Unit 1 Overview: AP US Government

Introduction

• Understanding the interaction with government in daily life.
• Exploration of the structure of US government and its evolution.

Foundational Documents

• Essential for the Argumentative Essay in the AP US Gov exam.
• Include the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, Federalist Papers, and more.

Origins of American Democracy

• John Locke’s Influence: Natural rights, social contract, and limited government.
• Declaration of Independence: Emphasizes natural rights and popular sovereignty.
• Popular Sovereignty: Government power derived from the people.

Theories of Democratic Government

• Participatory Democracy: Power through citizen participation (e.g., town hall meetings, referendums).
• Pluralist Democracy: Power through organized groups (e.g., ACLU, NRA).
• Elite Democracy: Power held by wealthy and educated elite.

The Articles of Confederation

• First US government structure post-Revolutionary War.
• Weaknesses: No power to tax or raise troops.
• Shays’ Rebellion: Highlighted weaknesses; led to the Constitutional Convention.

The Road to the Constitution

• Constitutional Convention: Major compromises:
  • Great Compromise: Bicameral legislature (House and Senate).
  • Electoral College: Compromise between Congress and popular election of President.
  • Three-Fifths Compromise: Counting enslaved persons for representation and taxes.
  • Compromise on Importation: Congress could ban slave trade starting in 1808.

Debating the Constitution

• Federalist No. 10 (Madison): Large republic controls factions better.
• Brutus 1: Advocated for small, decentralized government.

Principles of the Constitution

• Separation of Powers & Checks and Balances:
  • Divides government into executive, legislative, judicial branches.
  • Prevents any one branch from becoming too powerful (Federalist No. 51).
• Federalism:
  • Division of power between national and state governments.
  • Delegated, Concurrent, Reserved Powers.
  • Key clauses: Necessary and Proper Clause, Supremacy Clause, Tenth Amendment.

Important Supreme Court Cases

• McCulloch v. Maryland:
  • Established Supremacy Clause and implied powers.
• United States v. Lopez:
  • Limited Congress’s power under the Commerce Clause regarding state matters.

Federalism and Policy

• States create policies suited to their needs.
• Federal funding influences state policies:
  • Categorical Grants: Specific spending requirements.
  • Block Grants: More control for states.
  • Mandates: Funded and unfunded requirements by federal government.