AP U. S. Government & Politics Exam Review

Democratic TheoriesPluralist -Interest groups influence public policy,

various groups bargain and compromise to achieve goals, public interest prevails

Elite - Upper-class elite has more influence than everyone else because wealth is the basis of power – influence elections and control corporations

Hyperpluralist - So many interest groups, including elite groups, trying to influence the government that it is unable to act - because they want different things and can attack different levels of government, government freezes up - confusing, contradictory, and muddled policy

Enlightenment ThinkersLocke – men leave nature and form

governments to protect their property, government has a limited purpose, people can take power back from government if it exceeds its purpose

Rousseau – social contract – men agree to be governed for the good of all, must follow laws because they are the acts of general will

Montesquieu – separation of powers between three branches, keeping each branch separate prevents the mingling of power and loss of liberty

James MadisonFederalist No. 51 – # threats to liberty—1) gov’t, 2)

factions, 3) people in order to ensure liberty, the power of gov’t must be

limited and divided and the government must be kept from being too closely tied to the will of the people

Federalist No. 10 – specifically warned of the dangers of factions (i.e. interest groups and political parties),the power of factions must be limited in order to

ensure libertyInfluence: In order to ensure that they are no

threats to liberty, he argues for a large republic, separation of powers, checks and balances, and having each part of government represent different parts of society

FederalismWhat?

Two or more governments have authority over the same area/ppl.

Why? Promotes democracy by…dividing power, creating more levels of government for new

idea, different priorities, opportunities for participation, and ways to redress of grievances (rights)

Types of PowersDelegated (enumerated), Reserved, and Concurrent Powers

Types of FederalismDual - Both the national government and the state

governments are supreme in their own sphere (layer cake federalism)

Cooperative Federalism: State and federal governments share powers and policy assignments (marble cake federalism)

Fiscal Federalism: Federal control of state governments through funding, categorical grants, conditions of aid and mandates

Examples?

FederalismSources of Federal Power

Supremacy clauseElastic Clause – McCulloch v. Maryland (Marshall

Court) – Supremacy of Federal Gov’t; Implied PowersCommerce Clause – Gibbons v. Ogden (Marshall

Court)Incorporation Doctrine – Gitlow v. New York (1925),

Warren Court (incorporates fundamental rights)Fiscal Federalism – Conditions in Aid, sanctions, and

mandates – Handicap Access (ADA), Transportation (National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984), EPA and Clean Air Act, ADA (unfunded mandates)

Limits on Federal PowerBill of Rights10th AmendmentCannot merge or break up existing states or change

representation in the Senate

FederalismSources of State Power

10th AmendmentHolds all electionsDevolution – Block Grants – Welfare Reform Act 1996 - TANF

Limits on State PowerFull Faith and Credit ClauseSupremacy Clause

Linkage InstitutionsConnect the people and the governmentConventional Participation = voting,

volunteering for a campaign, running for office, contributing money to a candidate, signing petitions, discussing politics, joining a political party

Unconventional Participation = uncommon, challenging behavior (Protest, Civil Disobedience, sit-ins, strikes, boycotts, marches, demonstrations, Grassroots)

Media, Political Parties, Elections, Interest GroupsWhat they areHow they connect the people and the governmentHow the government regulates them

MediaWhat?

Print v. Broadcast NewsNetwork v. Cable News StationsNarrowcasting and Bias – Framing and Setting the AgendaInternet – Blogs and fact checking

Linkage?Journalists rely on the government for the news and the

government relies on the media to report it to citizensPresident gets the most media attention, SC gets the leastLets people know what the government is doing and the

government know what people are thinking (public sentiment)Media Events, Trial Balloons, Watchdog Function

Regulations?Freedom of the Press—1st amendment casesLibel, Sedition (defamation written/spoken)FCC – Broadcast Stations need license – cannot be monopoly, must

serve public interest, equal time rule (breaking news exception)

Political PartiesWhat?

Organized effort to pursue common interests by gaining power and exercising power by winning elections and controlling gov’t

Pick Candidates and Run Campaigns, Mobilize Support, Forces of Stability and Moderation, Accountability and Loyal Opposition, Help voters make decisions, Policy Formation and Promotion – Party Platforms

Republicans v. Democrats (SPERM)Third Parties—role in our system

Linkage?Encourage participation in campaigns and elections—GOTV

drives, communicates with membersParties exist at national, state, and local levels

Regulations?Major parties on ballot, minor parties must pay fees and get

signaturesCampaign Finance Reports—FCC monitors fundraising and

spending

ElectionsWhat?

Primary Elections (Open v. Closed, Caucus)General ElectionsPolicy Elections (Initiatives and Referendums)

Linkage?People choose candidates for officePeople choose officeholdersPeople vote directly on legislation

Regulations?McCain-Feingold Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of

2002 Ban on soft money, limits on contributions, mandatory

reportingMcConnell v. FEC – 2003 (campaign regulations OK)Citizens United v. FEC – 2010 (independent

expenditures can be unlimited)

Interest GroupsWhat?

