AP Gov Review Hub dates Eras Birth

AP Gov Review

Hub dates/Eras • Birth of a nation • Articles of Confederation (AOC) drafted-document held states together until Shays’s rebellion • Need for stronger document after rebellion so meeting held in Philadelphia to amend AOC • Madison comes w/plan to write new doc • Constitution written (secretly) w/ Great Compromise and 3/5 Compromise • • Balance of power-3 branches Fed vs Anti-Fed papers written to get ratification Bill of Rights promised

Post Constitution • Marshall’s Supreme Court expands the power of the Fed gov’t- uses commerce clause and Necessary and proper clause • Mc Cullough v Maryland • Gibbons Ogden • Congress seat of power • George Washington sets precedent of two terms

Pre-Civil War • State vs Fed power • States under Tanney court re assert themselves • Dred Scott decision-Scott has no rights, states may have slavery

Post Civil War • Amen 13, 14, 15 added to Const • 13 -freed slaves • 14 - all citizens…equal protection…due process…states…(later is used for incorporation) • 15 -suffrage for men • Gilded Age later- yellow journalism, high voter turnout due to patronage, pressure

Great Depression/New Deal • FDR’s New Deal • Fed gov’t takes charge-implements w/ Congress new federal programs to stimulate econ and create jobs • Social Security, unemployment, “welfare state” • Supreme Court at first ruled against FDR, then w/ him after court packing threat • Imperial Presidency

Watergate/Vietnam • Declining trust in gov’t due to Watergate scandal and Vietnam • Public has never trusted pres/gov’t at pre. Nixon levels • Press role as watchdog increases 4 th branch

The Constitution set up a Republic not a Democracy • Constitution was established to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confed that held the nation together during the Rev war • Divisions between the Federalists (Hamilton) and the Anti Fed (Jefferson) • Stronger Executive created • More powers to Congress • Great Comp –House and Senate • 3/5 Comp-counting people for House • Checks and balances between branches, also shared powers • Writing a Bill of Rights agreed on in order to ratify Const-Federalist papers to convince Americans to support Constitution

Supreme Court cases • Marbury v Madison • Set precedent that SC would determine actions by other two braches constitutional or not

Federalism-Article IV, Amendment 10 • Advantages: Get people involved, laboratory for ideas at state level, states maintain identity

Fed Continued Layer Cake • Things only Fed gov does: • • Declare war Coin $ Patents Treaties with foreign nations Estab post offices Punish piracies Support army, navy etc. Regulate interstate commerce • Things only states do/did • • Education (originally) Drivers licenses Marriage licenses Regulate intra state commerce

Fed Continued Marble Cake • Both Fed and state gov: • Make laws • Tax people • Have courts

Federalism Supreme Court cases • Expanded power of Fed gov: • Mc Culloch v Maryland 1819: yes, Fed gov can establish a bank, the states may not tax it • Gibbons v Ogden: Fed gov can regulate interstate commerce (ferry boats licenses were the issue) 1824 • Texas v Johnson-states may not punish freedom of expression in the case of flag burning • Oregon may have right to die laws

Federalism Supreme Court cases • Limited power of Fed gov • US v Loez 1995 - Fed gov had gone too far with gun leg-it wasn’t interstate commerce gun free zones near schools • Printz v US 1997 -background checks for hand guns as written in the Brady Act were unconstbut states cold have them WWLB 153 • Planned Parenthood v Casey-states may pass abortion restrictions as long as the law does not place “undue burden” on the woman

Legislative branch: Congress Article I • Bicameral-House and Senate • Enumerated powers: coin $, declare war, borrow $ maintain army, navy, estab post offices, issue patents, promote science and art, piracies etc • Implied powers: Necessary and Proper clause/elastic clause • Commerce Clause-used to expand power of Congress

Only need majority to pass a bill 218 in House, 51 in Senate! • House • • • 25 years old 2 year term 435 members frozen in 1929 Bills of Revenue must originate in House Closer to the people # depends on census every 10 years-districts re draw may lead to safe seats of gerrymandering Rules committee=house moves faster Majority party is king Members more extreme • Senate • • 30 years old 6 year term 2 per state 100 No rules committee More prestigious Less formal than House Executive duties-confirm ambassadors, ratify treaties, confirm SC nominees • Sit on more committees • Minority party has lots of power due to Clotureneed 60 votes to end debate

Executive Branch Article II • Power has increased- especially since Great Depression and New Deal • “imperial presidency” • 30, natural born citizen • Amend 22 -held to 2 four year terms

• Formal Powers • Commander in Chief • Convene Congress • Make treaties (w/consent of Senate) • Nominate ambassadors • Nominate Supreme Court appointees and other Federal judges • Give State of the union address • Informal powers • Bully pulpit to bring attention to issues from Global Warming to exercise • Power images: Air Force One, Pres seal, Hail to the Chief • Media attentioninstant platform

Political Culture • Aspects that are somewhat unique to US • Religion in politics • Gun ownership • 2 party system • Political socialization • • Family School Peers Media • Culture war exaggerated by media- most Americans are moderate • Trust in gov declined after Vietnam, Watergate

Ideology • Liberal/Left/Dems • Less gov intrusion in social issues • More gov assistance for financial issues • Less spending on defense (historically) • Regulation needed to protect citizens • Conservative/Right/ Rep (GOP) • Less gov intrusion in financial or business, • Less regulation of business-too much reg stymies innovation and job creation • Uphold traditional values (this is somewhat recent) • Maintain strong military

Electoral process • It’s Complicated-little of this is in Const except Electoral College • Winner take all-majority of votes gets all Electoral Votes • Primaries for Pres Elections: • Open, closed and blanket primaries • Has changed, used to be back room deals • Conventions highly scripted, debut for VP • Less id with parties

• BCRA attempt to limit $ • Outlaws “soft Money” • parts have been struck down-Wisconsin Right to Life-limits on Corporate donations UNCOST • $2, 000 limit person per cycle adjusted for inflation • Loophole created 527 s-unlimited funds for “issue ads”

Influences • Lobbyists • Interest Groups-AMA, NRA, unions, Sierra Club, Insurance Companies • They may hire lobbyists and form PACs • PACs-interest groups form PACs • Give more to incumbent members of House • Donation limits

Voter turnout • Old people vote • young people don’t • Wealthier people tend to vote in greater numbers • Ditto for white voters • African Americans most consistent group • Hispanic turnout low-usually Dem, but can split • Low voter turnout for Asians-lean right

Supreme Court Cases and Elections • Baker v Carr 1962 • Equal protection Clause of Amend 14 used- Fed gov can decide reapportionment in states • Rural districts were over represented, urban under rep (racial overtones) • Buckley v Valeo 1976 • $ is speech • Candidate can use as much of their personal $ as they want • Bush v Gore 2000 • Stopped Florida recount in two counties under equal protection-ballots not the same-election went to Pres Bush

Media The Fourth Branch • Ideally a watch dog-Watergate Agenda Setter • Now more intrusive to candidates personal lives • Scorekeeper during elections • Polling role-stratified, tracking polls • NY Times v Sullivan-1949 -made slander difficult to prove actual malice • NY Times v US-Pentagon papers could be published