Heimler's History AP Government Unit 1 Review

Introduction

• Overview of AP Government Unit 1
  • Foundations of American Democracy
  • Creation of the Constitution
  • Federalism
• Part of an AP Government review packet
  • Includes practice questions, essential questions, and practice exams

Foundations of American Democracy

Enlightenment Influence

• Natural Rights
  • Rights given by Creator, not a monarch
  • Important for framers of the Constitution
• Theoretical State of Nature
  • Humans are free before government
• Popular Sovereignty and Social Contract
  • Power to govern in hands of the people
  • Government protects natural rights in exchange for some power
  • People's duty to overthrow tyrannical government
• Republicanism
  • Elect leaders to represent and create laws
  • Separation of powers into three branches: Executive, Legislative, Judicial
• Limited Government
  • System of checks and balances
  • Distribution of power

Foundational Documents

• Declaration of Independence
  • Popular Sovereignty, Social Contract, Natural Rights
• United States Constitution
  • Blueprint for Republicanism and Separation of Powers

Types of Democracy

• Participatory Democracy
  • Broad participation in political process
• Pluralist Democracy
  • Groups competing to influence policy
• Elite Democracy
  • Limited participation; run by educated individuals
• Present in different forms in US government

Key Documents

• Federalist 10
  • Argument for pluralist democracy
  • Protects liberties through competition
• Brutus 1
  • Concerns about large centralized government
  • Advocates for participatory democracy
• Constitution
  • Demonstrates tension between models of democracy

Creation of the Constitution

Articles of Confederation

• Weak federal government, strong state governments
• Issues: No president, no federal courts, no taxes, no army
• Shay's Rebellion highlighted weaknesses

Constitutional Convention (Philadelphia Convention, 1787)

• Aimed to modify Articles but created a new Constitution
• Major Compromises:
  • Great Compromise: Bicameral Congress
  • Electoral College: President elected by electors
  • Three-Fifths Compromise: Counting enslaved people
  • Compromise on Slave Trade: Congress couldn't touch trade for 20 years

Amending the Constitution

• Two-stage process: Proposal and Ratification
• Requires two-thirds Congress & three-quarters states

Federalism

• Definition: Sharing of power between national and state governments
• Exclusive Powers: Federal government powers (e.g., treaties)
• Reserved Powers: State powers (e.g., education)
• Concurrent Powers: Shared powers (e.g., taxes)

Fiscal Federalism

• Sharing power through funding
• Grants
  • Categorical: Specific federal standards
  • Block: Broad purpose
• Mandates
  • Funded: Financial aid provided
  • Unfunded: No financial aid provided (reduced during devolution)

Constitutional Provisions impacting Federalism

• 10th Amendment: Powers reserved to states
• 14th Amendment: Applies Bill of Rights to states
• Commerce Clause: Congress regulates commerce
• Necessary and Proper Clause: Implied powers of Congress

Supreme Court Cases

• McCulloch v. Maryland (1819): Federal power supremacy
• United States v. Lopez (1995): State power victory

Federalism in Action

• Environmental Regulations: Paris Agreement and state adherence
• Legalization of Marijuana: State laws vs. federal laws

Conclusion

• Review of Unit 1 AP Government
• Encouragement to use review packet for further study and success in exams