Lecture on AP Government Review

Unit One: Constitutional Underpinnings

Fundamental Principles of Democracy

• Direct Democracy: Citizens directly vote on decisions.
• Representative Democracy (Republic): Citizens elect officials to make decisions.

Historical Foundations

• Magna Carta (1215): First attempt to limit British King's power, granting rights.
• Enlightenment Philosophers: Locke and Rousseau.
  • Social Contract Theory: People agree to be governed.
  • Consent of the Governed: Rulers need people's approval.
  • Natural Rights: Inherent rights including life, liberty, and property (Jefferson: pursuit of happiness).
• Declaration of Independence: Justified the American Revolution; emphasized life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.

Articles of Confederation: First Government

• Weak state association; strong state independence.
• No central executive or direct federal taxation.
• Federal roles: raise army, print money, declare war, run post office.
• Shays' Rebellion: Highlighted weaknesses of the central government.

Constitutional Debate

• Constitutional Convention (1787): Formation of new constitution, supporting a republic and three branches of government.
• Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists: Debated central government strength.
• Compromises:
  • North-South Compromises: 3/5 Compromise for counting slaves.
  • Connecticut Compromise: Bicameral legislature.

Constitution Fixes Articles of Confederation

• Taxation and interstate trade regulated federally.
• Creation of executive (President) and national judiciary (Supreme Court).

The Constitution

• Article I: Legislative Branch.
• Article II: Executive Branch.
• Article III: Judicial Branch.

Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances

• Each branch has distinct powers and checks on the others (e.g., veto power, judicial review).

Federalism

• Dual Federalism: Clear division of federal and state powers.
• Cooperative Federalism: Shared powers between different levels of government.
• Fiscal Federalism: Financial relations among levels of government.

Unit Two: Political Culture, Beliefs, and Behaviors

Political Culture

• Describes Americans' support for free enterprise, individual responsibility, and equality of opportunity.
• Religion significantly influences political views.

Political Socialization

• Shaped by family, friends, media, education, and current government.

Political Ideologies

• Liberal: Favors large government for welfare.
• Socialist: Strong government to protect people.
• Conservative: Limited government for economic growth.
• Libertarianism: Minimal government, high individual focus.

Demographics and Voting Behavior

• Voting patterns vary by race, gender, and education.
• Census every 10 years affects redistricting.
• Gerrymandering: Manipulating district boundaries for political gain.

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

Political Parties

• Functions include organizing elections, formulating policies, managing candidates.
• Realignment and Dealignment: Shifts in party bases and independence rise.

Elections

• Electoral College: Influences presidential elections and strategy.
• Historical changes in voting rights include race and gender inclusivity.

Influencing Elections

• Interest Groups: Seek to influence through lobbying and funding.
• Media: Significant impact on public opinion and politics.

Unit Four: Institutions: Presidency and Congress

Congress

• Bicameral legislature (House and Senate).
• Committees play a crucial role in legislative process.
• House: Initiates spending bills, impeaches officials.
• Senate: Confirms appointments, tries impeachments.

President

• Roles include Commander in Chief, Chief Executive, and legislative influencer.
• Executive Orders: Directives with the force of law.

Unit Five: The Bureaucracy

• Divides work into departments, remains politically neutral.
• Iron Triangle: Relationship between bureaucracy, Congress, and interest groups.
• Growth of discretionary authority and challenges of regulation.

The Judicial Branch and Civil Liberties

Judicial Branch

• Judicial Review: Supreme Court's power to declare laws unconstitutional.
• Court structure: District Courts, Courts of Appeals, Supreme Court.

Civil Liberties

• Due Process and Equal Protection: Fundamental rights and protections.
• Notable Cases: Marbury v. Madison, Brown v. Board of Education, Roe v. Wade.

Economic Policy

Monetary and Fiscal Policy

• Monetary Policy: Federal Reserve's control over money supply.
• Fiscal Policy: Government's taxation and spending.

Economic Theories

• Keynesianism, Monetarism, Supply-Side Economics: Differing views on government intervention.

Social Welfare

• Welfare Programs: Address societal inequities.
• Shifts in welfare policy from federal to state responsibility.

Foreign and Defense Policy

Foreign Policy Dynamics

• Considerations include national security, economic strength, and public opinion.
• Presidential and Congressional roles in foreign policy decisions.

War Powers Act

• Limits presidential power to deploy troops without Congressional approval.

Worldviews

• Isolationism, Containment, Disengagement, Human Rights: Varied approaches to international engagement.