Basic ReviewBasic ReviewAP Government & PoliticsAP Government & Politics

Constitutional Constitutional UnderpinningsUnderpinnings

Four Basic PrinciplesFour Basic Principles BicameralismBicameralism State to State RelationsState to State Relations Amending ProcessAmending Process Supremacy ClauseSupremacy Clause

Legislative BranchLegislative Branch Organizational StructureOrganizational Structure

Political Parties & LeadershipPolitical Parties & Leadership Committee SystemsCommittee Systems

Basic Responsibilities of the HouseBasic Responsibilities of the House

Basic Responsibilities of the SenateBasic Responsibilities of the Senate

Main PointsMain Points

House – 2 yearsHouse – 2 years ReapportionmentReapportionment RedistrictingRedistricting ConstituencyConstituency Speaker of the HouseSpeaker of the House Exclusive CommitteesExclusive Committees ImpeachmentImpeachment Midterms ElectionsMidterms Elections Domestic FocusDomestic Focus

Senate – 6 years Senate – 6 years Equal Equal

RepresentationRepresentation Broader Broader

constituencyconstituency Majority LeaderMajority Leader Tries ImpeachmentTries Impeachment Advice & ConsentAdvice & Consent Midterm ElectionsMidterm Elections Foreign PolicyForeign Policy

CongressCongress

“…“…enumerated, implied, and enumerated, implied, and commerce powers…”commerce powers…”

All laws must pass both housesAll laws must pass both houses Power to override vetoPower to override veto Must pass a budget each yearMust pass a budget each year Propose Constitutional AmendmentsPropose Constitutional Amendments “…“…elections are the best term limits…”elections are the best term limits…”

The PresidentThe President

Formal PowersFormal Powers Commander-in-chiefCommander-in-chief Executes the LawExecutes the Law Veto PowerVeto Power Appointment PowerAppointment Power Pardoning PowerPardoning Power Foreign PolicyForeign Policy Policy InitiatorPolicy Initiator State of the UnionState of the Union

Informal PowerInformal Power Head of PartyHead of Party Head of StateHead of State Inherent PowersInherent Powers Executive PrivilegeExecutive Privilege

Constitutional AmendmentsConstitutional Amendments

Twelfth Amendment - Two BallotsTwelfth Amendment - Two Ballots Twentieth Amendment – Lame DuckTwentieth Amendment – Lame Duck Twenty-second – term limits – 10 Twenty-second – term limits – 10

yearsyears Twenty-third Amendment – Three Twenty-third Amendment – Three

from DCfrom DC Twenty-fifth Amendment - SuccessionTwenty-fifth Amendment - Succession

Election of the President

Caucuses and Primaries – Delegates National Convention – Nomination National Convention – Running Mate National Convention – Party Platform Campaign General Election Electoral College

Electoral College

Number of Senators & Representatives Three from “D.C.” States control selection of electors Each party has own slate of electors Voters vote for electors Electors vote for the President Based on Popular vote – winner-take-all

Electoral College - continued

Electors vote in December Votes counted in January Candidate must have 270 votes In a tie – House elects President In a tie – Senate elects Vice-president

Executive Branch

The Cabinet Independent Agencies

– Executive – “cabinet like”– Regulatory – “protects consumers”– Corporations – “Post Office and TVA

Nominated by President Confirmed by the Senate Implementation of Policy

Vice-President

No Constitutional “executive” powers First in Line for Presidency Twenty-fifth Amendment Balance the Ticket Can be a “Dead End” Job Power delegated by the President

Executive Office

Office of the Vice-President Office of the First Lady Office of Management & Budget National Security Council National Security Agency Council of Economic Advisors White House Staff

Judicial Branch“…the least dangerous branch…”

One supreme Court Congressional/legislative courts Judiciary Act 1789 No qualifications for judges Appointment for life – “politically insulated” Original & Appellate Jurisdiction Impeachment & conviction

Judicial System

District Trial Courts Courts of Appeals State Court of Last Resort Control of Docket – Solicitor General Writ of Certiorari Rule of Four Oral Arguments & Opinions

Judicial Power and National Power“…basic Landmark Decisions…”

Judicial Review – Marbury v. Madison Implied Powers – McCulloch v. Maryland Commerce Power – Gibbons v. Odgen

FederalismFederalism“implied not explicit”“implied not explicit”

