AP Government Study Guide Fall 2016
Introduction
Linkage Institutions
Policy v. Law
Criteria for democracy
Challenges to democracy
Political Apathy (reasons for and effects of)
Gridlock
Theories of Democracy (Pluralism, Hyper Pluralism, Class/Elite)
Functions performed by national governments
Constitutional Foundations
Declaration of Independence
Examples of Natural Rights
Examples of Limited Government
Influence of Enligtenment thinkers
Articles of Confederation
How doe it set up government
Problems
Shays’ Rebellion (significance to AOC)
Federalist V. Antifederalist (be specific to what each group liked disliked)
Federalist 10 and 51 (main ideas)
Examples of Checks and Balances
Separation of Powers
Examples of Limited Government
Limits on Majority Rule
Undemocratic Features
Parts that have led to increasing power of federal government
Commerce Clause
Elastic Clause (Necessary and Proper)
Enumerated Powers (What they are and be able to name some)
Implied Powers (What they are and be able to name some)
Process to amend the Constitution
Full Faith and Credit Clause
Marbury v. Madison
Federalism
10th Amendment
Powers given to federal government
Powers reserved to the states
Dual Federalism
Cooperative Federalism
Fiscal federalism
Block Grants
Categorical Grants
Mandates
Unfunded mandates
Americans with disabilities Act (ADA)
McCulloch v. Maryland
Gibbons v. Ogden
Brown v Board of US
Heart of Atlanta Motel v. US
Events that led to increasing power of the federal government.
Full faith and credit
Political Culture
Political Socialization
Use of public opinion polls
Random Sampling
Conservative/Liberal Ideology
American Voter Study
Relationship between class, inequality, education and political participation
Functions of Media
Agenda Setting
Political Agenda
Watchdog Role
Political Socialization
Rational Choice Theory of voting behavior
FCC regulations of Media
Criteria for newsworthiness
PACS
Supre PACS
McCain-Feingold (BCRA)
Soft Money
Hard Money
Citizens United
Political Parties and Interest Groups
Difference between parties and interest groups
Tasks performed by political parties
Closed, open and blanket primaries
Caucuses
Coalition
Party Era
Realignment
Dealignment
Divided Government
Importance of Third Parties
Role of interest groups
Free-rider program
4 ways interest groups attempt to shape policy
Presidential Primary Process/Importance of early states
Congress
Article One
Enumerated Powers
Checks on other branches
Incumbent advantage
Differences between House and Senate
Requirements to be House member and senator.
Incumbent
Incumbent Advantage
Committee System
Ways and Means
Appropriations Committee
House Rules Committee
Senate Judiciary Committee
Importance of committee chairs
Speaker of the House
Senate Majority Leader
Mayhew’s 3 behaviors of Congress members
Earmarks
Riders
Pork Barrel Spending
Gridlock
Causes of Congressional Gridlock
Filibuster
Cloture Vote
Executive Branch
Article II
Requirements to be president
Electoral College
Paradox of the presidency
Imperial Presidency
War Powers Resolution
22nd Amendment
24th Amendment
Formal Powers
Informal Powers
Bully Pulpit
Federal Bureaucracy
President’s Cabinet
Why Bureaucracy has expanded in size and power
Regulatory agencies
Iron triangle
Economic Policy
Fiscal Policy
Monetary Policy
Keynesian Economics
Supply Side Economics
Continuing resolution
Budget Process
Office of Management and Budget
Congressional Budget Office
Progressive taxation
Courts
Stare decisis
Precedent
Writ of Certiorari
Rule of Four
Reasons Supreme Court will hear a case
Original jurisdiction
Appellate jurisdiction
Criminal v. Civil Court
District Courts
Circuit Courts
Civil Liberties
Bill of Rights
Establishment Clause
Free-Exercise Clause
Lemon Test
Incorporation Doctrine (Selective Incorporation)
Due Process Clause
Baron v. Baltimore
Gitlow v. NY
Schenck v. US
Texas v. Johnson
Citizens United
Civil Rights
Definition of Minority Group
Political Challenges to minority groups
Equal Protection Clause
Reconstruction Amendments
Brown v. Board of Education
Shelby County v. Holder
Voting rights Act
Civil Rights Act