AP UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT &POLITICS

MONDAY, MAY 4 2009

8:00 AM TAC HOUSE

AP UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT

&POLITICS

THE TEST

• Two parts− Multiple – choice: 60 questions 45 mins.− Free response – 4 questions 100 mins. (must do

all 4 questions)

• Scoring − Mid 80s – 120 = 5− 70s – Mid 80s = 4− High 40s – 70 = 3− High 20s – high 40s = 2− 0 – high 20s = 1(The ranges change from year to year – use this

only as an approximate guideline.)

Multiple-choice

• Structure of Multiple-choice questions1. Straight forward questions may involve defining

terms or making a generalization.2. Negative questions might include “all of the

following except” and requires extra time because it demands that you consider every possibility.

3. Multiple multiple-choice questions uses Roman numerals to list several possible correct answers.

4. The stimulus-based question involves interpreting a chart, graph, table, quote, etc. to determine the anwer.

Multiple-choice• Scoring

− Number –(number wrong x .25) = raw score rounded up or down to nearest whole number

− Ex) 47 correct – (8 wrong x .25) = 45 section I Raw Score

• Guessing− Always go with your first answer.

• Only change if you are 200% sure that the answer is wrong.

− Only guess if you can eliminate one or more of the answers, otherwise leave the question blank

• No points for blank answers

Free-Response (Essay Questions)• 4 questions 100 min (all 4 required)

• You will have about 25 min per question

• Read question carefully

• Underline what the question asks you to do

• Label each part to make sure that you answer all of the parts

• Bulleting is acceptable but writing the answer scores better− If you bullet the answer make sure you explain

your bullet

Free-Response (Essay Questions)• Prompt vocabulary

1. Analyze: evaluate2. Define: briefly tell what something means3. Describe: create a mental picture by using

details or examples4. Discuss: give details about 5. Explain: make something clear by giving reasons

or examples6. Argue/defend/justify/support: give evidence to

show why an idea or view is right or good7. Categorize/classify: sort into groups according to

a given set of traits or features

• Prompt vocabulary (cont.)8. Compare and contrast: point out similarities and

differences9. Determine cause and effect: decide what leads to

an event or circumstance (cause) and what results from an event or circumstance (effect)

10. Evaluate/judge: determine the worth or wisdom of an opinion, belief, or idea

Free-Response (Essay Questions)

Free-Response (Essay Questions)Hints

• Don’t use words that you are uncomfortable using or not familiar with.

• Don’t try to “fake out” the reader.

• Don’t preach, moralize, editorialize, or use “cute” comments.

• Don’t “data dump” or create “laundry lists.”

• Do write neatly and legibly.

• Do use correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

Free-Response (Essay Questions)Hints cont.

• Do answer all questions and all parts of each question

• Do support your essay with specific evidence and examples.

• Do pay attention to dates and terms like “modern.”

• Do stop when you finish your essay.

• Do your best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Constitutional underpinnings of United States Government

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Architecture and Development of U.S. Government

• Purpose of Government− Found in Preamble of US Constitution

• Forming a more perfect union• Establishing justice• Insuring domestic tranquility• Providing for common defense• Promoting the general welfare• Securing the blessing of liberty


• Forms of Government− Anarchy− Autocracy

• Absolute monarchy• Constitutional monarchy• dictatorship

− Oligarchy• Aristocracy• Theocracy

− Democracy• Direct democracy• Representative democracy


• Theories of Democratic Government− Traditional democratic theory− Pluralist theory− Elitist theory− Bureaucratic theory− Hyperpluralism


• Influences on American Government− Ancient Greeks and Romans− Enlightenment philosophers− Magna Carta− Parliament− Petition of Right− English Bill of Rights


• Colonial Experiences− Colonial charters− House of Burgesses− Mayflower Compact− Difficulties with Britain − Continental Congress


• Declaration of Independence

• Articles of Confederation

• Constitutional Convention


• Compromises− Connecticut (Great) Compromise− The Three-Fifths Compromise− The Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise


• Basic principles within the Constitution− Limited Government− Popular Sovereignty− Separation of Powers − Checks and Balances− Federalism

Formal Amendment ProcessAmend

Ratify

2/3 2/3

3/4 3/4

N N

S S

Votes by each House of Congress

Of states call for a national convention

Of state legislatures Of special state conventions


• Informal Amendment Process− Legislative actions− Executive actions− Judicial interpretation/judicial review− Custom and useage

