A.P. United States Government Review Topic #1 Constitutional Underpinnings. Sources: Text Wilson; Reader - Roche and Beard, Federalist #51

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1 A.P. United States Government Review Topic #1 Constitutional Underpinnings Sources: Text Wilson; Reader - Roche and Beard, Federalist #51 I. Articles of Confederation A. Shay s Rebellion II. Constitutional Convention A. Historical Aspects B. Compromises 1. Connecticut/Great Compromise 2. 3/5 Compromise 3. Electoral College C. Individual Rights in the Constitution D. Checks and Balances/Separation of Powers 1. Executive 2. Legislative 3. Judicial

2 E. Amendment Process F. Ratification 1. Federalists/ Federalist #10 2. Anti-federalists G. Bill of Rights H. Later Interpretations (Roche v. Beard) Potential Free Response Topics Formal and informal amendments Whether founding fathers were democratic Expansion of voting rights Weaknesses in Articles of Confederation/How Constitution fixed them

3 Review Topic #2 Federalism I. Defining federalism II. Advantages of a federal system III. Powers of Government A. State B. Federal C. Concurrent III. Federalism and the Constitution A. Supremacy Clause B. 10 th Amendment C. McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) and U.S. v. Lopez (1993) D. Elastic Clause E. Full Faith and Credit Clause F. Extradition G. Privileges and Immunities Clause

4 IV. Intergovernmental Relations Today A. Dual Federalism B. Cooperative Federalism C. Fiscal Federalism 1. Cross over Sanctions 2. Cross cutting requirements 3. Categorical grants 4. Block grants 5. Revenue sharing Potential Free Response Topics Ongoing tension between state and federal government Unfunded mandates Advantages and disadvantages of federalism for democracy

5 Review Topic #3 Political Beliefs and Behaviors and Elections I. Theories of Government A. Pluralism B. Elitism II. Political Socialization a. Family most important b. Mass media c. School III. American Political Culture a. Equality A. Legal B. Political C. NOT economic equality b. Rights A. Freedom of speech (support the concept, but intolerance in practice) B. Freedom of religion IV. The Politics of Voting a. Voter Turnout A. Comparison to other countries 1. No mandatory voting 2. Voter registration/motor Voter Act of 1993 B. Decline in voter turnout (less than half in most elections) 1. Larger electorate 2. Less party mobilization 3. More mobile population 4. Increase in minority groups and youth 5. Dealignment 6. Declining trust in government 7. Don t see a difference between parties 8. NOT apathy/cynicism/loss of efficacy C. Who votes 1. Age 2. Education 3. Region 4. Income

6 D. How people vote (liberal or conservative) 1. Age 2. Education 3. Region 4. Income 5. Race 6. Gender Gap 7. Role of party identification 8. Increase in independent voters V. Types of Political Participation A. Voting most common political activity B. Other forms of participation 1. Litigation 2. Protest 3. Contact Public officials 4. Contact the media 5. Work on campaigns 6. Work on voter registration drives 7. Contribute money to campaigns 8. Run for office 9. Hold office 10. Discuss issues to persuade others 11. Join an overtly political organization 12. thinking about issues 13. NOT violence VI. Decline of Trust and Confidence in Government A. Less trust since 1950s B. Divided Government 1. More partisanship 2. Decline of the middle 3. Frustration with the process 4. Slows the confirmation process 5. Creates gridlock C. Role of Money in Politics 1. Candidates spend too much time raising money 2. Role of interest groups 3. Connections to wealthy donors (Abramoff) 4. Keeps good people from running 5. Small contributions don t matter 6. Perception of wasteful spending

