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AP Government Review
Day 1: Constitutional Underpinnings
Considerations that influenced the formulation and adoption of US Government
a. The Declaration of Independence: Thomas Jefferson. Highly influenced by the ideas of John Locke’s
Second Treaties on Government/Social Contract Theory (give up certain liberties for protection.
Moreover, when the contract has been broken, the people have the right to change leadership). In fact,
look at the Declaration of Independence and you will see that this is true. The Declaration of
Independence is a statement of independence followed by a long list of complaints justifying the
break (Locke’s Second Treaties/Social Contract Theory)
b. Constitutional Convention: Motivation for new constitution (AOC).
Articles of Confederation Weaknesses
 No executive
 No taxation methods
 No federal judiciary
 Unanimous approval on amendments (Was not likely to happen)
 Shay’s Rebellion happens and the A.O.C has no method to stop it (Cannot
raise funds or an army to stop the rebellion)
c. Traditions from which the framers drew: John Locke (Second Treaties/Social Contract Theory)
d. Problems at the Convention
 Virginia Plan: Large state plan. Wants representation based off of population
 NJ Plan: Wants equal representation
 CT Compromise: 2 Houses (Bicameral): House based on population. Senate is
equal
e. Madison and factions: why the fear?
 Federalist Papers: Intended to persuade individuals to ratify the constitution
(especially NY and VA)
 Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison are the authors
 Federalist #10: Madison talks about the dangers of factions.
 Anti Federalists argued against 1 executive leader, excessive power of taxation,
and a lack of a bill of rights
f. The controversy over the Bill of Rights
 Originally not included in the constitution
 Each state had its own bill of rights
 Included as amendments after the convention was over
Separation of Powers
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Federalist #51
Each branch has it’s own powers and cannot under any circumstance dominate
the other three
Checks and Balances
Checks and Balances of the Legislative Branch over the Executive Branch
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May override presidential vetoes with a two-thirds vote
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Has the power over the purse to actually fund any executive actions
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May remove the president through impeachment
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Senate approves treaties
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Senate approves presidential appointments
The Legislative Branch has the following checks over the Judicial Branch
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Creates lower courts
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May remove judges through impeachment
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Senate approves appointments of judges
Checks and Balances of the Executive Branch over the Legislative Branch
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Veto power
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Ability to call special sessions of Congress
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Can recommend legislation
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Can appeal to the people concerning legislation and more
The Executive Branch has the following checks over the Judicial Branch:
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President appoints Supreme Court and other federal judges
Checks and Balances of the Judicial Branch over the Executive Branch
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Judges, once appointed for life, are free from controls from the executive branch
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Courts can judge executive actions to be unconstitutional through the power of judicial review
The Judicial Branch has the following checks over the Legislative Branch:
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Courts can judge legislative acts to be unconstitutional.
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4.
Federalism: The division of power between a central and regional governments
Dual (State’s rights) v Cooperative Federalism (Elastic clause)
Powers of Government: Expressed, Concurrent, Reserved, Implied
Grants: Block, Project, Formula
10th Amendment gives the states powers. Any power not mentioned thus goes to the
states
Theories of Democratic Government
a. Democratic Theory: a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised
by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held
free elections
b. Republican government: a form of government in which power resides in the people and is exercised
by their elected representatives
c. Pluralist Model of Democracy: An interpretation of democracy in which government by the people is
taken to mean government by the people operating through competing interest groups
d. Elite Theory: The view that a small group people actually makes the most important government
decisions
Name______________________________________
1.
Unit 1: Foundations of Government
Framers heavily borrowed the ideas from what individual?
2.
What exactly is the Social Contract Theory?
3.
Name three weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
4.
Provide short details concerning the following
a. VA Plan
b. NJ Plan
c. CT Compromise
5.
What were the Federalist Papers?
6.
What exactly is Federalist #10?
7.
What was the huge controversy over the Bill of Rights at the Constitutional Convention?
8.
Separation of powers means?
9. Complete the table below
Branch
Executive
Executive
Legislative
Legislative
Judicial
Judicial
Branch
Legislative
Judicial
Executive
Judicial
Executive
Legislative
Constitutional Check
10. What is Federalism?
11. Name two types of government powers:
12. What is a block grant?
13. What is the difference between a pluralist and Elitist view of government?
14. _____The Connecticut (Great) Compromise provided for
(A) all revenue bills to originate in the Senate
(B) all judicial appointments to be nominated by the president
(C) the elimination of the importation of slaves
(D) an electoral college and rules for the removal of the president
(E) a bicameral legislature with one house’s composition based upon state population and another’s on equal state
representation
15. _____The theory that all interests are and should be free to compete for influence in government, resulting in
healthy democratic compromise and balance, is called
(A) elite power politics
(B) socialism
(C) pluralism
(D) rational choice
(E) institutionalism
16._____ In The Federalist papers, James Madison argues that political liberty is best protected by
(A) a written constitution
(B) a small republic with a parliamentary system
(C) a small democracy with a unitary government
(D) well-regulated militias controlled by state governments
(E) the fragmentation of political power in a large republic
17. _____One example of constitutional checks and balances is
(A) the president declares war, but Congress appropriates military funds
(B) the president nominates cabinet members, and the House holds confirmation hearings
(C) the House can impeach federal judges and the president, and the Senate holds
the impeachment trial
(D) Congress can override United States Supreme Court decisions on the constitutionality
of laws
(E) presidential vetoes of laws can be overridden by a simple majority vote in both the House and the Senate
18._____ Under the Articles of Confederation, which of the following were true?
I.
Congress could not tax the states directly.
II.
The executive branch of government
exercised more power than Congress.
III.
Congress was a unicameral body.
IV.
States were represented in Congress
Proportionally according to population.
(A) I and II
(B) I and III
(C) IandIV
(D) II and III
(E) II and IV