Federalism• Constitutional basis of Federalism

− Delegated powers− Implied powers− Inherent powers− Concurrent powers− Reserved powers (State governments)− Prohibited powers

Federalism

• Interstate Relations− Full faith and credit clause− Privileges and immunities clause− Extradition− Interstate compacts

Federalism• Guarantees to the State

− Republican form of government − Protections against foreign invasion− Protections against domestic violence − Respect for the geographic integrity of states

Federalism

• Establishing national supremacy− McCulloch v. Maryland

• Established the implied powers of the national government and national supremacy

− Gibbons v. Ogden• Defined commerce as including all business

dealings, and powers to regulate interstate commerce belonging exclusively to the national government.

Federalism• Federalism today

− Dual Federalism (layer cake federalism)− Cooperative Federalism (marble cake federalism)− New Federalism (devolution)− Fiscal Federalism (granting or withholding money

to pay for programs)• Grant-in-aid• Categorical grants• Block grants• Revenue sharing • Mandates

− Unfunded mandates

Political beliefs and Political Behaviors

Political Culture

• American Democratic Values − Majority rules/minority rights − Equality− Private property− Individual freedoms− Compromise− Limited government

Political Culture

• Political Socialization− Family− Education− Group affiliation− Demographics− Mass Media− Opinion leaders− Events

Political Culture

• Public Opinion is a collection of shared attitudes of many different people in matters relating to politics, public issues, or the making of public policy.

• Measuring public opinion− Sampling − Preparing valid questions− Controlling how the poll is taken− Analyzing and reporting results

Political Culture• Ideology: A political spectrum

− Radical− Liberal− Moderate− Conservative − reationary

Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass media

Political Parties • Roles of Political Parties

− Party in the electorate− Party in government− Party in organization

Political Parties

• Party systems− One-party system− Two-party system− Multi-party system

Political Parties

• What do political parties do?− Recruit candidates− Nominate and support candidates for office − Educate the electorate− Organize the government

Political Parties• Party identification and membership

− Ideology − Education − Income− Occupation− Race or ethnicity− Gender − Religion− Family tradition− Region of the country− Marital status

Political Parties• Two-Party tradition in America

− Why a two-party tradition?• Historical roots• Electoral system• Election laws

Political Parties• Rise of political parties

− Party Development (1789 – 1800)− Democratic Domination (1800 – 1860)− Republican Domination (1860 – 1932)− Return of Democrats (1932 – 1968)− Divided Government (1968 – present)

Voting and Elections• Forms of Political Participation

− Voting− Discussing politics and attending political

meetings− Forming interest groups and PAC’s− Contacting public officials− Campaigning− Contributing money − Running for office− Protesting government decisions

Voting and Elections• Expansion of Suffrage

− Elimination of religious, property ownership, and tax payment qualifications after 1800

− Elimination of race disqualifications (15th amendment)− Elimination of gender disqualification (19th

amendment)− Elimination of grandfather clause, white primaries, and

literacy requirements with passage of federal civil rights legislation and court decisions

− Allowing Washington D.C. residents to vote (23rd amendment)

− Elimination of poll taxes (24th amendment)− Lowering voting age to 18 (26th amendment)

Voting and Elections

• Issue or policy voting− Direct primary− Recall− Referendum− Initiative

Voting and Elections• Low voter turnout

− Expansion of electorate− Failure of political parties to mobilize voters− No perceived difference between candidates or

parties− Mistrust of government− Apathy− Satisfaction with the way things are − Lack of political efficacy− Mobility of electorate− Registration process

Voting and Elections• Factors affecting voting

− Education− Occupation and income− Age− Race− Gender− Religion− Marital status− Union membership− Community membership− Party identification− geography


• Types of elections− Primary elections

• Closed primary• Open primary• Blanket primary• Run-off primary

− General elections− Special elections


• Campaign finance regulations and reforms− Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) 1971

• Amended in 1974 to establish the Federal Election Commission (FEC)

• In 1976, Buckley v. Valeo ruled that spending limits established by FEC in 1974 were unconstitutional, ruling that those restrictions were in violations of the 1st amendment of freedom of expressions

− Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform (BCRA) 2002• Banned use of “soft money”

Interest Groups and the Mass Media

• Function of Interest Groups− Raise awareness and stimulate interest in public

affairs− Represent membership− Provide information to government− Provide channels for political participation


• Types if interest Groups− Economic Interest Groups− Groups that Promote Causes− Public Interest Groups


