AP Government Live Stream Notes

Introduction

• Welcome to the AP Government live stream for 2025.
• The entire course will be covered in one night due to changed exam dates.
• The session is expected to take about two hours.
• Shoutouts are read between units, with a deadline for submission by 9:00 PM Eastern.
• The instructor begins with a joke to lighten the mood.

Unit 1: Foundations of American Democracy

Big Idea 1: Enlightenment Influences

• Foundational governing documents influenced by Enlightenment thought.
• Key concepts: Natural rights, popular sovereignty, social contract, republicanism.
• Separation of powers as a check against tyranny.

Big Idea 2: Models of Democracy

• Three models: Participatory, Elite, Pluralist.
• Each model is represented in foundational documents like the Constitution, Brutus 1, and Federalist 10.

Big Idea 3: Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

• Federalists favored strong central government; Anti-Federalists favored strong state government.
• Federalist Papers, especially Federalist 10, argue about mitigating factions.
• Anti-Federalists warned against a powerful central government in Brutus 1.

Big Idea 4: Articles of Confederation

• Failed due to weak federal power and strong state power.
• Shay's Rebellion highlighted the weakness of the Articles.

Big Idea 5: The Constitution as a Compromise

• Created through several compromises (Great Compromise, Electoral College, Three-Fifths Compromise).
• Amending the Constitution is possible but difficult.

Big Idea 6: Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances

• Federalist 51 argues for separation of powers.
• Three branches have distinct roles and can check each other.

Big Idea 7: Federalism

• Federalism is the sharing of power between national and state governments.
• Defined by exclusive, reserved, and concurrent powers.
• Fiscal federalism involves grants and mandates.

Big Idea 8: Changing Balance of Power

• Balance of power between states and federal government has shifted over time.
• Key SCOTUS cases: McCulloch v. Maryland (increased federal power), US v. Lopez (state power).

Unit 2: Interactions Among Branches of Government

Big Idea 1: Congress Makes Laws

• Powers from Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution.
• Structure: Bicameral Congress, House of Representatives, and Senate.

Big Idea 2: Leadership and Committees

• Leadership structures: Speaker, majority/minority leaders in House; President of the Senate, majority leader in Senate.
• Committee system is crucial for legislative work.

Big Idea 3: Factors Affecting Congressional Efficiency

• Polarization and differing conceptions of representation.
• Redistricting and gerrymandering affect representation.

Big Idea 4: Presidential Powers

• President has formal and informal powers to influence legislation.
• Veto power and Commander-in-Chief role.

Big Idea 5: Conflicts and Checks

• Presidential power often leads to conflicts with other branches.
• Senate's role in confirming appointments as a check.

Big Idea 6: Growth of Presidential Power

• Over time, presidential power has increased (Jackson, Lincoln, FDR examples).

Big Idea 7: Communication Technology

• Presidents use new media to appeal directly to the public.

Big Idea 8: Judicial Review

• Federalist 78 discusses judicial independence and review.
• Marbury v. Madison established judicial review.

Big Idea 9: Legitimacy of the Court

• Precedents and ideological changes can influence court legitimacy.
• Judicial activism vs. restraint.

Big Idea 10: Federal Bureaucracy

• Bureaucracy enforces laws under the executive branch.
• Structure: Cabinet secretaries, agencies, commissions, government corporations.

Big Idea 11: Discretionary Authority

• Bureaucracy has delegated discretionary authority for rulemaking.
• Various departments and agencies help implement laws.

Big Idea 12: Checks on Bureaucracy

• Congressional oversight, Presidential authority, and judicial review serve as checks.

Unit 3: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

Big Idea 1: Bill of Rights

• Protects individual liberties, primarily from the federal government.

Big Idea 2: Freedom of Religion

• Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause balance.
• Key cases: Engel v. Vitale, Wisconsin v. Yoder.

Big Idea 3: Freedom of Speech

• Not absolute; government can restrict under certain conditions (time, place, manner).

Big Idea 4: Freedom of the Press

• Essential for democracy; New York Times v. US case reinforces this.

Big Idea 5: Second Amendment

• Court decisions generally uphold individual gun rights.

Big Idea 6: Rights Are Not Absolute

• Balancing act between individual liberty and public safety.

Big Idea 7: Selective Incorporation

• Process of applying Bill of Rights to states via the 14th Amendment.
• Key case: McDonald v. Chicago.

Big Idea 8: Balancing Liberty and Order

• Key cases: Miranda v. Arizona, Gideon v. Wainwright (procedural due process).

Big Idea 9: Social Movements

• Inspired by constitutional provisions, influencing policy (e.g., Civil Rights Movement).

Big Idea 10: Government's Response to Social Movements

• Court rulings and legislative policies shaped by social movements (e.g., Brown v. Board of Education).

Unit 4: American Political Ideologies and Beliefs

Big Idea 1: Core Beliefs

• Individualism, equality of opportunity, free enterprise, rule of law, limited government.

Big Idea 2: Political Socialization

• Influenced by family, schools, peers, media, and social environments.

Big Idea 3: Public Opinion Polling

• Various types of polls and their influence on policy.

Big Idea 4: Polling and Elections

• Reliability issues and influence on elections and policy debates.

Big Idea 5: Ideological Spectrum

• Liberal vs. Conservative ideologies and their influence on policy.

Big Idea 6: Public Policy

• Reflects attitudes of active participants, varies by ideology.

Unit 5: Political Participation

Big Idea 1: Voting Rights

• Expanded through constitutional amendments and legislation.

Big Idea 2: Voter Turnout

• Influenced by structural barriers, political efficacy, and type of election.

Big Idea 3: Linkage Institutions

• Political parties, interest groups, elections, and media connect people to government.

Big Idea 4: Two-Party System

• Winner-take-all system and incorporation of third-party agendas limit third-party success.

Big Idea 5: Interest Groups

• Influence policy through lobbying and the iron triangle.

Big Idea 6: Presidential Elections

• Complex process involving primaries, general election, and electoral college.

Big Idea 7: Congressional Elections

• Lower turnout than presidential elections; influenced by incumbency and gerrymandering.

Big Idea 8: Campaign Strategies

• Focus on fundraising, media strategies, and length of campaigns.

Big Idea 9: Campaign Finance

• Laws and court cases (e.g., Citizens United) shape the role of money in politics.

Big Idea 10: Media Role

• Provides oversight and influences public agenda setting and perceptions of candidates.