[AP GOPO] Unit 1 Review

[AP GOPO]

Unit 1 Review

1.1 Explain how democratic ideals are reflected in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

• Limited government, natural rights, popular sovereignty, republicanism and social contract can all be found in our Declaration. 

• comprised of three branches – the legislative, executive and judicial – all separate but responsible for checking and balancing each other.

• federal system: power and authority would be shared between central, state and local governments. 

Multiple Choice

1.1 Practice: This seminal document established the essential blue print for a unique form of political democracy in America. Even today it can be cited as the longest lasting and most durable government charter in human history.

• Montesquieu’s The Spirit of the Laws (1748)

• The Mayflower Compact (1620)

• The Declaration of Independence (1776)

• The U.S. Constitution (1789)

Multiple Choice

1.1 Practice Enlightenment thinkers stressed the importance of governments protecting natural rights. In the state of nature one can find popular sovereignty. This belief resulted in a desire to make all governments beholden to

• The divine right of kings

• The consent of the governed

• he hierarchy of wealth and privilege

• Centralized legal systems

1.2 Explain how models of representative democracy are visible in major institutions, policies, events, or debates in the U.S.

•  direct democracy empowered the people to rule without representatives

• our constitution opted for a representative democracy known to history as a republican form of government. In this way the untrustworthy passions of the people were insulated through the direct election of qualified representatives

Multiple Choice

1.2 Practice As societies grew more and more complex governments were formed to help manage norms. In representative governments these norms are primarily managed through:

• Religious rites

• Charismatic elites

• Terror and violence

• Laws and public policies

1.2 Models of Democracy

• The first model emphasizes participatory democracy. In this model civil society is maintained when the broadest selection of citizens engage in the political process. 
• A second model emphasizes a pluralist democracy. In this model rival groups form to compete against each other in their desire to influence public policy. 
• A third model emphasizes elite democracy. In this model the primary political decisions are made and enforced by a select group of advantaged citizens.

Multiple Select

1.2 Practice Check where we find direct (participatory) democracy today...

• House of Representatives elections

• Presidential election

• National policies/law making

• Town Halls with elected officials

• Declaring war

1.3  Explain how Federalist and Anti-Federalist views on central government and democracy are reflected in U.S. foundational documents.

• The Federalists argued, in essay #10, for a stronger central government. They envisioned an American future with a large republic. 

• In doing so they hoped to assuage the greatest threat to a government rooted in popular sovereignty, the “mischiefs of faction.” (majority mobs, tyrants etc.)

1.3 continued...

• Anti-Federalists feared that by centralizing governmental power individual liberty would be compromised. 

• The wealthy class easily corrupted strong central governments in history. Aristocratic tendencies should be expected. 

•  Brutus 1, Anti-Federalists advocated for smaller democratic units of government.

• The greatest authority should be maintained in the state governments. Localized power is the best means of protecting one’s inalienable rights.

  
  

  
  

Multiple Select

1.3 Practice - Check all that apply that RESULTED at the CONCLUSION of the Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists debate...

• Centralized Gov't around a strong king

• A large republic

• Bill of Rights Amendments

• Aristocratic State dominated government

• Levels of Federal government

1.4 Explain the relationship between key provisions of the Articles of Confederation and the debate over granting the federal government greater formerly reserved to the states.

• Arts. of Confed. was our first Constitution, lead the U.S. through a Revolution, helped double our property with NW ordinance and protected individual rights

• BUT with a weak central gov't: no executive to enforce laws that were passed, govt was bankrupt because no tax system, no standing army, no interstate business regulations, Shay's Rebellion

Multiple Choice

1.4 Practice The Articles of Confederation, the first governing charter of the U.S., succeeded in ending the war with England and proposing territorial rules for expansion but maintaining order it could not. All of the following were fatal flaws in the Articles EXCEPT

• There was no executive branch

• Congress could not regulate trade

• Inability to pacify rebellions

• The central government was too strong

Multiple Choice

1.4 Practice - Weaknesses found in the Articles of Confederation were addressed in the new U.S. Constitution in all of the following ways EXCEPT

• A legislative branch that could regulate interstate commerce

• Creation of an energetic president

• Creation of a Congress that could levy taxes

• The elimination of unequal state courts

1.5 Explain the ongoing impact of political negotiation and compromise at the Constitutional Convention on the development of the constitutional system.

• Great Compromise: Bicameral legislature- proportional representation in a House of Representatives, but equal state representation in a Senate.

• Electoral College - increase Representative Democracy and check the majority

• Article V - being able to amend the Constitution

Open Ended

1.5 Practice - The United States Constitution would never have succeeded had it not been for the Great Compromise. This compromise resulted in a bicameral legislature. What fundamental issued divided the convention?

1.6 Explain the constitutional principles of separation of powers and “checks and balances.”

• The legislative branch writes laws. The executive branch enforces laws and the judicial branch interprets laws. 

• The Legislative Branch can impeach [or remove] a President – the House impeaches and the Senate holds the impeachment trial; The Legislative Branch can override a Presidential veto; The Legislative Branch declares war; The Senate approves presidential appointments and treaties; The Legislative Branch can change the size and jurisdiction of federal courts.

