AP Government Study Guide

Unit One: Constitutional Underpinnings

Fundamental Principles of Democracy

• Direct Democracy: Citizens vote directly on decisions.
• Representative Democracy (Republic): Citizens elect officials to decide on policy.
• Magna Carta (1215): Limited British King’s power, guaranteed rights.
• Enlightenment Philosophers (Locke, Rousseau):
  • Social Contract Theory: People allow government to rule.
  • Consent of the Governed: Rulers need people's approval.
  • Natural Rights: Life, liberty, property.
• Declaration of Independence: Justified revolution, emphasized life, liberty, pursuit of happiness.

The First Government: Articles of Confederation

• Weak association of states.
• No central executive power or direct taxation.
• Federal government could raise army, print money, declare war.
• Laws needed 9/13 states’ approval.
• Shays Rebellion: Highlighted government weaknesses.

Constitutional Debate

• Constitutional Convention (1787): Drafted new Constitution.
• North-South Compromises:
  • 3/5 Compromise: Counted slaves as 3/5 of a person.
  • Connecticut Compromise: Bicameral congress representation.
• Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists:
  • Federalists supported strong central government.
  • Anti-Federalists feared tyranny.
• Federalist Papers: Argued for Constitution.
  • Federalist #10: Large republic handles factions.
  • Federalist #51: Checks and balances importance.

Constitution of the United States

• Article I: Legislative Branch
• Article II: Executive Branch
• Article III: Judicial Branch
• Doctrine of Separation of Powers:
  • Legislative: Passes laws.
  • Executive: Executes laws.
  • Judicial: Interprets laws.
  • Checks and Balances: Each branch has power over the others.
• Federalism: Power split between federal, state, local governments.

Types of Federalism

• Dual Federalism: State and national governments supreme within own spheres.
• Cooperative Federalism: Shared powers.
• Fiscal Federalism: Spending, taxing, and grants influence.

Federal and State Powers

• Expressed, Implied, Inherent Powers: Federal government powers.
• Reserved Powers: State powers.
• Concurrent Powers: Shared powers.

Bill of Rights

• First 10 amendments to guarantee rights.
• Notable amendments:
  • Amendment 1: Free speech, assembly, religion.
  • Amendment 2: Right to bear arms.
  • Amendment 4: No unreasonable searches.
  • Amendment 5: Right to trial, no double jeopardy.
  • Amendment 6: Right to fair trial.
  • Amendment 10: States’ rights.

Amending the Constitution

• Proposed by 2/3 Congress; ratified by 3/4 states.

Unit Two: Political Culture, Beliefs, and Behaviors

Political Culture

• Alexis de Tocqueville: Noted American democracy's nature.
• Political Socialization: Family, media, government, education influence.
• Ideologies:
  • Liberal, Socialist, Conservative, Libertarianism.
• Demographics and Voting Trends:
  • Whites, rich, educated vote more.
  • Women, minorities, young vote liberal.
  • Men, wealthy, religious vote conservative.

Voting and Elections

• General and Primary Elections:
  • Open/Closed Primaries: Eligibility based on party registration.
• Redistricting and Gerrymandering:
  • Affects political influence.
  • Baker v. Carr, Shaw v. Reno: Limited gerrymandering.

Unit Three: Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media

Political Parties

• Two-Party System: Winner-take-all elections.
• Third Parties: Rarely successful.
• Party Operations: Organizing elections, educating voters.

Interest Groups and Media

• Interest Groups: Influence government via lobbying, PACs.
• Media: Influences public opinion, known as the "4th estate."

Unit Four: Institutions: Presidency and Congress

Congress

• Bicameral Legislature: House and Senate.
• Committees: Key in legislative process.

Presidency

• Presidential Powers: Commander in Chief, Executive Orders, Veto.
• Cabinet and Advisors: Help execute laws.

Unit Five: The Bureaucracy

Bureaucratic Structure

• Roles: Implementation, administration, regulation.
• Growth and Oversight: Expanding roles, red tape concerns.

The Judicial Branch and Civil Liberties

Court System

• Judicial Review: Supreme Court’s role in interpreting laws.
• Key Cases: Marbury v. Madison, McCulloch v. Maryland.

Civil Liberties

• Protected by Amendments: Free speech, due process.
• Notable Cases: Brown v. Board, Miranda v. Arizona.

Economic Policy

Fiscal and Monetary Policy

• Fiscal Policy: Government taxation and spending.
• Monetary Policy: Federal Reserve controls money supply.
• Economic Theories: Keynesianism, Monetarism, Supply-Side Economics.

Social Welfare

• Welfare Programs: Funded by taxes, aim to help the poor.
• Medicare and Social Security: Major programs facing financial challenges.

Foreign and Defense Policy

US Interests and Actions

• Influence by: National security, economic factors.
• Role of President and Congress: Leading and funding foreign policy.

Worldviews

• Isolationism, Containment, Disengagement, Human Rights: Different perspectives on US involvement in global affairs.

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of key themes and concepts for AP Government, useful for exam preparation and understanding US political structures and processes.