Heimler's History: AP Government Unit 1 Review

Foundations of American Democracy

Enlightenment Influence

• Natural Rights: Rights given by the creator, not by monarchs, hence cannot be taken by monarchs.
• State of Nature: Humans are inherently free before any government.
• Popular Sovereignty & Social Contract: Power to govern is in people's hands; people delegate power to a government to protect rights.
• Republicanism: Government led by elected representatives; separation of powers into executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

Foundational Documents

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

Types of Democracy

• Participatory Democracy: Broad participation in politics.
• Pluralist Democracy: Interest groups influence public policy.
• Elite Democracy: Limited participation; educated elites run government.

Tensions in Democracy Models

• Federalist 10 vs. Brutus 1: Debates between large republic and participatory democracy.

Formation of the Constitution

• Articles of Confederation: Weak federal government, strong state power, unable to raise revenue or maintain an army.
• Constitutional Convention: Led to new Constitution, with several compromises:
  • The Great Compromise: Bicameral Congress.
  • Electoral College: Method to elect the President.
  • 3/5 Compromise: Counting slaves for representation.
  • Slave Trade Compromise: Slave importation allowed until 1808.
• Amendment Process: Proposal by Congress or states, ratification by states.

Federalism

Concepts

• Federalism: Power sharing between national and state governments.
• Exclusive, Reserved, and Concurrent Powers: Division of powers among levels of government.

Fiscal Federalism

• Grants: Categorical (specific purposes) vs. Block (broad purposes).
• Mandates: Federal requirements for states, funded or unfunded.

Balances of Power

• Examples: Government surveillance and education policies.
• Constitutional Provisions:
  • 10th Amendment: Powers reserved to states.
  • 14th Amendment: Bill of Rights applies to states.
  • Commerce Clause: Congress' power to regulate interstate commerce.
  • Necessary and Proper Clause: Congress can pass laws needed to execute powers.
• Supreme Court Cases:
  • McCulloch v. Maryland: Federal law supremacy, implied powers.
  • U.S. v. Lopez: States' power upheld in gun law case.

Federalism in Action

• Environmental Regulations: Paris Agreement and state adherence.
• Marijuana Legalization: State legalization despite federal prohibition.

Conclusion

• Emphasis on balancing federal and state powers, role of federalism in policy areas.
• Encouragement to pursue further study and review for AP exams.