• Division of Power• State Powers & National Powers• “areas of responsibility”• Reserved powers vs. Implied Powers• Dual or Traditional – “layer-cake”• Cooperative – “marble-cake”

Fiscal FederalismFiscal Federalism• New Deal & Cooperative Federalism• Great Society & Creative Federalism• Conservative View – New Federalism• Devolution • State Budgets• Dollars v. Control

A Few Simple Points

Certain theories can be applied throughout the Course. These theories along with understanding of basic concepts are extremely important…

Concepts & Theories

Demographics Political Socialization Socio-Economic Status Mandatory v. Discretionary Spending Platforms to Policy Policy, Agencies and Budgeting

Demographics

Categorizing the Population Just a Few

Gender Age Race Region Religion

Political SocializationValues to Principles to Participation

Creating a “philosophical” basis Just a Few:

Family Education Peers Demographic Characteristics

Socio-Economic Status (SES) “…where you fit on the table…”

Education (most important) Income Demographic characteristics

“higher” on the table…more participation

“lower” on the table…less participation

Mandatory vs. Discretionary

Entitlements – must be paid by law to individuals meeting eligibility

More Mandatory – less Discretionary

“….who gets what…who gets cut…”

Platforms to Policy

Constituency Service Must make promises to get elected… Once elected must create policy Policy is basis of elections District Policy State Policy National Policy

Policy and Budgeting

If policy is passed….what is the cost? “…where is the funding…”? If new policy….need a new agency If a new agency… “,,,where is the funding…? No funding, no policy… Cut programs….raise taxes

Linkage Mechanisms“…where you find the politics…”

“…linking demands to the decision makers….Interest groups, political parties,

campaigns, elections, and the media…”

Interest Groups

Specific Focus Disturbance Theory Educate and Influence Support Candidates Fund Candidates Lobby Scrutiny

Political Parties

Broad Focus Select and Run Candidates Create Philosophical attachment Gain control of Government Organizes Congress

Campaigns – Pulls Concepts Together

Political Parties – focus of campaign Interest Groups – supports campaign Media – information source Funding – “the life blood” Elections – the “end result”

Elections

Politics is a game….”you are either on offense…or you are on defense…”

Elections tells who won the game…

The Media…

“….all you know about politics is what you see, hear, or read….”

“…who does it, when did they do it, and how does the public perceive it…?

“…socialization filters the media….”

Civil Liberties & Civil RightsCivil Liberties & Civil Rights

Civil Liberties, especially civil rights, Civil Liberties, especially civil rights, is a perfect way to understand policy is a perfect way to understand policy demand, creation, and demand, creation, and implementation.implementation.

Civil Liberties – Civil Liberties – The Bill of RightsThe Bill of Rights

Freedoms of …..freedoms from…Freedoms of …..freedoms from… Protection against National Protection against National

GovernmentGovernment Protection of ideas and expressionProtection of ideas and expression Protection from arbitrary police Protection from arbitrary police

actionaction

Important ConceptsImportant ConceptsFirst AmendmentFirst Amendment

Establishment ClauseEstablishment Clause Free Exercise ClauseFree Exercise Clause Clear and Present DangerClear and Present Danger Fighting WordsFighting Words Freedom of AssociationFreedom of Association

Important ConceptsImportant ConceptsDue Process AmendmentsDue Process Amendments

Exclusionary RuleExclusionary Rule Miranda RightsMiranda Rights Right to AttorneyRight to Attorney Right to WitnessesRight to Witnesses Trial by Jury – criminal & civilTrial by Jury – criminal & civil No tortureNo torture

Civil Rights –Civil Rights –“… the right to enjoy your liberties…”“… the right to enjoy your liberties…”

The Fourteenth AmendmentThe Fourteenth Amendment

“…“…no state shall make or enforce any no state shall make or enforce any law that shall abridge the privileges law that shall abridge the privileges and immunities….nor deny due and immunities….nor deny due process of law…nor deny equal process of law…nor deny equal protection of the law…”protection of the law…”

The Incorporation DoctrineThe Incorporation Doctrine

Important ConceptsImportant Concepts

Separate but equalSeparate but equal Affirmative ActionAffirmative Action De JureDe Jure De factoDe facto Race and GenderRace and Gender Suspect Classification & Strict Suspect Classification & Strict

ScrutinyScrutiny

Final Thoughts

• “…by no means is this an exhaustive study guide, this is a starting point…a Basic Review…add your notes, activities, readings, etc….”