• Strategies of Interest Groups− Influencing elections− Lobbying

• Direct lobbying• Grassroots lobbying• Coalition lobbying

− Litigation − Going public


• Political Action Committees (PACs)− Political arms of interest groups

• Regulation of Interest Groups− Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act 1946− Lobbying Disclosure Act 1995

• Mass Media− Mass media refers to all forms of communication

that transmit information to the general public


• Development of the Modern Media− Newspapers− Magazines− Radio− Television− Internet as Media


• Roles if the Media− Informing the public− Shaping public opinion− Providing a link between citizens and government− Serving as watchdog− Agenda-setting


• Media Ownership and Government Regulation− Technical regulation− Structural regulation− Content regulation

Institutions of the Federal Government

The Legislative Branch

• Organization of Congress− Two houses meet for terms of two years

beginning on January 3 of odd number years; each term is divided into two 1-year sessions

− President may call special sessions in cases of national emergency

− Each house of Congress chooses its own leadership and determines its own rules


• Getting Elected to the House of Representatives − Apportionment− Reapportionment− Congressional districting− gerrymanding


• Getting Elected to the Senate− Members were originally chosen by state

legislatures in each state− Since 1913, the 17th Amendment allows for the

direct elections of senators by the people of the state


• Incumbency effect − Name recognition− Credit claiming− Case work for constituents− More visible to constituents− Media exposure − Fundraising abilities− Experience in campaigning− Voting record


• Leadership of Congress − House of Representatives

• Speaker of the House• Majority and Minority Floor Leaders• Whips

− Senate• Vice President• President Pro Tempore• Majority and Minority floor leaders• Whips


• Committee system− Leadership of Committees

• Members of the majority party in each house

− Membership of committees• Reflects the percentage of each party in each

house

− Types of committees• Standing• Select• Joint• Conference


• Roles of members of Congress− Policymakers− Representative

• Delegate• trustee

− Constituent servant− Committee member− Politician/party member


• Powers of Congress− Legislative powers

• Expressed powers• Implied powers• Limitations on powers

− Nonlegislative powers• Electoral powers • Amendment powers• Impeachment• Executive powers of Senate• Investigation/oversight powers



• Legislative Tactics− Caucuses− Filibuster and cloture− Pork barrel legislation− Logrolling− Riders− Amendments − Lobbying − Conference committees− Legislative veto


• Influences on Congress− Constituents− Other lawmakers and staff− Party influences− President− Lobbyists and interest groups

Executive Branch and the Bureaucracy

• President qualifications− Formal

• Natural-born citizen• At least 35 years old • Resident of U.S. 14 years prior to election

− Informal• Political or military experience• Political acceptability• Married• White male • Protestant• Northern European ancestry


• Succession and Disability− 25th amendment

• Provides that Vice President takes over for President

• Also provides for Presidential disability− The President informs Congress of the inability to

perform the duties of president− The Vice President and a majority of the cabinet

inform Congress, in writing, that the president is disabled and unable to perform those duties


• Impeachment and Removal− House of Representatives votes to impeach − Senate tries and votes for removal from office

• Trial presided over by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

− Two presidents have been impeached− No President has been removed from office


• Electoral College− 12th amendment provides for election of President

and Vice President− Each state gets electors equal to the number of states

representatives in Congress− In December of election year, electors cast ballots for

President and Vice President− In January after election, President of Senate counts

votes before a joint session of Congress− If no Presidential candidate has majority of electoral

votes, House of Representatives decides election− If no Vice Presidential candidate receives majority of

electoral votes, Senate decides election.


• Vice Presidency − Constitution sets out two duties for Vice President

• Preside over the Senate• Determine presidential disability (25th amendment)

and take over the presidency if necessary

Executive Branch and the Bureaucracy• Presidential Powers (Article II)

− Executive powers• Enforces laws, treaties, and court decisions• Issues executive orders to carry out policies• Appoints officials, removes officials• Assumes emergency powers• Presides over cabinet and executive branch

− Legislative powers• Gives annual State of the Union message• Issues annual budget and economic reports• Signs or vetoes bills• Proposes legislation and uses influences to get it passed• Calls for special sessions of Congress

Executive Branch and the Bureaucracy• Presidential Powers (Cont.)

