AP Gov Review

1. AP Gov Review

2. Hub dates/Eras • Birth of a nation • Articles of Confederation (AOC) drafted-document held states together until Shays’s rebellion • Need for stronger document after rebellion so meeting held in Philadelphia to amend AOC • Madison comes w/plan to write new doc • Constitution written (secretly) w/ Great Compromise and 3/5 Compromise • Balance of power-3 branches • Fed vs Anti-Fed • Fed papers written to get ratification • Bill of Rights promised

3. Post Constitution • Marshall’s Supreme Court expands the power of the Fed gov’t- uses commerce clause and Necessary and proper clause • Mc Cullough v Maryland • Gibbons Ogden • Congress seat of power • George Washington sets precedent of two terms

4. Pre-Civil War • State vs Fed power • States under Tanney court re assert themselves • Dred Scott decision-Scott has no rights, states may have slavery

5. Post Civil War • Amen 13,14,15 added to Const • 13-freed slaves • 14- all citizens…equal protection…due process…states…(later is used for incorporation) • 15-suffrage for men • Gilded Age later- yellow journalism, high voter turnout due to patronage, pressure

6. Great Depression/New Deal • FDR’s New Deal • Fed gov’t takes charge-implements w/ Congress new federal programs to stimulate econ and create jobs • Social Security, unemployment, “welfare state” • Supreme Court at first ruled against FDR, then w/ him after court packing threat • Imperial Presidency

7. Watergate/Vietnam • Declining trust in gov’t due to Watergate scandal and Vietnam • Public has never trusted pres/gov’t at pre-Nixon levels • Press role as watchdog increases 4th branch

8. The Constitution set up a Republic not a Democracy • Constitution was established to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confed that held the nation together during the Rev war • Divisions between the Federalists (Hamilton) and the Anti Fed (Jefferson) • Stronger Executive created • More powers to Congress • Great Comp –House and Senate • 3/5 Comp-counting people for House • Checks and balances between branches, also shared powers • Writing a Bill of Rights agreed on in order to ratify Const-Federalist papers to convince Americans to support Constitution

9. Supreme Court cases • Marbury v Madison • Set precedent that SC would determine actions by other two braches constitutional or not

10. Federalism-Article IV, Amendment 10 • Advantages: Get people involved, laboratory for ideas at state level, states maintain identity

11. Things only Fed gov does: Declare war Coin $ Patents Treaties with foreign nations Estab post offices Punish piracies Support army, navy etc. Regulate interstate commerce Things only states do/did Education (originally) Drivers licenses Marriage licenses Regulate intra state commerce Fed Continued Layer Cake

12. Fed Continued Marble Cake • Both Fed and state gov: • Make laws • Tax people • Have courts

13. Federalism Supreme Court cases • Expanded power of Fed gov: • Mc Culloch v Maryland 1819: yes, Fed gov can establish a bank, the states may not tax it • Gibbons v Ogden: Fed gov can regulate interstate commerce (ferry boats licenses were the issue) 1824 • Texas v Johnson-states may not punish freedom of expression in the case of flag burning • Oregon may have right to die laws

14. Federalism Supreme Court cases • Limited power of Fed gov • US v Loez1995- Fed gov had gone too far with gun leg-it wasn’t interstate commerce gun free zones near schools • Printz v US 1997-background checks for hand guns as written in the Brady Act were unconst-but states cold have them WWLB 153 • Planned Parenthood v Casey-states may pass abortion restrictions as long as the law does not place “undue burden” on the woman

15. Legislative branch: Congress Article I • Bicameral-House and Senate • Enumerated powers: coin $, declare war, borrow $ maintain army, navy, estab post offices, issue patents, promote science and art, piracies etc • Implied powers: Necessary and Proper clause/elastic clause • Commerce Clause-used to expand power of Congress

16. House 25 years old 2 year term 435 members frozen in 1929 Bills of Revenue must originate in House Closer to the people # depends on census every 10 years-districts re draw may lead to safe seats of gerrymandering Rules committee=house moves faster Majority party is king Members more extreme Senate 30 years old 6 year term 2 per state 100 No rules committee More prestigious Less formal than House Executive duties-confirm ambassadors, ratify treaties, confirm SC nominees Sit on more committees Minority party has lots of power due to Cloture-need 60 votes to end debate Only need majority to pass a bill 218 in House, 51 in Senate!

17. Executive Branch Article II • Power has increased- especially since Great Depression and New Deal • “imperial presidency” • 30, natural born citizen • Amend 22-held to 2 four year terms

18. Formal Powers Commander in Chief Convene Congress Make treaties (w/consent of Senate) Nominate ambassadors Nominate Supreme Court appointees and other Federal judges Give State of the union address Informal powers Bully pulpit to bring attention to issues from Global Warming to exercise Power images: Air Force One, Pres seal, Hail to the Chief Media attention-instant platform

19. Political Culture • Aspects that are somewhat unique to US • Religion in politics • Gun ownership • 2 party system • Political socialization • Family • School • Peers • Media • Culture war exaggerated by media- most Americans are moderate • Trust in gov declined after Vietnam, Watergate

20. Liberal/Left/Dems Less gov intrusion in social issues More gov assistance for financial issues Less spending on defense (historically) Regulation needed to protect citizens Conservative/Right/Rep (GOP) Less gov intrusion in financial or business, Less regulation of business-too much reg stymies innovation and job creation Uphold traditional values (this is somewhat recent) Maintain strong military Ideology

21. Electoral process • It’s Complicated-little of this is in Const except Electoral College • Winner take all-majority of votes gets all Electoral Votes • Primaries for Pres Elections: • Open, closed and blanket primaries • Has changed, used to be back room deals • Conventions highly scripted, debut for VP • Less id with parties

22. BCRA attempt to limit $ • Outlaws “soft Money” • parts have been struck down-Wisconsin Right to Life-limits on Corporate donations UNCOST • $2,000 limit per person per cycle adjusted for inflation • Loophole created 527s-unlimited funds for “issue ads”

23. Influences • Lobbyists • Interest Groups-AMA, NRA, unions, Sierra Club, Insurance Companies • They may hire lobbyists and form PACs • PACs-interest groups form PACs • Give more to incumbent members of House • Donation limits

24. Voter turnout • Old people vote • young people don’t • Wealthier people tend to vote in greater numbers • Ditto for white voters • African Americans most consistent group • Hispanic turnout low-usually Dem, but can split • Low voter turnout for Asians-lean right

25. Supreme Court Cases and Elections • Baker v Carr 1962- • Equal protection Clause of Amend 14 used- Fed gov can decide reapportionment in states • Rural districts were over represented, urban under rep (racial overtones) • Buckley v Valeo 1976 • $ is speech • Candidate can use as much of their personal $ as they want • Bush v Gore 2000- • Stopped Florida recount in two counties under equal protection-ballots not the same-election went to Pres Bush

26. Media The Fourth Branch • Ideally a watch dog-WatergateAgenda Setter • Now more intrusive to candidates personal lives • Scorekeeper during elections • Polling role-stratified, tracking polls • NY Times v Sullivan-1949-made slander difficult to prove actual malice • NY Times v US-Pentagon papers could be published