AP EXAM Flashcards
Great Compromise
(creating constitution)
how people would be represented in the new congress
Virginia Plan v New Jersey Plan
Virginia Plan
congressional represenatives should be apportioned by population
Big states would have more represenatives and thus more power
New Jersey Plan
each state should be represented equally w/ one vote per state
small states have disporportionate amount of power
result of great compromise
(creating constitution)
- Bicameral congress: house of represenatives and congress
- electoraal college
- 3/5ths compromise
- question of slavery
electoral college
state legislature have power to decide who those poeple are
3/5ths compromise
3/5 of enslaved population would count towards representation
slavery
(creating constitution)
congress couldn’t touch slavery for 20 years after the constitution was greated, then its trade would be abolished
-article V
Article V
-two state process to amend constitution: proposal +radification
-an amendment may be proposed either by congress or states at special convention
-2/3 vote needed to become official
-amendment then sent to states for radification and 3/4 of state legislatures/state ratifying conventions needed to agree to make Amendment law
legislature
checks and balances
congress: proposing and making laws (no other branches can make laws)
stake holders: acess points for people
senate: advice and consent any appointments that the president makes to any federal office has to be approved
executive
checks and balances
veto: if congress passes a law, president can veto
-congress can overide veto w/ 2/3 vote
executing and enforcing the law
Judicial
checks and balances
judicial review: courts porragative to judge laws passed by Congress and signed by the president on merits of constitutionality
determenting constitutionality of laws
federalism
the sharing of power between the national and state governments
exclusive powers
specifically delegated by the constitution to the federal gov
ex: only congress can make treaties w/ other soverign nations
reserved powers
kept by the states
10th amendment
ex; police powers, hospitals, education
10th Amendment
powers not delegated to US by constitution nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states
“reserved powers”
concurrent powers
powers shared by both federal and state governments
ex: income tax
fiscal federalism
GRANTS!!!
categorical grants
granst given to the states (by Congress) as long as states comply with specific federal standards
ex: used to promote raising drinking age with $ for interstate highways
block grants
given to the states for a relativley broad purpose
-still limits
ex: prevention of crime
Mandates
requirements states have to follow, provided funds to meet mandates
Unfunded mandates
issued mandates with no funds
-struck fown in “devolution revolutioin” under pres Ronald Regan
federalim
Issues of power
- gov survallience:
a. after 9/11 USA patriot act to track future terrorists by deferal agencies phone tapping and monitoring email ( for security) - No child left behind: schools had to meet criteria to recive funding
14th Amendment
-applies bill of rights to the states
commerce clause
allows congress to regulate commerce among states
necessary and propwe clause/ elastic clause
article I section 8, make any kaw needed to uphold powers in constiution
McCulloch v. Maryland
-example of ‘balance of power tipping in federal gov’s advantage”
-necessary and proper clause implied certian powers given to the federal gov’t even if they arent explecitly mentioned in constitution
-supremancy clause ment where the two conflict, federal law trumps state law
federalism
United States v. Lopez
-ex of power tipping towards states
-congress had used commerce clause to ban guns on school property, court decideded that carrying guns to school is in noo way related ti interstate commerce
federalism
federalism in action
enviromental regulations: Paris agreement (obama) impoaed regulations on states
-legalization of marijuana (1996) Claifornia legalized medically, can see what works on small scale to try on a larger scale
federalism
bicameral
legislative branch
two houses needed to pass a law
House of Represenatives
legislative branch
by population, serve 2 years, know constituency better, 435 members
senate
legislative branch
2 per state, 100 members, 6 year terms, more constitutional responsibilities than house, less able to know constituency
coalltions
legislative branch
to make law process more effectibe
-durability of workong relationships are effected by term length differences
senate: longer lasting
Enumerated powers
legislative branch
explicity listed in Aricle I section 8 of constitution
-federal funding, foreign policy, unitary legislation
funding
