AP Gov Unit 1 Flashcards
Federalism
The system of government in the United States in which power is shared between the national and state Governments
Exclusive Power
Power held by only one level of government; includes enumerated powers and implied powers
Enumerated Powers
Powers that are specifically written in the Constitution
Implied Powers
Powers that are not specifically written in the Constitution but are inferred from the Necessary and Proper Clause
Reserved Powers
Powers not delegated or enumerated to the national government but ar reserved to the states (10TH AMENDMENT)
Concurrent Powers
Powers shared between both levels of government such as the power to collect taxes, the power to make and enforce laws and the power to build roads
Access points
The places that people and/or organizations can go to exert influence on government policy
Revenue sharing
national funding with almost no restrictions to the states on its use
Block Grants
National funding with minimal restrictions to the states on its use (preferred by states)
Categorical Grants
National funding that is restricted to specific categories of expenditures (preferred by national gov)
Mandates
Requirements by the national government to the states
Supremacy Clause
Gives national government and its laws precedence over state law
Necessary and Proper Clause
Gives Congress the power to make laws related to carrying out its enumerated powers
Commerce Clause
Gives national government the power to regulate interstate commerce
Legislative Branch
-Writes Laws
-Confirms Presidential Appointments
-Ratifies Treaties
-Grants Money
-Declares War
Judicial Branch
-Interprets the Constitution and other laws
-Reviews lower-court decisions
Executive Branch
-Proposes Laws
-Administers laws
-Commands armed forces
-Appoints officials
-Conducts foreign policy
-Negotiates Treaties
Legislative to Judicial
-May propose constitutional amendments to overrule judicial decisions
-may impeach Supreme Court Justices
-May reject appointments to the Supreme Court
Judicial to Executive
-May declare executive actions unconstitutional
Executive to Legislative
-May adjourn Congress in certain situations
-May Veto Bills
Legislative to Executive
-Reject appointments
-Reject treaties
-Withhold funding for presidential initiatives
-Override a Veto
Executive to Judicial
-Appoint judges
Judicial to Legislative
-Declare laws unconstitutional
What is Article I about
Legislative Branch
What is Article II about
Executive Branch
What is Article III about
Judicial Branch
What is Article VI about
National Supremacy
Marbury vs Madison
-Judicial Review
-Power of the federal courts to declare legislative and executive acts unconstitutional
-Congress did not have power to modify the Constitution through regular legislation because Supremacy Clause places the Constitution before the laws
McCulloch v Maryland
-Necessary and Proper Clause
-Bank was deemed constitutional on account of the authority of the necessary and proper clause
-Fed. Government can set up banks
-State can’t tax Federal Gov
US v Lopez
-Congress accused Lopez of violating Gun Free School Zone Act
-Congress overstepped its power
-Commerce Clause was irrelevant
3/5 Compromise
It determined that three out of every five slaves was counted when determining a state’s total population for legislative representation and taxation.
Main Idea of Brutus 1
the Constitution represents a threat to the rights and freedoms of citizens and should not be ratified
Main Idea of Fed 10
a strong federal government can protect liberty because it guards against the dangers of control by a narrow interest.
Main Idea of Fed 51
Check and Balances
The Great compromise
Established the United States legislature as a bicameral, or two-house law-making body
Electoral College
Composition of senators and representatives, evening the playing field for smaller states while large state still got population based representatives.
Bill of Rights
The first 10 Amendments to the Constitution. It spells out Americans’ rights in relation to their government. It guarantees civil rights and liberties
Commerce/importation of slaves
-Newly enslaved people from Africa could not be imported into the United States after 1808.
-Designed to appease southern farmers who wanted to enslave people and allow for a massive blow to the slave trade commerce
Weakness of the Articles
-Congress could not tax
-Congress could not regulate interstate trade
-No Executive
-No Judiciary
-One vote per state
The Constitution Fixed it by
-Congress can levy taxes
-Interstate Commerce Clause (Wicker v Filburn)
-President
-Article III - Supreme Court
-Bicameral - states and people represented
Powers of the National Gov Under the AOC
Raise an army
Print money
Declare war
Run the post office
Powers of the State Gov Under the AOC
-Enforce Laws
-Regulate Commerce
-Administer Justice
-Levy Taxes
Powers Congress didn’t have under the AOC
Tax
Enforce laws
Regulate trade between states/internationally
Why was there a constitutional convention
Shay’s Rebellion
Powers of the National Gov under Constitution
-Print Money
-Regulate interstate and international trade
-Make Treaties
-Declare War
-Provide Army
-Establish Post offices
-Make laws necessary and proper to carry out these powers
Powers of the State Gov under Constitution
-Issue Licenses
-Regulate Intrastate business
-Conduct Elections
-Establish Local Governments
-Ratify amendments to the Constitution
-Take measures for public health and safety
-May exert powers the Constitution does not delegate to the national government or prohibit the states from using
Powers of National and State Government have
-Collect Taxes
-Build Roads
-Borrow Money
-Establish Courts
-Make and enforce laws
-Charter banks and corporations
-Spend money for the General Welfare
-Take private property for public purposes, with just compensation