− Diplomatic powers• Appoints ambassadors and other diplomats• Negotiates treaties and executive agreements• Meets with foreign leaders in international conferences• Accords diplomatic recognition to foreign governments• Receives foreign dignitaries

− Military powers• Serves as commander in chief of armed forces• Has final decision-making authority in matters of

national and foreign defense• Provides for domestic order


• Presidential Powers (Cont.)− Judicial powers

• Appoints members of the federal judiciary• Grants reprieves, pardons, and amnesty

− Party powers• Is the recognized leader of the party• Chooses vice presidential nominee• Strengthens party by helping members get elected

(coattails)• Appoints party members to government positions

(patronage)• Influences policies and platform of party

Executive Branch and the Bureaucracy• Limitations on Presidential Powers

− Congressional Checks• Override vetoes• Power to purse Agency budgets (money must be authorized

and appropriated)• Power of impeachment• Legislative acts that limit president’s power (War Powers Act)• Legislative vetoes

− Judicial Checks• Judicial review of executive orders

− Political Checks• Public opinion• Media attention• popularity


• Presidential Character− Active-positive (FDR, Truman, JFK, Ford, Carter,

Bush)− Active-negative (Wilson, Hoover, LBJ, Nixon)− Passive-positive (Taft, Harding, Reagan)− Passive-negative (Coolidge, Eisenhower)


• The Bureaucracy− Follow three basic principles:

• Hierarchial authority• Job specialization• Formal rules


• History and Growth− Beginnings (standards included qualifications and

political acceptability)− Spoils system− Reform movement− Pendleton Act – Civil Service Act of 1883− Hatch Act of 1939 (amended 1993)− Civil Service Reform Act of 1978


• Organization− Four basic types

• Cabinet dept. • Independent executive agencies (NASA)• Independent regulatory agencies (Securities and

Exchange Commission, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Federal Reserve Board)

• Government corporations (TVA, AMTRAK, U.S. Postal Office)


• Influences on the Federal Bureaucracy− Executive influences− Congressional influences− Iron triangles (sub-governments)− Issue networks


• Executive Office of the President (EOP)− White House Office− National Security Council− Office of Management and Budget− Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives− Office of National Drug Control Policy− Office of Policy Development− Council of Economic Advisors− Office of U.S. Trade Representatives

Executive Branch and the Bureaucracy• Executive Departments (Cabinet)

− State (1789)− Treasury (1789)− Defense (1789)− Interior (1849)− Justice (1870)− Agriculture (1889)− Commerce (1903)− Labor (1913)− Health and Human Services (1953)− Housing and Urban Development (1965)− Transportation (1967)− Energy (1977)− Education (1979)− Veterans Affairs (1989)− Homeland Security (2002)

National Judiciary• Jurisdiction

− Original jurisdiction• Lower courts have authority to hear cases for first

time

− Appellate jurisdiction• Courts hear reviews or appeals of decisions from

the lower courts

− Concurrent jurisdiction• Allows certain types of cases to be tried in either

the federal or state courts

National Judiciary• Structure of the Judicial Systems

• Constitutional courts are federal courts created by Congress under Article III

• Legislative courts hear cases arising from the powers given to Congress under Article I (Territorial Courts, U.S. Tax Courts, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces)

− District Courts • Judiciary Act of 1789

− Courts of Appeals • Created in 1891 to lessen the work load of the Supreme

Court

− Supreme Court • Only court actually created directly by the Constitution• Highest court in the land

National Judiciary• Judicial Selection

− President selects federal judges and the Senate confirms the nominations

− No formal qualifications for federal judges− Serve “during good behavior” which means for

life− The notion of the life term allows judges to be

free from political pressures when deciding cases.− Can be removed from office through

impeachment

National Judiciary• Supreme Court Appointees

− When making appointments Presidents consider• Party affiliation• Judicial philosophy• Race, gender, religion, region• Judicial experience• “Litmus test”• Acceptability

− Senate Judiciary Committee− Senate− American Bar Association− Interest Groups − Justices

National Judiciary• Accepting Cases

− Rule of four: Case must be accepted by four of the nine judges

− Cases presented to the Supreme Court must be presented through:

• Writ of Certiorari• Certificate

National Judiciary• Writing Opinions

− Majority opinion− Concurring opinion− Dissecting opinion (minority opinion)

National Judiciary• Courts as policymakers

− New Deal Era• “court-packing plan”• New Deal legislation

− Warren Court (1953 – 1969)• “most liberal court ever”• Heard Brown v. Board, Gideon v. Wainwright, Miranda v.

