SCOTUS CASES
Established the "one person, one vote" principle
Baker v. Carr
This Enlightenment idea says that all people are born with certain rights — such as life, liberty, and property — that cannot be taken away by government.
What are natural rights?
Who is the governor of Michigan?
Gretchen Whitmer (Big Gretch)
What power allows Congress to formally charge the president or other officials with wrongdoing?
Impeachment
All bills that raise revenue must start in this chamber.
the House of Representatives
This early Supreme Court case arose from a dispute over undelivered judicial commissions. In deciding it, Chief Justice John Marshall simultaneously limited the Court’s original jurisdiction and expanded its power by establishing this enduring constitutional principle.
Judicial review — Marbury v. Madison
This model of democracy emphasizes group-based activism by nongovernmental interests — such as interest groups or political parties — competing to influence policy.
pluralist democracy
Who is the Vice President of the United States
JD VANCE
What constitutional clause has often been used to justify expanding federal power by allowing Congress to make laws necessary to carry out its duties? And what are the two names for it?
The Necessary and Proper (Elastic) Clause.
When a bill passes both chambers but with different wording, this type of committee meets to reconcile the differences.
a Conference Committee
Congress claimed the Commerce Clause allowed it to ban guns in school zones, but the Supreme Court disagreed.
What constitutional principle did the Court reinforce in this decision?
The principle of federalism — limits on Congress’s power under the Commerce Clause; education and gun laws are state powers (United States v. Lopez).
Under this principle(2), reflected in Federalist No. 51, power is distributed among branches and levels of government so that “ambition may counteract ambition.”
Separation of powers & Checks and Balances
What did ms. Torres major in? (gotta be specific)
Double major: Political Science & Spanish BA
Which type of grant gives states the most freedom in deciding how to spend federal funds?
Block grants
A representative believes that their role is to vote strictly according to the preferences of their constituents, even if it goes against their personal judgment. Meanwhile, another legislator votes based on their own expertise and long-term vision rather than direct constituent opinion.
What are the titles for these two types of congressional roles?
Delegate (votes according to constituents) and Trustee (votes according to personal judgment).
The Court in this case ruled that creating a bizarrely shaped congressional district to ensure minority representation violated the Equal Protection Clause, because racial classifications( even those with good intentions ) must meet this highest standard of constitutional review.
Shaw v. Reno (1993)?
This event in 1786–1787 revealed the Confederation’s inability to maintain order, showing the need for a stronger central government with an executive capable of enforcing laws.
Shays’ Rebellion
How many members of congress are there?
535
A state passes a law that contradicts a federal environmental regulation. The federal government sues the state and wins. What constitutional principle explains this outcome?
The Supremacy Clause.
A Senator threatens to speak for hours to delay a vote on a bill, while a member of the House tries to attach a local project to gain support. Name both legislative tactics.
filibuster (Senate) and pork-barrel legislation (House)
In this case, the Supreme Court unanimously overturned a previous precedent, holding that segregation in public education created a sense of inferiority and violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment — even if facilities were otherwise equal.
Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
During the Constitutional Convention, delegates combined principles of popular sovereignty and state equality in this compromise creating one chamber representing citizens proportionally and another representing states equally.
The Great (Connecticut) Compromise?
How many multiple choice questions are on the AP EXAM & when is the AP Exam
55 multiple choice questions and MAY 5th
Under this “marble cake” model, national and state governments share responsibilities and funding.
cooperative federalism?
During a divided government, a president proposes a major infrastructure bill. Members of Congress vote along party lines rather than on the merits, creating a legislative gridlock.
Which two concepts from congressional behavior are illustrated here?
Partisanship and polarization leading to gridlock