AP Gov Unit 1:Foundations of American Democracy

Road to Change/Philly 1787

100

The procedure for electing House of Representative members demonstrates John Locke’s political philosophy about which democratic or constitutional principle?

Popular sovereignty/consent of the governed 

200

Name 2 significant weaknesses within the articles of confederation

Lack of army, lack of representation, lack of funding, lack of courts and exec, inability to amend without unanimous consent

300

The Great Compromise established which part of the government?

Legislative branch/Congress

400

The purpose of this section of the Constitution is to protect basic liberties from interference by the national government

Bill of Rights 

500

Describe a significant difference between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution

• Strong state gov in AOC vs. strong national gov in Constitution 

• Federal system in Constitution vs. Confederation in the AOC

• Increased representation in Constitution vs. limited representation in AOC

Ratification Debates

100

The antifederalists were primarily concerned with what major change to the nation as proposed by the constitution

Amount of/scope of power given to the national gov

200

Which part of the Constitution did Brutus feel made the state governments irrelevant?

The supremacy clause 

300

Brutus would argue a small republic and participatory theory is best for democracy for what reason?

Closer to the people

People can have direct say 

Better representative of people's needs 

Can better protect rights

Limits overall power of government  

400

Which theory of democracy would Madison argue is best when it comes to factions and for what reason?

Pluralism, to increase representation so that one faction could not gain enough power to completely dominate other factions

500

Describe an advantage of a large republic according to Madison in Fed 10.  

• Provides a bigger candidate pool to select the best fit leaders 

• A large group of voters is less likely to select an unfit candidate 

• A large territory includes greater diversity of interests and therefore better representation for the majority and minority groups 

• Factions can compete and keep one another in check 

The Constitution

100

Identify an enumerated power of Congress

• Taxation: The power to lay and collect taxes, duties, impost, and excises 
• Spending: The power to pay debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States
• Commerce: The power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and interstate commerce 
• Currency: The power to coin money and regulate the currency
• Post offices: The power to establish post offices and post roads 
• Patents and copyrights: The power to protect patents and copyrights 
• Courts: The power to establish lower federal courts
• War: The power to declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

• Military: The power to raise and support an army and navy, and to make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

• Necessary and proper: The power to make all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out the enumerated powers

200

Qualifications for executive office, the method for electing the president, and impeachable offenses are all found in which part of the constitution?

Article 2

300

Identify an example of how Congress can be checked by another branch  

Law passed by Congress found unconstitutional by SCOTUS

President vetoes a law

400

Describe one way Congress can check Presidential power.

Both houses can override a veto w 2/3 vote

Th Senate can approve/confirm/deny presidential nominations by a majority

Senate can approve a treaty w/ 2/3 vote

House can impeach with a majority vote/Senate can remove president with 2/3 vote

500

Amendments that are meant to protect defendant rights are found in the 1st 10/ Bill of Rights- Describe 1

• 4th- protection from illegal search and seizure

• 5th (trial/due process, jury, no double jeopardy, protection from self incrim)

• 6th (counsel)

• 7th (civil trial)

• 8th- protection from cruel and unusual punishment 

Federalism

100

Identify an example of a concurrent power 

Shared powers: tax, borrow, banks, law enforcement, elections, courts

200

If states receive money from the federal government and the states must  determine how to use the funding for a general purpose, which type of grant would this be?

Block Grant 

300

Name a power reserved to states

• Public safety/Law Enforcement: Establishing police and fire departments, and protecting public health and safety 
• Education: Establishing and maintaining public schools 
• Elections: Instituting voting laws and election procedures 
• Licenses: Granting driver's licenses and issuing professional licenses 
• Intrastate commerce: Regulating businesses within a state

400

When Congress passed the education policy known as No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) which set regulations for standardized testing requirements in schools to receive federal funding, Congress ultimately created what?

a Mandate

500

Describe an example of cooperative federalism. 

The New Deal: The national government increased its presence in state programs, leading to new forms of cooperation between the federal and state governments. 

Disaster relief and response: The federal and state governments work together to provide aid and support to affected areas.

Environmental laws for reducing pollution and emissions in states. 

Required Cases and Founding Documents

100

Congress may not use the Commerce Clause to make the possession of a gun in a school zone a crime according to which SC decisions?

US v Lopez

200

Which case expanded the powers of Congress through the interpretation of the necessary and proper clause?

McCulloch v Maryland

300

What did Jefferson claim in the Declaration of Independence?

If a government does not protect the rights of the people, then the people have the right to change/overthrow the gov

400

What is Madison’s main reasoning for separation of powers in Fed 51?

Divide power to prevent abuse of power- concentration of power is a threat the liberty

500

Explain how Brutus argued against the democratic theory of pluralism. 

He claimed that a diverse republic would be too difficult for representatives to represent the people and too many interests will clash causing gridlock