U.1 : AP Gov Exam - Studying

Question 1

Enlightenment

Answer 1

Challenged TRADITIONAL politics, justified opposition to the British

Question 2

Declaration of Independence

Answer 2

13 colonies made their intentions clear to the world - hey! we’re leaving the king/the British!

Explains a theory of government based on the enlightenment principle of Natural Law to justify Independence

discusses a list of complaints against the king and “others”

Question 3

US Constitution

Answer 3

seven articles, explains how the government is organized and how the constitution can be changed

Question 4

Article I (US Constitution)

Answer 4

Describes the outline of the legislative branch, essentially

describes SEPARATION OF POWERS (CHECKS AND BALANCES)

specifies powers of the HOUSE, the SENATE, and the STATE

specifies powers DENIED to Congress

describes ELECTIONS of the house and Senate

allows chambers to determine their own rules and proceedings

Question 5

Article II (US Constitution)

Answer 5

Defines the President’s term as FOUR YEARS

Outlines the elector’s will to select the president and vice president

identifies age and residency requirements to be president

identifies the POWERS of the president, including commander in chief, negotiating treaties, and heading the executive branch

Question 6

Article III (US Constitution)

Answer 6

Establishes the SUPREME COURT

Allows Congress to create LOWER federal courts

Gives federal judges life-long terms (they can be impeached)

Outlines jurisdiction of the Federal Courts with regard to the Constitution and Federal Law

Identifies a limited number of cases of original jurisdiction for the Supreme Court

Question 7

Article IV (four) (US CONSTITUTION)

Answer 7

says that states have the following OBLIGATIONS to one another:

Full Faith and Credit Clause: states respect the laws and judgments of other states

Privileges and Immunities Clause: all citizens have the same basic rights, no matter what state they LIVE IN or TRAVEL TO

Extradition of criminals to the state where the crime happened

Question 8

Article V (five): (US CONSTITUTION)

Answer 8

Changes to the constitution, essentially

Amendments to the Constitution may be proposed by:
A two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress, or
Two thirds of the states calling a Convention

Amendments to the Constitution may be ratified by
A three-fourths vote of state legislatures, or
A three-fourths vote of state conventions

Question 9

Full Faith and Credit Clause (Article IV/Four)

Answer 9

states respect the laws and judgments of other states

Question 10

Privileges and Immunities Clause (Article IV/Four)

Answer 10

all citizens have the same basic rights, no matter what state the LIVE IN or TRAVEL TO

Question 11

Amendments to the Constitution may be proposed by: (Article V)

Answer 11

A two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress, or

Two thirds of the states calling a Convention

Question 12

Amendments to the Constitution may be ratified by: (Article V)

Answer 12

A three-fourths vote of state legislatures, or

A three-fourths vote of state conventions

Question 13

Article VI (six): (US Constitution)

Answer 13

Federal laws and the Constitution are the supreme laws of the land (SUPREMACY CLAUSE)

debt from the confederation is absorbed by the Federal government

Lawmakers of the Confederation were required to take an oath of Affirmation to support the Constitution

Question 14

Article VII (seven) (US Constitution)

Answer 14

Approval by Nine of the Thirteen States was required to RATIFY the CONSTITUTION

Question 15

Early Principles

Answer 15

natural rights, popular sovereignty, republicanism, separation of powers, social contract (LOCKE/ROSSEAU)

Question 16

Participatory Democracy

Answer 16

citizens don’t participate through elective representatives, but rather participate INDIVIDUALLY and DIRECTLY

Question 17

Pluralist Democracy

Answer 17

Multiple GROUPS, representing diverse interests and viewpoints

EX: interest groups

essentially - groups influence policy

Question 18

Pluralist Theory

Answer 18

people with shared interests will form groups in order to make their desires known to politicians

Question 19

Elitist Theory / Democracy

Answer 19

single group -

single elite group decides everything

Question 20

Federalists

Answer 20

strong Federal power

overarching national government, but states get smaller powers

Question 21

Anti-Federalists

Answer 21

wanted all power to the STATES, weak federal govt. and weak military power for the executive

wanted the bill of rights

wanted strong INDIVIDUAL POWER - didn’t want a strong federal to overreach that

Question 22

Brutus No.1

Answer 22

THE anti-federalist essay

said that federalism would lead to an overly powerful federal govt - not enough freedom for individuals . basically stated all of the beliefs of anti-federalism

