AP U.S. Government & Politics: Unit 1 - Foundations of American Democracy

1.1 Ideals of Democracy

Important Documents:

• The Declaration of Independence
  • Summarized colonist views and justified the break from Great Britain.
  • Defined reasons for independence.
• The Constitution
  • Drafted at the Philadelphia Convention as a successor to the Articles of Confederation.
  • Established federalism and defined the Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branches.
  • Contains articles on political processes.

Major Topics:

• Social Contract
  • Mutual agreement between people and government balancing individual rights and national safety.
  • People elect representatives.
• John Locke & Natural Law
  • Enlightenment philosopher John Locke’s theory: people are born free and equal.
  • Constitution defines natural rights to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, protected by the Bill of Rights.
• Popular Sovereignty
  • People are the ultimate ruling authority (consent of the governed).
• Republicanism
  • Popular sovereignty and consent of the governed maintained through elected representatives.

1.2 Types of Democracy

Important Documents:

• Brutus No. 1
  • Anti-federalist argument against the Constitution’s ratification.
  • Concerns about too much national government power.
• Federalist No. 10
  • James Madison's argument on dangers of factions.
  • Large republics can manage multiple factions.

Major Topics:

• Participatory Democracy
  • Direct citizen participation in laws rather than through representatives.
• Pluralist Democracy
  • Group influence on political decisions.
• Elite Democracy
  • Decisions made by wealthy and educated elite, opposed by federalists.

1.3 Government Power and Individual Rights

Important Documents:

• Brutus No. 1
  • Anti-federalists’ opposition to strong central government.
• Federalist No. 10
  • Advocates for controlling faction effects.

Main Topics:

• Limited Government
  • Constitution limits government power.
• Anti-Federalists vs. Federalists
  • Debate between small, decentralized vs. large, strong republics.

1.4 Challenges of the Articles of Confederation

Important Documents:

• Articles of Confederation
  • First U.S. government structure, limited central power.

Main Topics:

• Shays’ Rebellion
  • Exposed weaknesses of the Articles.
• Weaknesses of the Articles
  • Lack of executive and judicial branches.

1.5 Ratification of the United States Constitution

Important Documents:

• Article V
  • Amendment process definition.

Main Topics:

• Great Compromise
  • Bicameral legislature with Senate and House based on state population.
• Electoral College
  • State representatives elect the President and Vice President.
• Three-Fifths Compromise
  • Defined enslaved persons as part of population count.

1.6 Principles of American Government

Important Documents:

• Federalist No. 51
  • Separation of powers and checks and balances explained by James Madison.

Main Topics:

• Separation of Powers
  • Different powers delegated to each government branch.
• Checks and Balances
  • Prevents one branch from dominating.

1.7 Relationship Between States and the Federal Government

Important Documents:

• Article IV
  • States’ obligation to recognize each other’s laws; federal protection.

Main Topics:

• Federalism
  • Power sharing between national and state governments.
• Types of Powers
  • Delegated, concurrent, and reserved powers.
• Federal Funding
  • Categorical vs. block grants, mandates, and revenue sharing.

1.8 Constitutional Interpretations of Federalism

Important Cases:

• McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
  • Established supremacy clause and Congress’s implied powers.
• United States v. Lopez (1995)
  • Limited Congress’s use of the commerce clause.

Main Topics:

• Tenth Amendment
  • Powers reserved for states or people.
• Fourteenth Amendment
  • Ensures citizenship and equal protection.
• Necessary and Proper Clause
  • Congress’s power to pass laws needed to carry out its responsibilities.
• Commerce Clause
  • Congress’s power to regulate interstate commerce.

1.9 Federalism in Action

Main Topics:

• Federalism
  • Division of power and policy-making between national and state governments.

Sources:

• AP US Government Exam Prep 2020, Fiveable
• AP US Government & Politics, Khan Academy