1.6 Continued...

The Executive Branch through the President can veto acts of Congress; The Vice President serves as the President of the Senate; The President is the Commander-in-Chief; The President can pardon; The President appoints federal judges.

 

The Judicial Branch through the federal courts practices judicial review – this power enables the courts to rule on the constitutionality of both Congressional and Presidential activity.

Open Ended

1.6 Practice - Today, the U.S. is facing a possible nomination and selection to the Supreme Court. What are the checks and balances involved in this process? How does this work?

1.7  Explain the implications of separation of powers and “checks and balances” for the U.S. political system.

• The separation of powers often results in an entrenched political impasse.

• “we the people” have greater access points to interact and interface with our government. Often this causes our government to be less efficient. 

•  In no small way our representative democracy is rooted in a constitution that promises to deliver what it inherently was created to do – provide for good government.

Multiple Choice

1.7 Practice - The separation of powers and checks and balances are all a part of the promise of good government that lies behind the creation of our U.S. Constitution. Which of the following provides an example of this promise is action?

• The EPA can regulate air quality around the world

• the legislative branch checks governors by controlling their respective budgets

• The executive branch prepares the budget; the legislative branch approves the budget

• State governments can veto presidential actions

1.8 Explain how societal needs affect the constitutional allocation of power between national and state governments.

• Federalism reflects the dynamic distribution of power between national and state governments.

• The interpretation of the Tenth and Fourteenth Amendment, the commerce clause, the necessary and proper clause, and other enumerated and implied powers is at the heart of the debate over the balance of power between the national and state governments.

1.8 Continued...

• The federal government provides monies to state and local governments through block grants and categorical grants. Block grants provide the most discretion whereas categorical grants are allocated to specific programs and projects.

• Additionally, the national government at times can mandate, or require, states and local government to fulfill certain national priorities. For example the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) was a federal mandate that, in part, required all public buildings to be wheel chair accessible.

• national government uses both sticks (mandates) and carrots (block grants and categorical grants) to interact with state and local governments in the policy making process.

Multiple Choice

1.8 Practice - All of the following have been used to negotiate the balance of power between national and state governments EXCEPT

• Interpretations of the Tenth Amendment

• interpretations of the Fourteenth Amendment

• The Commerce Clause

• Federal Reserve white papers

Multiple Choice

1.8 Practice - The emergence of a movement to legalize marijuana at the state level provides an example of

• The persistent tension over where government power is best suited

• The settled debate over where government power is found

• The negligible authority that still remains at the state level

• The authoritative role played by national governments

1.9 Balance of power between national and state governments has been interpreted and how this impacts policy making

• the national government is supreme, state and local governments have reserved powers that existed outside the reach of the central government

• Layered Cake (Dual Federalism) vs. Marble Cake (Modern Federalism)

• duties and responsibilities of government at every level are now most likely shared

Multiple Choice

1.9 Practice - In this case the Supreme Court ruled the Gun-Free School Zones Act went beyond what the Constitution’s commerce clause could allow. For the first time since the New Deal the Court limited the scope and reach of the Commerce Clause.

• Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

• Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

• Roe v. Wade (1973)

• U.S. v. Lopez (1990)

Multiple Choice

Assessing the distribution of power in American government invariably involves familiarity with technical terms. All of the following terms are matched correctly EXCEPT

• Decentralized powers – exclusive power given to the President

• Delegated powers – given exclusively to the national government

• Concurrent powers – shared between national and state governments

• Reserved powers – given exclusively to the state governments

1.9 Continued...

• Concurrent powers are those that are shared between national and state governments.

• Reserved powers, as guaranteed in the Tenth Amendment, are given exclusively to the state governments.

•  Disputes over the balance of power between the national and state governments have characterized much of our political history. In most cases these disputes increased and consolidated power at the national level. 

  
  

Open Ended

1.9 Practice Continued... Give TWO examples of RESERVED powers given to the states guaranteed by the 10th Amendment...

1.9 Cont...

• Our national public policy making process is intentionally cumbersome. The Constitution and its amendments create a long, complex and competitive national policy making process. 

• national government implements a national public policy through laws, actions and/or rulings. Public policies are constantly being evaluated, debated and contested through the democratic process.

• All three branches were created to participate in the national public policy making process - and citizens have access points to all three

Multiple Choice

1.9 Practice- There were many players involved in developing the comprehensive health care policy known as the Affordable Care Act (2010). All of the following combinations are correctly matched EXCEPT

• Progressive voices set the agenda by highlighting the problem

• Congress formulated the policy

• the Supreme Court legitimized the solution

• State governors implemented the policy

Multiple Choice

1.9 Practice - Making public policy in America can often be long, complex and competitive. It is anything but easy. Gridlock may in fact be an intentional consequence of our founding. Which of the founding principles is most responsible for our cumbersome public policy process?

• Separation of powers and checks and balances

• Civil liberties and civil rights

• Popular sovereignty and ex post facto laws

• Equal protection and the rule of law