AP US Government and Politics: Chapters 1, 2, 3

Key Terms: Power - the ability of one person to get another person to act in accordance

with the first person's intentions Authority - the right to use power Legitimacy - political authority conferred by law or by a state or national

constitution Democracy - the rule of many Elite - people who have a disproportionate amount of some valued resource,

like money or power Unalienable- a human right based on nature or God Judicial review - the power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional Faction - a group with a distinct political interest Coalition - an alliance of factions Bill of Rights - the first 10 amendments to the Constitution Line-item veto - an executive's ability to block a particular provision in a bill

passed by the legislature Nullification - the doctrine that a state can declare null and void a federal law

that, in the state's opinion, violates the Constitution Dual federalism - doctrine holding that the national government is supreme

in its sphere, the sates are supreme in their, and the two spheres should be kept separate

Police power - state power to enact laws promoting health, safety, and morals

Sovereignty - supreme or ultimate political authority; legally and politically independent of any other government

Systems of Government: Unitary system - sovereignty is wholly in the hands of the national

government Direct/participatory democracy - a government in which all or most citizens

participate directly Representative democracy - a government in which leads make decisions by

winning a competitive struggle for popular vote Republic - a government in which elected representatives make the decisions Confederation/confederal system - states are sovereign and the national

government is allowed to do only what the states permit Federal system - sovereignty is shared Federal regime - local units of government have a specially protected

existence and can make final decisions over governmental activities

Democracy at the State Level: Initiative - process that permits voters to put legislative measure directly on

the ballot

Referendum - procedure enabling voters to reject a measure passed by legislature

Recall - procedure whereby voters can remove an elected official from office

Constitutional Convention: Articles of Confederation - a weak constitution that governed America during

the Revolutionary War Shays's Rebellion - a 1787 rebellion in which ex-Revolutionary War soldiers

attempted to prevent foreclosures of farms as a result of high interest rates and taxes

Federalists - those in favor of a strong national government Anti-Federalists - those who favor a weaker national government Virginia Plan - proposal to create a strong national government New Jersey Plan - proposal to create a weak national government Great Compromise - plan to have a popularly elected House based on state

population and a state-selected senate, with 2 members of each state

Rights Included in Constitution (Not Bill of Rights): Habeas corpus - an order to produce an arrested person before a judge Bill of attainder - a law that declares a person, without a trial, guilty of a

crime Ex post facto law - a law that makes an act criminal although the act was legal

when it was committed

Key Clauses of Constitution: "Necessary and proper" Clause- section of the Constitution allowing Congress

to pass all laws "necessary and proper" to its duties, and which has permitted Congress to exercise powers not specifically given to it (enumerated) by the Constitution

Extradition Clause – Blakc slave if escaped must be returned to master Supremacy Clause – US Federal government supreme in all matters it handles Full Faith and Credit Clause – States should respect the laws of every state Privileges and immunities clause – prevents one state from treaty citizens of

another is discrimatory manner

Key of Components of Federalism: Federalism - government authority is shared by national and state

governments Enumerated powers - powers given to the national government alone Reserved powers - powers given to the state government alone Concurrent powers - powers shared by the national and state governments Checks and balances - authority shared by the 3 branches of government Separation of powers - constitutional authority is shared by 3 different

branches of government

Ways of Describing Elites:

Class view - view that the government is dominated by capitalists Power elite view - view that the government is dominated by a few top

leaders, most of whom are outside government Bureaucratic view - view that government is dominated by appointed

officials Pluralist view - the belief that competition among all affected interests shapes

public policy

Grants: Grants-in-aid - money given by the national government to the states Categorical grants - federal grants for specific purposes, such as building an

airport Block grant – Grants given in larger sums, with fewer strings attached Conditions of aid - terms set by the national government that states must

meet if they are to receive certain federal funds Mandates - terms set by the national government that states must meet

whether or not they accept federal grants Waiver - a decision by an administrative agency granting some other part

permission to violate a law or rule that would otherwise apply to it

Supreme Court Cases: McCulloh vs. Maryland – Bank etc US vs. Lopez – First time since new deal, Limited congress’s power under

commerce clause Gibbons vs. Odgen – National Gov. regulates interstate commerce Marbury vs. Madison – Courts review executive and legislative branches.

Their say is final.

Pennsylvania vs. Massachusetts: Pennsylvania constitution most democratic All power in unicameral legislature Assembly began abusing power Massachusetss was less democratic, more division of powers

Questions:

WHO GOVERNS?

1. How is political power distributed in America?

Political power = powers of the different government institutions. Checks and balance within the national government. Federalism to support states and local municipalities.

2. What is the nature of a republic?

A republic is an indirect democracy. It slows down the decision making. It is not a monarchy

3. How is power divided in America?

Through pluralism. Multiple factions. These include religious, ethnic, social groups all contribute to the political process. This is made possible by divisions in power and pluralism.

TO WHAT ENDS?

1. What values matter?

The natural rights; Life, liberty and property

2. What goals should the government serve?

National defense, protection of property rights, domestic order.

(Army, court system and police force)

 

ADDITIONAL LEARNING OUTCOMES

 

After reading the material in this unit, you should be able to do each of the following:

 

1. Explain what is meant by power, and by political power, in particular. Relate the latter to authority, legitimacy, and democracy.

Power – Ability of citizens and factions to organize and participate Political Power – What institutions can and cannot do Authority – Power that has consent of the population Legitimacy – Power that has authority, but also follows the rule of the

law Democracy – It has authority, legitimacy, and popular participation

2. Explain the notion of “higher law,” by which the colonists felt they were entitled to certain “natural rights.” List these rights.

Higher Law – God given rights which are the natural rights Natural Rights – Life, Liberty and property

3. List and discuss the shortcomings of government under the Articles of Confederation.

Lacked authority Couldn’t settle inter state disputes Couldn’t levy taxes or form an army No judicial or legislative branch

4. Compare and contrast the Virginia and New Jersey plans and show how they led to the Great Compromise.

Virginia plan – Bicameral, legislature could veto state laws, legislature based on population

New Jersey – Unicameral, same # representatives per state

5.         Explain why separation of powers and federalism became key parts of the Constitution.

US had just broken free from Great Britian Wanted to divided power in order to prevent abuses Wanted to allow pluralism

5. Explain why a bill of rights was not initially included in the Constitution and why it was added. Constitution included states’ rights, but it wasn’t enough for the

antifederalists Created the bill of rights to appeal to antifederalists

7.         Identify important policy areas affected by federalism.

Education, Transportation, intrastate commerce and issuing licenses 10th Amendment - anything not covered by constitution

8.         Explain the difference between federal and centralized systems of government, and give examples of each.

Federal – Power is distributed among multiple jurisdictions. Central – Parliamentary, all power at one point. Think Britain/ france. No

local control

9.         State the reasons why federal grants-in-aid to the states have been politically popular, and cite what have proven to be their pitfalls. Distinguish categorical grants and block grants.

Originally: Free money from the federal government, governors and legislators could use them to claim they were doing more and elevate their political standing

More and more strings attached, sometimes states end up paying more to cover all the conditions than grant is worth

Categorical grants – grant that comes with government conditions of aid Block grants – larger sum, less specific, fewer strings

10.       Evaluate the effect of devolution on relationships between the national and state governments. Assess its implications for citizens as taxpayers and as clients of government programs.

National government places more responsibility on the State government State budgets strained, less welfare programs More private/ voluntary programs Taxes go up at state level

Federalism 10 and 51

10 – deal with factions by large central government 51 – divisions of power to prevent abuse