AP US gov Unit 1

• Enlightenment


  An 18th century European intellectual movement that influenced the framers of the US Constitution
• Enlightenment ideas


  • Natural rights - people are born with certain rights given by their creator
  • State of nature - a theoretical state before government where humans are free
  • Popular sovereignty - power to govern is in the hands of the people
  • Social contract - people willingly give some power to government to protect their rights
  • Republicanism - people elect leaders to represent them and create laws in the public interest, with power separated into three branches
• Enlightenment ideas


  Influenced the framers of the US Constitution
• The Declaration of Independence provides the foundation for popular sovereignty, the social contract, and natural rights
• The US Constitution provides a blueprint for republicanism and the separation of powers
• Three main kinds of democracy


  • Participatory democracy - emphasizes broad participation
  • Pluralist democracy - groups compete to influence policy
  • Elite democracy - limited participation, most educated people run government
• The US exhibits elements of all three models of democracy depending on the context
• Federalist 10


  Argued that a large republic with many competing factions would prevent any one faction from tyrannizing the others
• Brutus 1


  Argued that a large centralized government could not adequately represent the views of the people
• The Articles of Confederation gave more power to the states than the federal government
• Problems with the Articles of Confederation included the federal government's inability to raise revenue, raise an army, or enforce laws
• Shays' Rebellion highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the need for a stronger federal government
• The Constitutional Convention was called to modify the Articles of Confederation, but ended up drafting an entirely new Constitution
• Key compromises in drafting the Constitution


  • Great Compromise - bicameral Congress with House representing population and Senate representing states equally
  • Electoral College - states get electors based on Congressional representation to elect the President
  • Three-Fifths Compromise - 3/5 of enslaved population counted for representation
  • Compromise on importation of slaves
• The Constitution was the subject of intense debate, particularly around how enslaved people would be counted for representation in Congress
• The Three-Fifths Compromise meant that three-fifths of the enslaved population would count towards representation
• The Constitution included a process to amend the document, requiring proposal by Congress or a special convention and ratification by three-quarters of state legislatures or conventions
• The Constitution was ratified in June 1788 and became the governing document of the United States
• The Constitution


  • It separated power and provided checks and balances to prevent any branch from becoming too powerful
• Amending the Constitution


  1. Proposal

  2. Ratification
• Federalism


  The sharing of power between national governments and state governments
• Types of powers in federalism


  • Exclusive powers of federal government
  • Reserved powers of states
  • Concurrent powers shared by federal and state governments
• Fiscal federalism


  The sharing of power through money, where the federal government establishes national standards and directs funds to compliant states
• Fiscal federalism mechanisms


  • Grants (categorical and block)
  • Mandates
• After 9/11, the federal government increased surveillance powers


  This led to an outcry over violation of 4th Amendment rights
• The No Child Left Behind Act gave the federal government more power over education


  This led to an outcry over federal overreach into state domain
• Constitutional provisions affecting federalism


  • 10th Amendment
  • 14th Amendment
  • Commerce Clause
  • Necessary and Proper Clause
• Supreme Court cases on federalism


  • McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) - Favored federal power
  • United States v. Lopez (1995) - Favored state power
• Federalism in environmental regulations


  • Paris Agreement carbon emission standards
  • California maintaining emissions standards despite federal withdrawal
• Federalism in marijuana legalization

  • Federal illegality, state legalization
  • Federal non-enforcement in legal states