Organization of people with similar policy goals that enter the political process to try to achieve those goals, Do not try to win elections and do not run candidates - try to influence those in government, Policy specialists not policy generalists, Only try to satisfy their members, do no try to appeal to everyone

Economic (AFL), Environmental Interests (Sierra club), Equality Interests (NAACP, NOW), Public Interests (League of Women Voters), Single Issue (NRA)

Linkage?Give people the opportunity to participate outside electionsLobbyists, electioneering, grassroots, amicus curiae briefs and litigation26th Amendment, Civil Rights Act, Brown v. Board, Roe v. Wade

Regulations?Freedom of ExpressionCampaign Finance Laws and PACsLobbying Disclosure Act - 1995 - Lobbyists must register and file

expenditure reportsHonest Leadership and Open Government Act - 2007 - bans on gifts,

tougher disclosure laws, lengthen time in between retirement from government and hiring by interest group

Institutions of Government Executive Legislative Judicial

Bureaucracy

Who?

How?

Powers?

President, VP, Bureaucracy (Cabinet)

House – 435 – Congressional DistrictsSenate – 100, 2 per state

Electoral College – winner take all system

House – Direct Election, States draw district linesSenate – Direct Election (17th Amendment)

District, Circuit Court (Appellate), Supreme CourtNine JusticesAppointed by President, confirmed by Senate

Executive Department, Executive Agencies, Regulatory Agencies, Government CorpsCivil Service and Merit System, President appoints, Senate confirms

Make all appointments, execute the law, commander in chief, negotiate treaties, sign/veto laws, state of the union, receive ambassadors, executive orders and executive agreements

Make all laws, collect taxes, regulate foreign and interstate commerce, declare war, raise an army, coin money, establish post office, create courts, elastic clauseSenate- confirmations, treaties, impeachment trials, filibustersHouse – appropriations, impeachment charges

Implementation of Federal Laws – i.e. Clean Air Act, MedicareRegulation – Federal Reserve Bank, FCC

Interpret the Law-cases involving foreign diplomats/countries, between the US and a state, between two or more states- cases involving a substantial constitutional questions

Institutions of Gov’t: Checks & Balances Executive-

Checks on Legislative: Presidential Veto, Commander in Chief of Armed Forces, Executes the spending, the laws, and the regulations/instructions of Congress, Can call special sessions of Congress

Checks on Judicial: Makes all appointments to all seats on the federal bench, Has the power to grant ‘reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States’, implements laws

Checks of Bureaucracy: Appoint people who agree with them politically to head up agencies and departments, Issue Executive Orders, Alter the budget of an agency – OMB, Reorganize an agency or department - DHS

Legislative Checks on Executive: Declare War, War Powers Act, Senate ratifies

treaties and appointments, impeachments, congressional override of veto

Checks on Judicial: approves appointments, amendment process, create courts (size and structure), make all laws, impeachment

Checks on Bureaucracy: Approve Presidential appointments to head up agencies, Alter an agencies budget – appropriations, Hold Congressional oversight hearings to evaluate performance, Create and abolish agencies – change agencies functions, Rewrite legislation to either change it or clarify to goals of a policy

JudicialChecks on Executive: interpret all laws, rule on

constitutionality, impeachment, issue injunctionsChecks on Legislative: interpret all laws, rule on

constitutionalityChecks on Bureaucracy: Issue injunctions and rule

on due process and civil rightsBureaucracy

Checks on Executive and Legislative: responsible for implementation and regulation, speed and thoroughness

Checks on Judicial: Litigation, Amicus briefs

Institutions of Gov’t: Checks & Balances

Elections in the U.S.Voting Requirements?

18 years old, citizen, must register in advance in all but seven states, limits on felons vary

Voter Turnout? 60% Presidential, 40% midterms Age, Race, Income, Education

Presidential Elections? Party Identification, Personal Image, Policy and Issue Voting

Congressional Elections? Census, Reapportionment, Redistricting, Gerrymandering Advantages of Incumbency: Advertising and Visibility - Travel Allowances and

Franking Privileges, Credit Claiming - Casework and Pork Barrel, Weak Opponents (more House than Senate), Campaign Spending and Paid Staffs

Party Allegiance? Democrats – Northeast, Urban, Poor, Women, Minorities, Catholics, Jews,

Lawyers, Educators, Labor Republicans – Men, White, Protestant, Rural, Doctors, Executives, White-collar

Advantages of Majority Party in Government Agenda Setting, Media and Bully Pulpit Appointments and Confirmations Congressional Committees – control chair and have majority in each committee,

appoint leadership, assign bills to committees

Public PolicyIntentional course of action followed by government in

dealing with some problem or matter of concernSteps in Public Policy: 1. Problem Recognition +

Agenda Setting, 2. Policy Formation + Budgeting, 3. Policy Implementation, 4. Policy Evaluation

Economic PolicyMonetary Policy – Federal ReserveFiscal Policy – Taxing and Spending, Budget Process,

Discretionary v. Mandatory SpendingSocial Welfare Policy

Entitlement Programs – Social Security, MedicareMeans-Tested Programs – TANF, Medicaid

Foreign PolicyRole of President, Congress, State Department, Joint

Chiefs