Heimler's History: AP Government Unit 1 Review

Overview

• Topics Covered: Foundations of American democracy, the U.S. Constitution, and federalism.
• Resources: AP Government review packet with practice questions, essential questions, answers, and full-length exams.

Foundations of American Democracy

Enlightenment Influence

• Natural Rights: Rights given by a creator, not a monarch.
• State of Nature: Theoretical condition before government where humans are free.
• Popular Sovereignty & Social Contract:
  • Power to govern is with the people.
  • Government derives power from the people's consent.
  • Duty to overthrow a tyrannical government.
• Republicanism:
  • Electing leaders to represent the public interest.
  • Separation of powers among executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
• Limited Government: Prevents tyranny through checks and balances.

Foundational Documents

• Declaration of Independence: Popular sovereignty, social contract, natural rights.
• U.S. Constitution: Blueprint for republicanism and separation of powers.

Models of Democracy

• Participatory: Broad participation in politics (e.g., town halls, state referenda).
• Pluralist: Group competition to influence policy (e.g., NAACP, NRA).
• Elite: Limited participation by the educated (e.g., Electoral College).

Key Documents

• Federalist 10:
  • James Madison's argument for a large republic to manage factions.
  • Pluralist democracy with competing interests.
• Brutus 1:
  • Anti-Federalist concerns over a large republic and centralized power.
  • Emphasis on participatory democracy.

Constitution Development

Articles of Confederation

• Weak federal government, strong state governments.
• Problems: No executive branch, no federal courts, no power to tax or raise an army.

Key Events

• Shay’s Rebellion: Highlighted federal government’s weaknesses.

Constitutional Convention

• Drafted a new constitution with compromises:
  • Great Compromise: Bicameral legislature balancing population and equal state representation.
  • Electoral College: Compromise for electing the president.
  • Three-Fifths Compromise: Counted three-fifths of the enslaved for representation.
  • Slave Trade Compromise: Importation of slaves untouched for 20 years.

Amending the Constitution

• Proposal and Ratification: Two-thirds proposal by Congress or states, three-quarters state ratification.

Federalism

Definition

• Federalism: Sharing power between national and state governments.

Types of Powers

• Exclusive Powers: Delegated to federal government (e.g., treaties).
• Reserved Powers: Held by states (e.g., education, police powers).
• Concurrent Powers: Shared by federal and state governments (e.g., taxation).

Fiscal Federalism

• Grants:
  • Categorical: Specific purposes with conditions.
  • Block: Broader purposes with state discretion.
• Mandates: Federal directives with or without funding.

Tensions in Federalism

• Government Surveillance: USA PATRIOT Act vs. Fourth Amendment rights.
• Education: No Child Left Behind Act's federal overreach.

Constitutional Provisions & Supreme Court Cases

Key Constitutional Provisions

• 10th Amendment: States' powers.
• 14th Amendment: Applies Bill of Rights to states.
• Commerce Clause: Regulate interstate commerce.
• Necessary and Proper Clause: Implied powers.

Supreme Court Cases

• McCulloch v. Maryland (1819): Federal power through necessary and proper, supremacy clause.
• United States v. Lopez (1995): State power, limiting federal use of commerce clause.

Examples of Federalism

• Environmental Regulations: Paris Agreement and state standards.
• Marijuana Legalization: State vs. federal law discrepancies.

Conclusion

• Understanding these foundations and tensions is crucial for mastering AP Government Unit 1.