Serious debate topics in early U.S. government

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists, North vs. South, Big States vs. Small States

Counted slaves as 3/5 of a person to give the South more representatives

Connecticut Compromise

Established two equal bodies: House of Representatives (population-based) and Senate (equal representation)

Federalists' support for the Constitution

Supported a strong central government; opposed by Anti-Federalists

Articles by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay arguing for the Constitution

Discusses the importance of factions and handling them in a large republic

Discusses checks and balances and separation of powers

Weakness: Congress could not tax

Solution: National government had power to tax directly

Weakness: Congress couldn’t regulate interstate trade

Solution: Interstate Commerce Clause gives Congress regulatory power

Weakness: No chief executive

Solution: Article II creates the president

Weakness: No national judiciary

Solution: Article III creates the Supreme Court

Weakness: Each state had one vote

Solution: Bicameral legislature represents states by population and equality

Articles of the U.S. Constitution

Article I – Legislative Branch, Article II – Executive Branch, Article III – Judicial Branch, Article IV – Interstate relations, Article V – Amendment process

Each branch has its own power and independence: Legislative (passes laws), Executive (executes laws), Judicial (interprets laws)

Set the dogma of judicial review

Each branch has some power over the others but retains independence.

Legislative Branch Powers

- Approves budget - Passes laws - Can override veto - Can impeach president, judges - Approves appointments and treaties - Confirms judges and cabinet appointments

Executive Branch Powers

- Can propose laws - Can veto laws - Can call special sessions of Congress - Can appeal to public - Appoints officials and judges - Can pardon convicted felons

Judicial Branch Powers

- Interprets laws - Can declare executive acts and legislative laws unconstitutional

Separation between powers of the Federal, State, and Local governments.

System of government where the central government is weak, and most power lies in individual states.

System of government where the central government is extremely powerful, and individual states have few powers.

Also known as "Layer Cake" Federalism (1789-1932) - State and national governments are supreme within their own sphere of influence.

Cooperative Federalism

Also known as "Marble Cake" Federalism - Sharing powers between state and federal governments.

Government's patterns of spending, taxing, and providing grants to influence state and local governments.

Money given from the federal government to the states.

Federal grants for specific purposes (e.g., building an airport).

Broad grants from the federal government that give local/state governments freedom to spend money as they please.

Federal sharing of a fixed percentage of its revenue with the states.

Terms set by the federal government that states must meet if they accept federal grants.

Process of returning power to the states, began during New Federalism under presidents Nixon, Reagan, and Bush.

Express, Implied, and Inherent powers.

Express powers are powers listed in the constitution for the Federal government, such as going to war and regulating commerce.

Express powers include the ability to go to war, raise an army, regulate interstate and foreign commerce, and establish post offices.

Implied powers are based on the necessary and proper clause, giving Congress flexibility to make laws.

Implied powers allow Congress to make laws necessary and proper for carrying out express powers, as upheld in McCulloch v. Maryland.

Inherent powers deal with foreign policy not in the constitution but given to the federal government.

Inherent powers are those dealing with foreign policy that are not explicitly listed in the constitution.

Federal Powers include regulating interstate commerce and establishing federal courts.

Federal Powers (Expressed, Implied, Inherent) include regulating interstate commerce, coin/print money, providing an army, declaring war, establishing federal courts, setting foreign policy, and making all laws "necessary and proper."

Concurrent Powers are shared by Federal and State governments.

Concurrent Powers include the ability to levy taxes, spend for general welfare, and enact and enforce laws.

State Powers are reserved and include regulating intrastate commerce.

State Powers (Reserved) include regulating intrastate commerce, establishing local governments, establishing public schools, administering elections, and establishing licensing requirements.

Denied Powers are explicitly denied to the government.

Denied Powers include suspending the writ of habeas corpus, passing bills of attainder, and ex post facto laws.

The Supremacy Clause establishes that federal law is superior to state law.

The Supremacy Clause was established in McCulloch vs. Maryland, ruling that federal law overrides state law.

The Interstate Commerce Clause gives the Federal Government authority over interstate commerce.

The Interstate Commerce Clause allows the federal government to regulate all interstate commerce.

The president must enforce all laws passed by Congress.

Full Faith and Credit

States must honor laws and court rulings of other states.

Privileges and Immunities

Requires states to extend the same privileges and immunities to all citizens, even those of other states.

Ap Gov Study Guide Flashcards

Flashcard

•

History

•

9th Grade

•

Practice Problem

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Hard

Kevin Rose Jr

Used 1+ times

FREE Resource

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93 questions

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1.

FLASHCARD QUESTION

Front

Social Contract Theory

Back

Principle that people enter into a social contract with the government and allow to be ruled.

2.

FLASHCARD QUESTION

Front

Consent of the Governed

Back

Principle that rulers depend on the approval of the people, who have the right to change the government.

3.

FLASHCARD QUESTION

Front

Common Good

Back

Belief in doing what’s best for the nation overall.

4.

FLASHCARD QUESTION

Front

Popular Sovereignty

Back

Belief that the ultimate authority rests with the people.

5.

FLASHCARD QUESTION

Front

Articles of Confederation

Back

Weak association of states with no central executive power and no federal power to tax citizens directly.

6.

FLASHCARD QUESTION

Front

Shays’ Rebellion

Back

Farmer rebellion in Massachusetts protesting mortgage foreclosures and a weak central government.

7.

FLASHCARD QUESTION

Front

Constitutional Convention 1787

Back

Meeting in Philadelphia to write a new constitution supporting Representative Democracy.

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