legislative branch
raise revenue through taxation, coin $ for uniform currency, pass a federal budget
foreign policy/military legislation
legislative branch
power to declare warm raise armies, pass draft laws, direct funding to armed forces
implied powers
legislative branch
congress can pass any law that is required by enumerated powera, end of article I section 8 (necessary and proper/ elastic clause)
ex: Alecander Hamilton argued necessary and propwer cause allowed for establishment of a national bank
House Leadership
Legislative branch
- speaker of the house
- minority and majority leaders
- whips
speaker of the house
Legislative branch
-house memebers will chose this leader, speaker will always be of majority party
house
Majority and Minority Leaders
Legislative branch
house
direct debates, guide their party members in policy issues
house
Whips
Legislative branch
1 for each party, render party discipline, make sure party mebers walk in line with party goals
house and senate
Senate leadership
Legislative branch
- president of the senate
2.president Pro Tempore
3.. Senate Majority Leader - Whips
president of the senate
Legislative branch
VP, non-voting member, votes tp break tie
senate
President Pro Tempore
Legislative branch
most senior member of majority party, has authroity to act as pres of senate when VP is not present
senate
Senate Majority Leader
Legislative branch
sets legislative agenda (which bills reach the floor)
senate
Committee
Legislative branch
small groups of represenatives who can debate and draft legislation
standing committees
Legislative branch
comittees that endure a long time
ex: senate: Standing Comittee on budgjet
house: House Judiciary Committee
joint committees
Legislative branch
members from both the house and senate
ex: joint comittee on the library of congress
select committees
Legislative branch
temporary and created for a specific purpose
ex: Watergate investigation
Conference Committees
Legislative branch
formed to reconcile differences in legislation
House rules
Legislative branch
mandate limited debate
-hous rules committee
committee of the house
discharge petition
house rules committee
Legislative branch
decides which bills make it to floor for debate
house
Committee of th Whole
Legislative branch
includes all 435 represenatives
house
discharge petiotion
Legislative branch
used to force bill out of committee for debate and voting
Senate Rules
Legislative branch
unlimited debate/ fillibuster
-unanimous consent
senate
fillibuster
Legislative branch
an attempt to stall or kill a bill by talking for a very long time
-cloture rule: 3/5ths vote to end fillibuster
senate
unanimous consent
Legislative branch
can agree to limit debate in order to avoid fillibuster; any objection=a hold
senate
how a bill becomes a law
Legislative branch
- introduced by either house
- assigned to a committee and may undergo changes
- if bill passes, goes to president for signing
federal budget
Legislative branch
-created by congress
-mandatory spending and discressionary spending + deficit
mandatory spending
Legislative branch
payments required by law.
ex: entitlement spending (social security), Medicare, Medicade, interest oayments on debt
Discresionary Spending
Legislative branch
all funds remaining after mandatroy spending, paying federal employees
deficit
Legislative branch
gap between budget and actual funds available
Models of Representation
Legislative branch
Trustee, Delegate, politico
Trustee model
Legislative branch
they have been entrusted witth the people’s faith to vote acoording to represenatives best judgement
delegate model
Legislative branch
they must vote with will of peop;e, evwn if it goes against their judgement
politico model
Legislative branch
a belnd between trustee and deleagate model, vote depends on situaton
redistricting/ gerrymandering
redrawing of boundries represnatives represent
Baker v. Carr
TN had not redrawn districts i over 60 years, Urban population had grown greater than rural
-violated equal protection clause of 14th amendment, one person one vote: distrcits must be drawn in order to evenly distribute voting power
-apportionment issues are justicible
redistricting/ gerrymandering
Shaw v Reno
constitutionallity of drawing districts based on race, racial gerrymandering is unconstitutional
redistricting/ gerrymandering
formal powers
executive branch
in constitution
ex: veto, commander in chief (head of military, executive agreements (between other states)
`
informal powers
executive branch
pocket veto, barganning and persuasion, executive order, signing statement, cabinet, ambassadors, white house staff, federal court
pocket veto
executive branch
if a bill doesnt sign a bill in 10 days
executive order
executive branch
