AP Gov AP Test Review Flashcards
enlightenment
18th century philosophical movement that started in western Europe and had scientific revolution influences. It emphasized using reason.
who were the major enlightenment philosophers (list 4)
Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Charles de Montesquieu, Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Thomas Hobbes
In his work Leviathan, he argued that humans are unable to rule themselves and that all the power should be given to a monarch.
John Locke
In his 2nd treatise on civil gov., he argued that life, liberty, and property were natural rights granted by God and that the gov. needs to respect these rights. If not, the people can start a revolution/overthrow the gov.
Charles de Montesquieu
in De l’esprit des lois, he argued for the separation of powers into 3 branches of gov.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
good gov. is formed by the consent of the ppl. Social contract=agreement among ppl.
what was the 1st form of US’ gov
articles of confederation
what was the 2nd form of US’ gov
constitution
from what period did the ppl. follow the articles of confederation
1776-1781
successes of the articles of confederation (list 3)
1) the articles of confederation set the precedent for federalism
2) negotiated the treaty that ended the American Revolution
3) established the northwest ordinance
federalism
states & national gov. share governing responsibilities
northwest ordinance
(1787) created methods by which new states could enter the union.
when did the american revolution end
1783
describe how the state of the union was in 1787
trade and value of the $ was declining. threats from foreign enemies was growing and so was social disorder. Shay’s rebellion occurred.
Shay’s rebellion
6 month rebellion where farmers attacked a federal arsenal to protest the foreclosure of farms in Massachusetts during 1786. Nation’s leaders were scared by this and wanted a strong sense of central gov.
what were the weaknesses of the articles of confederation (list 10)
1) fed gov. couldn’t draft soldiers
2) dependent on state legislator’s for revenue bc. fed gov. couldn’t tax citizens
3) couldn’t pay off revolutionary war debt
4) no control over interstate trade
5) no Supreme Court
6) no executive branch
7) no national currency
8) no control over export/import taxes imposed btw. states
9) needed unanimity(consensus)
10) needed approval from 9/13 states to pass legislation
what was the result of the weaknesses of the articles of confederation
a constitutional convention was held. Framers met in Philadelphia in 1787.
In the constitutional convention, what were the two plans and what was the compromise?
Virginia Plan: strong gv. w/ each state represented proportionately to its population
New Jersey Plan: each state is represented equally
Great Compromise (aka Connecticut Compromise): Bicameral (2 house) legislature w/ House(each state represented proportionately to its population) and Senate (each state is represented equally)
3/5 compromise
slaves are represented as 3/5 of a person when counting the population
federalist papers
newspaper articles supporting the Constitution written by Hamilton, Madison, and John Jay
can Congress override a presidential veto?
yes if it gets a 2/3 vote in both houses
federalists
favor strong central gov. opposed bill of rights
antifederalists
opposed strong central gov. fear from Britain’s rule
conflict of antifederalists and federalists led to what?
bill of rights: protects rights of indvs. from gov. infringement
federalist 10
advocates 4 a large republic and warns about the dangers of democracy
what is the 1st 3 articles of the Constitution about
separation of powers (legislative, executive, and judicial)
necessary & proper clause (aka elastic clause) + ex
article 1 section 8; allows Congress to make all laws that appear necessary & proper ex) there’s nothing in the constitution that creates the federal reserve system (central bank for the U.S.)
executive agreements
btw. the heads of countries. Similar to treaties but don’t need Senate approval. This isn’t stated in the constitution.
executive orders and ex
pres can issue these. They have the same affect as law but don’t need Congressional approval. This isn’t stated in the constitution.
ex) Roosevelt ordered Japanese American and German American ppl. removed from a military zone. All Japanese Americans were sent to internment camps for the remainder of WW2.
Marbury v. Madison
increased power of the supreme court by granting itself the ability to overturn laws passed by the legislature which is known as judicial review.
judicial review
SCOTUS has the ability to overturn laws passed by the legislature
confederation
a system in which many decisions are made by an external member-state legislation
McCulloch v. Maryland
(1819); scotus ruled that states don’t have the power to tax the national bank(fed gov). Reinforces the supremacy clause of the constitution
supremacy clause of the constitution
The clause in United States Constitution’s Article VI, stating that all laws made furthering the Constitution and all treaties made under the authority of the United States are the “supreme law of the land.” Requires conflicts btw. federal and state law to be resolved in favor of federal law.
Gibbons v. Ogden
(1824); scotus ruled that NY couldn’t grant a steamship company monopoly to operate on an interstate waterway even though that waterway ran though NY. Increased federal power over interstate commerce by applying that anything concerning interstate trade could potentially be regulated by the fed. gov.
delegated aka enumerated powers
those that belong to the national gov only which include:
printing money, declaring war, making treaties and conducting foreign policy, and regulating interstate and international trade
reserved powers
powers that belong exclusively to the states. According to the 10th amendment, this includes any powers that the constitution neither specifically grants to the national gov. nor denies to the state gov. They’re not listed in the constitution and these powers include the power to issue licenses, regulation of intrastate business (w/in the states), and the responsibility to run and pay for federal elections.
concurrent powers
those that are shared by federal and state govs. power to collect taxes, build roads, operate courts of law, and borrow money
what does the fed. gov. need to provide the states with?
republican form of gov. & protection against foreign invasion & domestic rebellion. Prevent states from subdividing or combining to form new states without congressional consent. States have to accept court judgements, licenses, and contracts, can’t refuse police protection
full faith and credit clause
the obligation under Article IV of the U.S. Constitution for each state to recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state.
privileges and immunities clause
prevents a state from treating citizens of other states in a discriminatory manner.
extradition
states must return fugitives to the states from which they’ve fled
what can the president do as chief legislator?
agenda-setting, veto, message power/state of the union address, going public/bully pulpit
what can the president do as chief bureaucrat?
appointments(vetting), executive orders, manage/oversee bureaucracy, use WH staff to control bureaucrats (office of management and budget), prioritize agenda activities
how do civil service employees and scotus limit the president’s influence in policy making?
bureaucratic discretion, agency view, civil service protection, interest group capture of agencies, expertise
how does divided government influence policy making
control of congress by one party and control of the presidency by the other party makes it more difficult to enact legislation. control of the 2 chambers of Congress by opposing political parties makes it more difficult to pass legislation.
dual federalism
fed and state gov were separate and ind.
fed gov. doesn’t have the power to…
- suspend the writ of habeas corpus except in times of national crisis
- pass ex post facto
- impose export taxes
- grant titles of nobility
- use $ from the treasury w/out the passage & approval of an appropriations bill
habeas corpus
protects against illegal imprisonments
ex post facto
a civil or criminal law with retroactive effect; especially : a law that retroactively alters a defendant’s rights especially by criminalizing and imposing punishment for an act that was not criminal or punishable at the time it was committed
examples of categorical grants
medicaid, food stamp program, and head start
state gov doesn’t have the power to…
- enter into treaties w/ foreign countries
- declare war
- print $
- maintain a standing army
- grant titles of nobility
- impose export or import duties
- pass ex post facto