Arizona

− Berger Court (1969 – 1986)• Returned court to more conservative ideology• Heard Roe v. Wade and U.S. v. Nixon (executive privilege

− Rehnquist Court (1986 – 2005) • Continued to limit but not reverse earlier more liberal

decision

National Judiciary• Judicial Philosophy

− Judicial Activism− Judicial Restraint

Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

Civil Liberties

• Protected by:− Constitution

• Writ of habeas corpus – You must be brought before the court and informed of charges against you

• No bills of attainder – You cannot be punished without a trial

• No ex post facto laws – Laws applied to acts committed before laws’ passage are unconstitutional

• Trial by jury− Bill of Rights− The Fourteenth Amendment

• Provided for expansions of individual rights− Legislative actions− Court Decisions

Civil Liberties

• Freedom of Religion− Establishment Clause

• Emerson v. Board of Education• Engle v. Vitale• Abington School District v. Schempp• Lemon v. Kurtzman• Lynch v. Donnelly• Wallace v. Jaffree• Edwards v. Aguillard• Board of Education of Westside Community Schools

v. Mergens• Lee v. Weisman• Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe

Civil Liberties• Free Exercise Clause

− Reynolds v. United States− Wisconsin v. Yoder− Employment Division of Oregon v. Smith− Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye v. City of Hialeah− City of Boerne, Texas v. Flores

Civil Liberties

• Freedom of Speech − Several types

• Pure speech • Symbolic speech• Speech plus

Civil Liberties• Regulating Speech

− Schenck v. United States− Gitlow v. New York− Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire− Tinker v. Des Moines− Brandenberg v. Ohio− Miller v. California− Texas v. Johnson− Reno v. ACLU

Civil Liberties• Freedom of the Press

− Near v. Minnesota− New York Times v. Sullivan− New York Times v. United States− Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier

Civil Liberties• Freedom of Assembly and Petition

− Dejonge v. Oregon− The courts have generally ruled:

• That to protect public order, government may require groups wanting to parade or demonstrate to first obtain a permit.

• Certain public facilities (schools, airports, jails) not generally open to public may be restricted from demonstrations

• Restrictions on assembly must be worded precisely and must apply to all groups equally

• The right to assemble does not allow groups to use private property for its own use

• Police may disperse demonstrations in order to keep the peace or protect the public’s saftey

Civil Liberties• Right to privacy

− Griswold v. Connecticut− Roe v. Wade

Civil Liberties• Rights of the Accused

− Fourth Amendment: Search and Seizure• Wolf v. Colorado• Mapp v. Ohio• Terry v. Ohio• Nix v. Williams• United States v. Leon

− Fifth Amendment: Self-Incrimination• Miranda v. Arizona

Civil Liberties• Rights of the Accused (Cont.)

− Sixth Amendment: Right to an Attorney• Powell v. Alabama• Betts v. Brady• Gideon v. Wainwright (overturned Betts v. Brady)

− Eighth Amendment: Cruel and Unusual Punishment

• Furman v. Georgia• Gregg v. Georgia

Civil Rights• The Civil Rights Movement

− Civil War Amendments• Thirteenth Amendment

− Freed Slaves

• Fourteenth Amendment− Defined citizenship− Due process and equal protection− Applied Bill of Rights to States

• Fifteenth Amendment− Right to vote to all men

• Black codes• Civil Rights Act of 1875• Jim Crowe Laws • Plessey v. Ferguson

Civil Rights• The Civil Rights Movement (Cont.)

• Executive Order 8802 (1941)• Executive Order 9981 (1948)• Brown v. Board of Education• Brown v. Board of Education II• The Civil Rights Act of 1957• Civil Rights Act of 1964• 24th Amendment• Voting Rights Act of 1965• Civil Rights Act of 1991

Public Policy

Policymaking Process

• Policymaking process involves several steps:− Agenda setting− Policy formulation− Policy adoption− Policy implementation− Policy evaluation

Domestic Policy

• Crime Prevention− FBI − DEA− ATF

• Education

• Energy

• Environment

• Healthcare

• Social Welfare

Economic Policy• Raising Revenue

• Government Spending − Discretionary spending− National debt

• Federal Budget

• Foreign and Defense Policy

President and Foreign Policy • Department of State

• Department of Defense

• National Security Council

• United States Information Agency

• Central Intelligence Agency

Current Issues in Foreign Policy• Current foreign issues include:

− Nuclear proliferation− Terrorism− International trade

• NAFTA

Documents

AP UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT &POLITICS