AP US gov Unit 1

Cards (30)

  • 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