Question 23

Federalist 10

Answer 23

claimed that the proposed republican government was not likely to be dominated by any FACTION

all about FACTIONS

defended the form of republican government proposed by the constitution

Question 24

Faction (Federalist 10)

Answer 24

a group united in an interest that negatively affects the interest of the community

Question 25

Representative Democracy (Federalist 10)

Answer 25

a type of democracy where representatives are elected by the government

in Fed. 10 Madision argued that a representative democracy was more effective against factionalism and partisanship

Question 26

Articles of Confederation

Answer 26

An awful first Constitution (Shay’s rebellion proved it)

overpowered states, federal government weak, bad at taxes, single branch (legislative) govt

Question 27

the Great Compromise

Answer 27

( bicameral Congress: SENATE + HOUSE ) - combo of VA (large states) and NJ (small states) compromises

Question 28

Other Ratifications and Compromises

Answer 28

Electoral College

3/5 compromise (African American was 3/5 of a person)

amendment process

Question 29

Federalist 51

Answer 29

CHECKS AND BALANCES

SEPARATION OF POWERS
the three branches of the government are kept SEPARATE

CONNECTS to the I, II, and III articles of the Constitution

Question 30

Expressed powers

Answer 30

WRITTEN in the constitution

Question 31

Implied powers

Answer 31

indicated by the expressed / not written / needed to carry out the expressed powers

Question 32

Federalism - Dual/Layer Cake // Cooperative/Marble Cake analogies

Answer 32

Dual/Layer Cake: act in OWN SPHERES; SEPARATE from one another

Cooperative/Marble Cake: work TOGETHER to do stuff, blurred line

(this refers to the relationship between the state and federal gov’t)

Question 33

Fiscal Spending

Answer 33

spending, taxing, providing grants - done by the Federal government

Question 34

Categorical Grant (Fiscal Spending)

Answer 34

Fed funds State for SPECIFIC PURPOSE

Question 35

Block Grant (Fiscal Spending)

Answer 35

general Grant - flexibility for designing / implementing programs for how the money is used

Question 36

Mandates (Fiscal Spending?)

Answer 36

State MUST follow it

Question 37

Supremacy Clause

Answer 37

federal > state

McCulloch v Maryland

Question 38

McCulloch v Maryland

Answer 38

implied powers and Supremacy Clause

Can implied powers allow Congress to create a bank in order for Congress to carry out their Enumerated Powers? The answer is yes.

Future cases - Implied Powers help carry out Enumerated Powers and therefore must be respected/taken account of
State (Maryland) cannot overrule / go against Implied Powers / the Federal Govt’s Enumerated Powers !!
^ ^ This is supremacy clause

Context: 1816 - congress created the First Bank of the United States, and then established a $15k/yr tax on the Baltimore branch of this bank, which McCulloch, the cashier at the bank, refused to pay (the tax was meant to drive them out of business). They went to ourt over this

Question 39

Commerce Clause:

Answer 39

def. of “interstate commerce” widened; expands Fed. power BUT has been restricted in some places

gives congress broad power to regulate interstate commerce and restricts states from impairing interstate commerce.

so - they can regulate interstate commerce. but how much? what exceeds it/what doesn’t fit under it?

US v Lopez

Question 40

United States v Lopez

Answer 40

turning point in the Supreme Court’s interpretation of federalism

Reaffirms the rights of the states under the 10th Amendment and restricts Congress’s power to pass legislation under the commerce claws to those laws that have a “substantial effect” on interstate commerce.

Lopez’s side claimed that the government’s Gun Free School Zones Act exceeded Congress’s power to legislate uner the Commerce Clause.

        Ruled in favor of Lopez - decided that Congress exceeded its authority under the Commerce Clause in passing the Gun Free School Zones Act of 1990. 

COMMERCE CLAUSE: gives congress broad power to regulate interstate commerce and restricts states from impairing interstate commerce.

Question 41

Devolution

Answer 41

more power to the states