has force of federal law, mainly direct actions of military and bureaucracy
signing statement
executive branch
informs nation how executive branch interprets law
cabinet
executive branch
presidential team of advisors who lead each of the exceutiveagencies
ambassadors
executive branch
to go to other countries
White house staff
executive branch
employed with no congressional confirmation
executive communication
executive branch
“bully pulpit;” pres can speak directly to the people
ex: state of the union, radio/TV, social media
trump: “tweeter in chief”
struture of judicial branch
judical branch
bottom–> top
U.S district courts (94), U.S Circut Court of appeals (12), Supreme Court (1)
US District courts
judical branch
have origional jurisdiction (rigth to hear case for the 1st time)
US Circut Court of Appeals
judical branch
appelate jursidiciton (hear appeals from other courts)
Supreme Court
judical branch
had both otigional and appellate jurisdiction depening on type of case
Federalist 78
Hamilton argues independence of judicial branch acted as a protection for its power,lifetime appointment, right of judicial review
judical branch
Marbury v Madison
cemented power of judical review
judical branch
judicial activism
judical branch
idea that court acts to establish policy and considers more thanjust constitutionality of decision, considers broader effects on society
judicial restraint
judical branch
a law should only be struck down if it violates the written word of the constitution
checks on judical branch
president can appoint new judges, lack of enforcement (of decisions) by executive gov, legislatio to invalidate decision
bureaucracy
falls under authority of executive branch
Structure of bureaucracy
- Cabinent Secretaries
- agencies
- commissions
- government coorporations
cabinet secretaries
bureaucracy
leaders of 15 executive departments
department of Energy, homeland security, Department of Defence
Angencies
bureaucracy
work together to accomplish goals of the departement
IRS (Internal Revenue Service)
comissions
bureaucracy
regulatory groups who operate somewhat independently from the president
-run by a board of individuals
-usually created for a specific purpose
ex: Federal communications comissions (FCC)
government coorporations
bureaucracy
hybrid of buisness and government agency
-aquires buisnesses when they want to offer a public good for free
ex: PBS
delegated discrestionary authority
bureaucracy
authoriy given by congress on how to make rules and carry out laws
compliance monitoring
bureaucracy
establish rules or certian industries, making sure industries are complying with rules
-issue fines when laws are violated
iron triangle
bureaucracy
buraucratic agents, comgressional commitees, and interest groupd rely on eachother to create policy
-members of congressional comitties helped by interest groups:
1. provide them with policy information
2. provide campaign donations if the represenativeis sympathetic to groups goals
-hinders or helps:
1. interest groups activity can be influenced by inequality of political and economic recources
2. unequal access to decsion makers
examples of bureaucratic departments
bureaucracy
- homeland security: protects from terrorism; maintains and controls noarders
- Transportation: exactly.
- Veteran’s AffairsL manages veterans hospitals, general welfare
- Education: overseas states and their implentation of federal educational standards
- enviromental protection agency
- federal elections comission
president appoints members, but cannot fire regulatory commission heads
merit system
bureaucracy
examination required to enter buraucratic agencies
checks on bureacuracy
- congress can hold commitee hearings to ensure laws are being upheld in a way that reflects its intent (can call on agencies to testify)
- power of the purse: comgress allocates funds to differentangenices and spending has to be chekced
- bureaucratic decisions can be challanged in court
bill of rights
-1st 10 amendments in constitution designed to protect civil liberties
-protect citizens from intrusion by vederal government
federalists: in favor of powerful centeral gov so james madison didnt feel need for bill of rights; compromised and included it
anti federalists: in favor of powerful states, wouldnt sign a constitution w/o a bill of rights
1st amendment
protects freedoms of speech, religion, pressm assembly, and petition
2nd amendment
keep and bear arms
4th amendment
protetcts against unreasonable seaches and seizures of personal property
5th amendment
deals w/ rights of citizens when they are accused of a crime
6th amendement
explains process for when a perso is accused of a crime and explains protection to which they are entitled
7th amendment
guarantees right to trial by jury
8th amendment
