AP U. S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICSExam Review

Democratic Theories Pluralist -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 Thinkers Locke – 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 Madison Federalist No. 51 – Three threats to liberty are

government, factions, and people – in order to ensure liberty, the power of government 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), argues that the power of factions must be limited in order to ensure liberty

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

Federalism What?

Two or more governments have authority over the same area Why?

promotes democracy by dividing power, creating more levels of government for new idea, different priorities, opportunities for participation, and avenues for redress of grievances (rights)

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

Types of Federalism Dual - Both the national government and the state

governments are supreme in their own sphere (layer cake) Cooperative Federalism: State and federal governments share

powers and policy assignments (marble cake) Fiscal Federalism: Federal control of state governments

through funding, categorical grants, conditions of aid and mandates

Federalism Sources of Federal Power

Supremacy clause Elastic Clause – McCulloch v. Maryland (Marshall Court) –

Implied Powers Commerce Clause – Gibbons v. Ogden (Marshall Court) Incorporation Doctrine – Gitlow v. New York (1925),

Warren Court Fiscal Federalism – Conditions in Aid, sanctions, and

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

Limits on Federal Power Bill of Rights 10th Amendment Cannot merge or break up existing states or change

representation in the Senate

Federalism Sources of State Power

10th Amendment Hold all elections Devolution – Block Grants – Welfare

Reform Act 1996 - TANF Limits on State Power

Full Faith and Credit Clause Supremacy Clause

Linkage Institutions Connect the people and the government Conventional 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 Groups What they are How they connect the people and the government How the government regulates them

Media What?

Print v. Broadcast News Network v. Cable News Stations Narrowcasting and Bias – Framing and Setting the Agenda Internet - Blogs

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

media to report it President gets the most media attention, SC gets the least Lets people know what the government is doing and the government know what

people are thinking Media Events, Trial Balloons, Watchdog Function

Regulations? Freedom of the Press Libel, Sedition FCC – Broadcast Stations need license – can not be monopoly, must serve public

interest, equal time rule

Political Parties What?

Organized effort to pursue common interests by gaining power and exercising power through the electoral process

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 Third Parties

Linkage? Encourage participation in campaigns and elections Parties exist at national, state, and local levels

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

signatures Campaign Finance Reports

Elections What?

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

Linkage? People choose candidates for office People choose officeholders People vote directly on legislation

Regulations? McCain-Feingold Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 Ban on soft money, limits on contributions, mandatory reporting McConnell v. FEC – 2003 Citizens United v. FEC - 2010

Interest Groups What?

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 elections Lobbyists, electioneering, grassroots, amicus curiae briefs and litigation 26th Amendment, Civil Rights Act, Brown v. Board, Roe v. Wade

Regulations? Freedom of Expression Campaign Finance Laws and PACs Lobbying Disclosure Act - 1995 - Lobbyists must register and file expenditure

reports Honest 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 stateElectoral

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 Government: Checks and 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

Judicial Checks on Executive: interpret all laws, rule on constitutionality,

impeachment, issue injunctions Checks on Legislative: interpret all laws, rule on constitutionality Checks on Bureaucracy: Issue injunctions and rule on due

process and civil rights Bureaucracy

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

Checks on Judicial: Litigation, Amicus briefs

Institutions of Government: Checks and Balances

Elections in the United States 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 Policy Intentional course of action followed by government in

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

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

Economic Policy Monetary Policy – Federal Reserve Fiscal Policy – Taxing and Spending, Budget Process,

Discretionary v. Mandatory Spending Social Welfare Policy

Entitlement Programs – Social Security, Medicare Means-Tested Programs – TANF, Medicaid

Foreign Policy Role of President, Congress, State Department, Joint Chiefs