differences between men and women in the workplace.
impeachment
the ability to remove an official from office (i.e. the President by a 2/3 vote of Congress due to crimes such as Treason, Bribery, Misdemeanor, or other high crimes)
electoral college
the people chosen to cast each state's votes in a presidential election. Each state can cast one electoral vote for each senator and representative it has. The District of Columbia has three votes, even though it cannot elect a Representative or Senator
judicial review
the power of the courts to review the constitutionality of a law or executive action
Separate but equal
upheld Jim Crow segregation by approving separate but equal public facilities for African Americans --- judicial precedent established in the Plessy v Ferguson decision that enabled states to interpret the equal protection provision of the Fourteenth Amendment as a means of establishing segregation.
Grutter v. Bollinger 2003
upheld the affirmative action policy of the University of Michigan law school and the Bakke ruling that race could be a consideration in admission policy, but that quotas are illegal
cooperative federalism
1) National and state agencies work together 2) State and nation routinely share power 3) Power isn't concentrated in any government level or agency
Federalism
Constitutional arrangement in which power is distributed between the federal government & the states. Both exercise direct authority over individuals. Ex: US, Mexico, Germany and India
Political Socialization
Continuing process about how political values are formed and passed from generation to generation
implied powers
governmental powers not explicitly stated in the constitution
necessary and proper clause
grants Congress the ability to exercise its implied powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution
block grants
grants to governments that give them broad flexibility to design and implement designated programs; few strings attached
19th Amendment
guaranteed women the right to vote
literacy tests
pass difficult reading comprehension questions before they could register to vote
Equal Pay Act of 1963
pay women and men equal pay for equal work
Affirmative Action
policy and/or programs for minorities supported by government as a means of providing equality under the law and remedy the effects of past discrimination
competitive federalism
powerful harnessing of our tri-partite sovereignty system that allows states to compete with each other over a broad range of issues to provide citizens with the best value goods and services at the lowest cost
concurrent powers
powers shared by the national and state governments
political socialization
process by which background traits influence one's political views
24th Amendment
prohibited poll taxes in federal elections
strict scrutiny
race and ethnic background is inherently suspect and must be justified by a compelling public interest
Shaw v. Reno 1993
racial gerrymandering would be held to a standard of strict scrutiny under the Equal Protection Clause
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke 1978
ruled that the medical school's strict quota system denied Bakke the equal protection guaranteed by the 14th Amendment - ruled the race could be used as one factor among others in the competition for available places
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka 1954
ruled theta racially segregated schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and reversed the principle of separate but equal established in Plessy
de jure segregation
segregation by law, made illegal by Brown v Board of Education.
national Supremacy (clause)
the federal government, in exercising any of the powers enumerated in the Constitution, must prevail over any conflicting or inconsistent state exercise of power
popular sovereignty
the government is created and sustained by the will of the people though their elected representatives