proetcts against creul and unusual punishment
9th amendment
if there are rights not mentioned, their exclusion from the list doesnt mean such rights aren’t protected
10th amendment
any powers not explicitly granted to the federal government by constutution are given to the states
religious freedom
1st amendment
balance between religious practice of majority and free exersize of minority religious pratice
establishment clause; Johnson amendment
establishment clause
1st amendment
congress cannot establish any national religion
Johnson Amendment
1st amendment
churches recieving tax exemption their preachers cannot endorse canidates
Engel v. Vitale
court ruled state-sponsored praters in public schools unconstitutionsl
1st amendment
Wisconsin v. Yoder
compkained Wisconisn Law of compulsary school violated free exersize clause of their religion, court agreed
1st amendment
Tinker v Des Moines
-students in Iowa wore black armbands in support against vietnam war + were suspended
-court agreeded 1st amendment rights have been violated
no act of disruption, only dear of disruption
1st amendment
clear and present danger rule
Shenck v US: handing out pamphlets that promoted going againts draft
-pamphlets incited unlawful action, this speech created a clear and present danger to society
1st amendment
Brandenburg test
new standard for “clear and present danger rule” determening harmfulness of speech
prior restraint
1st amendment
when a goc tries to restrict a story prior to publicaiton, very high standard
ex; NYT V US
New York Times v. U.S
Pentagon papers leaked to NYT and Wahsington Post, demonstrating Nixion lied, he envoked prior restaint
-court ruled freedom of press more than prior restraint; heavy pursumption
McDonald v. Chicago
-applied Heller decision and its commitment ot individual liberty for gun owenership to the states
2nd amendment
selective incorporation
process by which bill of rights is applied to the states
ex: 14th amendment, McDonald V Chicago
Mcdonald v. Chicago
-impossible to own a handgun, if second amendment allowed citizens of washington DC to own handguns, that should be the case for states
-selective incorpotation through 14th amendment
due process of law
-required to accuse anyone of a crime/ when governement wants to infringe on someones rights
5th amendment: federal gov
14th amendment: applies 5th amendment to states
civil liberties
constitutionally established guarantees and freedoms that protect citizens against arbitrary government interference
exclusionary rule
evidence gathered in violation of the 4th amendment will be excluded from a person’s trial
Gideon v Wainwright
-incorporated 6th amendment to states
-Gedeon tries in a FL court w/o a lawyer and got comvicted, appealed, and won
right to privacy
court established right to privacy as an implicit right based on: 1st, 4th, 5th, 9th, and 14th amendments
Griswold v. Connecticut
-gov cannot ptohibit contraceptives to a marries couple, gov couldnt infringe om couples rightss to privacy when making decisons about their health
right to privacy
Roe v. Wade
when a woman couldn’t recieve an abortion in texas, ryled right of personal privacy included abortion decision, can be considered against state resitrictions, not absolite may be tempered by states unless mother;s health.life is at risk
right to privacy
Letter from a Brinmingham Jail
King argues that he and his fellow demonstrations have a duty to fight for justice.
It is up to the oppressed to take charge and demand equality.
Segregation is used to debase one population (blacks) while uplifting another (whites), which makes it
immoral in the eyes of God. Immoral laws are laws that are neither just nor fair. According to St.
Augustine’s logic, unjust laws aren’t actually laws, so they don’t have to be followed. King believes
people are under a moral obligation to oppose segregation by refusing to abide by the so-called laws
that govern the practice.
White Americans who say they agree with the notion of desegregation but criticize the manner in
which civil rights activists go about achieving it are the biggest obstacle standing in the way of racial
equality. The demeaning and “paternalistic” attitude of white moderates shows a lack of real
understanding about the realities of segregation. It is this group that perpetuates the notion that time,
not human intervention, will be the great equalizer—which discourages others to join the campaign for
civil rights.
The civil rights movement will ultimately be successful because “the goal of America is freedom.” MLK’s respone to white clergy men who said protests should wait
BIG IDEA: The Fourteenth Amendment’s equal protection clause as well as other constitutional provisions
have often been used to support the advancement of equality.
