AP GOVERNMENT



AP GOVERNMENT

Review

Intro--Chapter 1 & 2:

Background to the study of government:

The purpose of government, principles of democracy, theories of democracy (pluralism, elite theory, hyperpluralism)

Shared American values; Ideological differences

American Founding--Chapter 3:

Causes of the Revolution

Enlightenment ideas that influence the Founding Fathers

How the Revolution was a ‘conservative revolution’

Flaws with the Articles of Confederation that influenced the writing of the Constitution

Factors that illustrated the flaws of the government under the Articles

Issues that were debated during the writing of the Constitution and how resolved:

(philosophical and practical; e.g. views on human nature (philosophical) vs. issue of slavery (practical)

Madison’s model of government: Principles of the Constitution: limited government, separation of powers, federalism, republicanism

The debate over ratification: Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

Role of the Bill of Rights

Process for formally and informally changing the Constitution

Marbury v. Madison and Judicial Review

Federalism--Chapter 4:

Federal vs. unitary governments

The importance of federalism in the establishment of the new government

How federalism is demonstrated in the Constitution (powers of federal gov. vs. states)

The supremacy clause

Early Supreme Court cases establishing the supremacy of the federal government

McCulloch v Maryland; Gibbons v. Ogden

The impact of the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement on federalism

The relationship between the states (‘full faith and credit’, etc.)

Dual v. Cooperative Federalism (and examples that illustrate the shift)

Fiscal Federalism (the grant system, mandates)

Devolution

U.S. v. Lopez

U.S. v. Morrison

Recent issues/cases involving federalism (‘right to die’ and ‘medical marijuana’ cases)

Role of 10th Amendment

Civil Liberties: Concepts and Cases—Chapter 5

Role of the Bill of Rights

Incorporation (selective) and 14th Amendment (due process clause)

Gitlow v. New York

First Amendment Rights:

Freedom of Religion: Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause

“wall of separation”

Kinds of issues that come up and the Court’s rulings

Tests of constitutionality

Lemon v. Kurtzman

Engle v. Vitale and Abington v. Schempp

Employment Division v. Smith

Free Speech

Speech that can be more limited:

Slander and Libel

Obscenity

Symbolic speech

Student Speech

Tests for First Amendment cases:

Preferred position

Prior restraint

Imminent danger (vs. clear and present danger)

Near v. Minnesota

Schenck v. U.S.

Roth v. U.S.

Miller v. California

New York Times v. Sullivan

Texas v. Johsnon

Rights of Students:

Free Speech and Press Rights & relevant cases

Search & Seizure

Second Amendment—Heller ruling & McDonald (question of incorporation)

Rights of Criminal Defendants

Relevant amendments: 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th

Relevant cases: Miranda v. Arizona; Mapp v. Ohio; Gidoen v. Wainwright; Furman v. Georgia

Right to Privacy & its possible foundations: relevant amendments

As applied to abortion, gay marriage

Griswold v. Connecticut, Roe v. Wade (later abortion cases: Planned Parenthood v. Casey; Webster v. Reproductive Health Services)

Congress:

Qualifications: formal (constitutional; informal—stats about who is in Congress)

Bicameral: qualities of each chamber

Number of members; how determined; how elected—Constitutional requirements and changes over time

How Congress is decentralized

Elections

Advantage of incumbency

Casework

Privileges of incumbency (like franking)

reapportionment

Gerrymandering; redistricting—know difference between the two and different types of gerrymandering (and Court opinion)

Organization

Committee system; kinds of committees

Important Committees: Rules Committee, Ways and Means, Budget, Judiciary; what would make these or other committees significant

What impacts decisions about who is on committees

Leadership roles—how filled; what leaders do

Caucuses

Lawmaking Function

Logrolling

Pork barrel

How a Bill becomes a law—textbook version and ‘unorthodox version’

Filibuster, cloture, nuclear option—impact of filibuster and debates about it

Impact of fragmentation on lawmaking

Sunset law

Oversight Function

Representation Function—factors that impact representation; different ideas about how it occurs: delegate, trustee, politico

Powers of Congress—need to know specific powers of Congress in areas of policymaking

Checks on Congress

Presidency:

Qualifications

Constitutional description of President

How President’s role has changed—factors in the evolution of presidential power

Powers of President—know specific powers as established in the Constitution; powers that have resulted from the evolution of the presidency

“Imperial Presidency”

Roles president plays—how based in the Constitution; informal roles

Factors that impact a president’s ability to carry out certain roles

Executive Office of President

Vice President’s role

Office of Management and Budget

Council of Economic Advisors

National Security Council

President’s staff—White House Office

Cabinet

Honeymoon period

Effect of divided government

Effect of public opinion

Use of ‘bully pulpit’

War Powers Resolution; attempts to restrain President

Constitutional checks on the president; other ways of checking the president

Impeachment process

Legislative veto

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