AP Gov AP Test Review

Question 1

enlightenment

Answer 1

18th century philosophical movement that started in western Europe and had scientific revolution influences. It emphasized using reason.

Question 2

who were the major enlightenment philosophers (list 4)

Answer 2

Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Charles de Montesquieu, Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Question 3

Thomas Hobbes

Answer 3

In his work Leviathan, he argued that humans are unable to rule themselves and that all the power should be given to a monarch.

Question 4

John Locke

Answer 4

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.

Question 5

Charles de Montesquieu

Answer 5

in De l’esprit des lois, he argued for the separation of powers into 3 branches of gov.

Question 6

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Answer 6

good gov. is formed by the consent of the ppl. Social contract=agreement among ppl.

Question 7

what was the 1st form of US’ gov

Answer 7

articles of confederation

Question 8

what was the 2nd form of US’ gov

Answer 8

constitution

Question 9

from what period did the ppl. follow the articles of confederation

Answer 9

1776-1781

Question 10

successes of the articles of confederation (list 3)

Answer 10

1) the articles of confederation set the precedent for federalism
2) negotiated the treaty that ended the American Revolution
3) established the northwest ordinance

Question 11

federalism

Answer 11

states & national gov. share governing responsibilities

Question 12

northwest ordinance

Answer 12

(1787) created methods by which new states could enter the union.

Question 13

when did the american revolution end

Answer 13

1783

Question 14

describe how the state of the union was in 1787

Answer 14

trade and value of the $ was declining. threats from foreign enemies was growing and so was social disorder. Shay’s rebellion occurred.

Question 15

Shay’s rebellion

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

what were the weaknesses of the articles of confederation (list 10)

Answer 16

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

Question 17

what was the result of the weaknesses of the articles of confederation

Answer 17

a constitutional convention was held. Framers met in Philadelphia in 1787.

Question 18

In the constitutional convention, what were the two plans and what was the compromise?

Answer 18

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)

Question 19

3/5 compromise

Answer 19

slaves are represented as 3/5 of a person when counting the population

Question 20

federalist papers

Answer 20

newspaper articles supporting the Constitution written by Hamilton, Madison, and John Jay

Question 21

can Congress override a presidential veto?

Answer 21

yes if it gets a 2/3 vote in both houses

Question 22

federalists

Answer 22

favor strong central gov. opposed bill of rights

Question 23

antifederalists

Answer 23

opposed strong central gov. fear from Britain’s rule

Question 24

conflict of antifederalists and federalists led to what?

Answer 24

bill of rights: protects rights of indvs. from gov. infringement

Question 25

federalist 10

Answer 25

advocates 4 a large republic and warns about the dangers of democracy

Question 26

what is the 1st 3 articles of the Constitution about

Answer 26

separation of powers (legislative, executive, and judicial)

Question 27

necessary & proper clause (aka elastic clause) + ex

Answer 27

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.)

Question 28

executive agreements

Answer 28

btw. the heads of countries. Similar to treaties but don’t need Senate approval. This isn’t stated in the constitution.

Question 29

executive orders and ex

Answer 29

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.

Question 30

Marbury v. Madison

Answer 30

increased power of the supreme court by granting itself the ability to overturn laws passed by the legislature which is known as judicial review.

Question 31

judicial review

Answer 31

SCOTUS has the ability to overturn laws passed by the legislature

Question 32

confederation

Answer 32

a system in which many decisions are made by an external member-state legislation

Question 33

McCulloch v. Maryland

Answer 33

(1819); scotus ruled that states don’t have the power to tax the national bank(fed gov). Reinforces the supremacy clause of the constitution

Question 34

supremacy clause of the constitution

Answer 34

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.

Question 35

Gibbons v. Ogden

Answer 35

(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.

Question 36

delegated aka enumerated powers

Answer 36

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

Question 37

reserved powers

Answer 37

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.

Question 38

concurrent powers

Answer 38

those that are shared by federal and state govs. power to collect taxes, build roads, operate courts of law, and borrow money

Question 39

what does the fed. gov. need to provide the states with?

Answer 39

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

Question 40

full faith and credit clause

Answer 40

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.

Question 41

privileges and immunities clause

Answer 41

prevents a state from treating citizens of other states in a discriminatory manner.

Question 42

extradition

Answer 42

states must return fugitives to the states from which they’ve fled

Question 43

what can the president do as chief legislator?

Answer 43

agenda-setting, veto, message power/state of the union address, going public/bully pulpit

Question 44

what can the president do as chief bureaucrat?

Answer 44

appointments(vetting), executive orders, manage/oversee bureaucracy, use WH staff to control bureaucrats (office of management and budget), prioritize agenda activities

Question 45

how do civil service employees and scotus limit the president’s influence in policy making?

Answer 45

bureaucratic discretion, agency view, civil service protection, interest group capture of agencies, expertise

Question 46

how does divided government influence policy making

Answer 46

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.

Question 47

dual federalism

Answer 47

fed and state gov were separate and ind.

Question 48

fed gov. doesn’t have the power to…

Answer 48

1. suspend the writ of habeas corpus except in times of national crisis
2. pass ex post facto
3. impose export taxes
4. grant titles of nobility
5. use $ from the treasury w/out the passage & approval of an appropriations bill

Question 49

habeas corpus

Answer 49

protects against illegal imprisonments

Question 50

ex post facto

Answer 50

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

Question 51

examples of categorical grants

Answer 51

medicaid, food stamp program, and head start

Question 52

state gov doesn’t have the power to…

Answer 52

1. enter into treaties w/ foreign countries
2. declare war
3. print $
4. maintain a standing army
5. grant titles of nobility
6. impose export or import duties
7. pass ex post facto