19th Amendment
1920 recognized women’s right to vote
National Organization for WOmen (NOW)
wanted to pass ERA
civil rights act of 1965
banned descrimination based on sex; weakly enforced
Title IX
guranateed women would have the same opportunities as men in educational institutions that recived federal funding
“dont ask dont tell” policy
under Clinton, gay men and women can serve in the military, but they cannot tell anyone they are gay and the military wil ont ask
-Obama overturned, openly gay people can serve
Plessy v Fergason
seperate but equal doctrine established
Brown v Board of Edu
noverturned sperate but rqual doctrine and ordered that schools be intergrated
-racial segregation is inherently unequal
voting rights act of 1965
illegal to descriminate against voters
debate on affirminive action
affirmitive action: policies enacted that cater groups who have been historically discriminated against
debate: is i constitutional to hve nminority quotas in various institutions? is the constitution colorblind?
dejure segregation
racial desrimination by law
ex: Jim Crow
struck down by Brown v. Board of Edu
de facto segregation
racial segregation by personal choice
ex: the Great Migration of black americans to the north led to many whites to flee to suburbs
conservatives
cherish established institutions ans seek to preserve themselbes for the good of society
liverals
push for reforms to make society more just and equal
American core values
- individualism
- equality of opportunity
- free enterprise
- rule of law
- limited government
individualism
liberal v conservative
c: value self-centered indiciudalism, emphaisizes individual above society
l: value enligjhtened individualism emphaiszes interests of society above interests of individual
equality of opportunity
liberal v conservative
c: believe in power of meritocracy, every on in America rises based on their own toil
L: agree with idea of meritocracy w/ conditionl believe not all groups start and the same plae
free enterprise
liberal v conservative
c: want the gov to stay out of the affairs of buisness and allow the free market determine what’s best
l: want gov to intervene with appropriate regulations to enaure saftey and equality in the work place
Rule of Law
liberal v conservative
c: see laws themselves as embodying equality, emphaiseze letter of the law
l: embrace need of governement intervention in society, for sake of the greater good
factors of political socialization
family, schools, peers, media, civic groups/religion, globalization
changes in ideolohy
generational effects
older: more likely conservatibe
younger: more likely liberal
silent generation: great depression, Roosevelt expaneed power with new deals policy, trust in gov to intervene
baby boomers: watergate scandal, loss trust in gov
millineals: 9/11 terrorist attacks from US intervention, keep sense of foreign policy
process of writing a good poll
- ?s are free from bias
- presenting ?s to a small, random group of people
- generalizing results to larger population
opinion poll
feel for public opinion on a topic/ issue
benchmark poll
gives basis to compare to other polls to check canidates progress
tracking polll
track how a group feels abt an issue over time
entrance/ exit poll
conducted at voting sites to ask people how they voted/ will vote
bandwagon effect
people are more likley to support a canidate who is polling well
ways polls fail
-social desirability answer: people choose an answer they dont follow through with
-non-responce bias: certian groups are more likely to respond to public opinion polls than others
ex: 2016 election polls predicted a Hillary win
fiscal policy
decisions governement makes about spending and taxation
monetary policy
decisions government makes about how much money should be in the economy
federal reserve
federal resesrve
can take money in an out of economy by:
1. buying/selling government bonds
2. setting reserve requirements
3. setting interest rate
keynesian economics
fiscal policy, FDR during Great depression made new deal
-more government spending
liberal
supply side economics
fiscal policy less governement tax and welfare, less government regulations on buisness, support buisness and supply/demand
conservative
libertarian ideology
least amount of governement intervention, minimal government programs, gov should only protect property
24th amendment
abolished poll tax
26th amendment
lowered voting age from 21 to 18
voting models
- rational choice voting
- retorspective voting
- perspective voting
- party line voting
rational choice voting
voting models
person votes based on individual self interest, carefully studies issues and platforms
retrospective voting
voting models
person votes based on recent past track record of politician in question
prospective voting
voting models
person votes on predictions on how a party/canidate will preform in the future
party-line voting
voting models
person votes for all canidates of their party
structural barries to voting
voter ID laws
political efficacy
citizens belief about whether or not their vote matters
what factors effect how a person votes?