7 D. Consequences of the Decline of Trust 1. More protest 2. Decline in voting 3. Increase in independent and third party identification 4. Non-partisan community action 5. Apathy DOES NOT count. VII. Nominations and Campaigns A. Primaries 1. Used more often than state conventions 2. Weaken party control 3. Increase the number of people involved in choosing candidates 4. Primary voters are more educated and affluent. 5. Closed (voters must declare a party before the election) v. Open B. Nominations 1. McGovern Fraser Commission 1968 Democrats increase the number of females and minority delegates at the convention 2. Delegates to conventions are more educated and more likely to participate in politics VIII. Elections A. How votes are counted 1. Electoral College means candidates campaign in competitive states with large populations. 2. Elections are FPTP/SMD 3. Candidate with plurality wins 4. Winner-take-all 5. Fosters two main parties 6. Incumbents usually win (incumbency advantage is greater in the House) B. Congressional Districts 1. Boundaries are drawn by state legislatures. 2. Gerrymandering is drawing a district to favor one party (or race). 3. In districts with a large number of non-english speakers, voting materials must be provided in native language. C. Critical Elections 1. Result in realignment 2. This means new coalitions of voters support each party.

8 IX. Money and Campaigning A. Federal Election Campaign Act of Creates the FEC 2. Requires disclosure 3. Matching funds for presidential campaigns 4. Limits hard money to $1000 for individuals 5. BUT there was a soft money loophole B. Buckley v. Valeo (1976) 1. Contributing to your own campaign is free speech 2. Allows the rich to have more influence 3. Spending money independent of a campaign (527) is free speech 4. This is an obstacle to reform an amendment would be required to fix this. C. McCain-Feingold (2002) 1. Eliminates soft money a. This levels the playing field b. This lessons concerns about buying influence c. More disclosure and transparency d. Might decrease the cost of campaigning 2. Limits on hard money ($2000 individual, $5000 PACS) a. Not indexed to inflation b. Candidates might spend less time fundraising c. Might decrease the influence of PACs 3. The rise of 527s a. Ads are run independent of a candidate b. This circumvents the ban on soft money c. Gives the rich more influence Possible Free Response Topics Types of participation other than voting Who votes/doesn t vote and why Campaign finance reform Reasons for low voter turnout

9 Review Topic #4 Linkage Institutions: Political Parties, Interest Groups and Mass Media I. Development of the media and politics A. First Amendment B. Press conferences C. Investigative Journalism/Scandals/Watergate D. Print media 1. Beats E. Broadcast media 1. Sound bites F. Bias II. Public Opinion and the Media A. Agenda setting B. Media events III. What parties do A. Three-headed political giant 1. Party and the electorate a. Party identification b. Ticket-splitting

10 2. Party as an organization a. patronage b. party machines c. Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883 d. Hatch Act of Party in Government IV. Party eras in American History A. First Party System: B. Democrats-Whigs: C. The Two Republic Eras: D. The New Deal Coalition: E. Era of Divided Government: F. Critical Elections G. Realignment

11 V. Third Parties A. Three Types 1. Splinter 2. Specific causes 3. Charismatic individual B. Advantages/Disadvantages VI. Definition of interest groups and how they work VII. Three Contemporary theories of democracy A. Pluralism B. Elitism C. Hyperpluralism VIII. Factors in the success of Interest Groups A. Size/Olson s Law of Large Groups B. Intensity/Single-Issue groups C. Financial Resources

12 IX. Shaping policy A. Lobbying B. Electioneering/PACs C. Litigation 1. amicus curiae briefs 2. class action lawsuits D. Mobilizing public opinion X. Types of interest groups A. Economic 1. Labor a. AFL-CIO b. Wagner Act of Business B. Environmental C. Equality a. National Association of Manufacturers b. Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 D. Consumers /Public interests Possible Free Response Topics Bias in the media Presidential uses of the media Impact of the media on policy agenda and presidential approval Impact of third parties on elections Increase in independent voting Third party impact on policy agenda The impact of interest groups on democracy/government How particular interest groups pursue their goals

A.P. United States Government Review Topic #1 Constitutional Underpinnings. Sources: Lineberry Ch. 1& 2, Woll Reader - Roche and Beard, Federalist #51

A.P. United States Government Review Topic #1 Constitutional Underpinnings Sources: Lineberry Ch. 1& 2, Woll Reader - Roche and Beard, Federalist #51 I. Articles of Confederation A. Shay s Rebellion II.