1.party identification/ideological orientation
2.canidate character
3.political issue
4.religion/gender/race/age
linkage institutions
societal structures that connects people to their government
ex: political parties, interest groupds, elections, media
duties of party platform
- mobilization and education of voters
- write and publicsh party platform
- find quality canidates
why can’t 3rd parties win
winner take all voting districts
-incorporation of 3rd party agendas ito the two major parties
interest group
linkage institution
group of poeple who gatger around a policy issue in order to pursuade policymakers to pass legislation favorable to the group
1. educare voters and officeholders on issue
2. engage in lobbying
3. draft legislation
4. moblilize its members to apply pressure on and work with legislators and governement
ex: PETA, NRA, NAACP
how social and protest movements influence policy
- good at getting nations attention
- intertest groups draft potential legislation to present to law makers
- political parties and bureau agencies get involved
- burau agencies figure out rules and regulations needed to execute and nimplement law
- law is implemented well or not (if not cycle repeats)
electing president
- primaries/ caucuses
- general election
primary elections
memebers of party vote on which canidate they want to respreant them in the general election
open primaries
any registered voter can vote in either parties primary, but not both
some states, like Georgia
closed primaries
only people registered with the party can vote in those primaries
some states like New York
caucuses
some states dont hold primaries to elect nominee, instead of voting priavtley peole discuss and debate together and they vote publically, whoever is chosen is presented at a national convention
incumbency advantage
- already has won an election, so know how its done
- people will know how they will act as president
- already has volunteers and fundraisers ready to help with another campaign
electoral college
each state has same # of electors as congressional represenatives
-to win election, canidate needs a minimum of 270 electoral votes
-winner take all system
exception: Main and Nebraska which have rules that allow them to split electoral votes
congressional elections
-occur every 2 years; 1/3 of senators up for reelectoin
-midterm elections: happen halfway through presidents term
incumbency advantage (congressional elections)
more pronounced than in presidential elections
-90% of incumbents win their election
-name recognition track record, established funding, safe distrcits
why has money spend on campaigns risen?
-increase length of election cycle
-increasing complexity of campaigns
-canvassing: calling/emailing voters
-advertising
federal elections campaign act (FECA)
created a new federal comission called the Federal Election Comission to oversee and regulate money being spent on campaigns
Federal Elections comission
estabished limits for how much money a person could give to a presidential candiate and how much money a canidate could spend on their eoection
hard money
contributions given directly to a canidate
soft money
money donated not to a canidate but to a party interest/group who can buy adverstising on the canidates behald (not subject to campaign laws)
citizens United v FEC
buckley v. Valeo: court ruled that limitation on individual and corporate contributions to campaigns were constitutional
-this case challanged limits, court ruled limits on contributions from individuals and corporations was a violation of free speech
political action committee (PAC)
raise $ for sake of influenceing their preffered canidate
connected PAC
formed by coorporations or entites like labor unions
-only collect funds from members of organization, money can be donated directly to canidates in limited quantities
non-connected PAC
formed indepently from an organization, usually arounda specific public interest, donnations to non-connected PACs are limited by law
super PAC
can be formed by anyone
-can accept unlimited donations
-cannot directly coordinate with a caniate
role of media
linkage institution
watchdog agency: media holds gov responsible to people
Federalist 10
a strong, united republic would be more effective than the individual states at controlling “factions”
a large republic will help control factions because when more representatives are elected, there will be
a greater number of opinions. Therefore, it is far less likely that there will be one majority oppressing
the rest of the people
Brutus I
a series of essays written by Robert Yates, a New York judge who was opposed to the new U.S Constitution. These essays argued that the proposed constitution would lead to an overly powerful central governments
a bill of rights was necessary to protect the people from the government
Federalist 51
addresses means by which appropriate checks and balances can be created in government and also advocates a separation of powers within the national government.
BIG IDEA: The Constitution created a competitive policy- making process to ensure the people’s will is
accurately represented and that freedom is preserved.
Federalist 70
rgues in favor of the unitary executive created by Article II of the United States Constitution.
BIG IDEA: The presidency has been enhanced beyond its expressed constitutional powers.
Federalist 78
the federal courts “were designed to be an intermediate body between the people and their legislature
BIG IDEA: The design of the judicial branch protects the Supreme Court’s independence as a branch of
government, and the emergence and use of judicial review remains a powerful judicial practice.
