Unit One Study Guide

Class, below are the questions asked today in the Unit One Review. You should be able to answer the questions below by referring to your notes. The questions below were emphasized today because they were the most frequently featured themes on past AP exams (points in bold). If you have any problems finding these answers within your notes, I have included Key Vocab below the questions that should provide further help in getting those questions answered. Remember to bring your notes for Tuesday. Units Two and Three will be covered.

1. Name two types of democracy
2. Define "direct democracy"
3. Define "indirect democracy"
4. What is the "majority politics" point of view?
5. What is the "elite politics" point of view?
6. What is the "pluralist" point of view?
7. Name 4 fundamental democratic values
8. Name 4 fundamental democratic processes
9. Describe the Constitutional Convention of 1787
   
10. What was one major problem of the Articles of Confederation?
11. What was "Shay's Rebellion" and what did it demonstrate necessity?
12. What was Charles Beard's thesis?
13. What were the 8 areas of agreement at the Convention?
14. What were the names of the three major compromises
15. What were the provisions of the "Great Compromise?"
16. Who were the Federalists?
17. Who were the Anti-Federalists?
18. Who wrote the Federalist Papers?
19. What was the purpose behind the Federalist Papers?
20. What are "Checks and Balances?"
21. Name at least 6 of them
22. The Constitution divides government but what brings people into government (letter "F", point "1")
23. What is "limited government?" Explain Constitutional government, the Bill of Rights and Free elections as examples of "limited government."
24. What is judicial review?
25. What Supreme Court case established the concept of judicial review: know the facts of the case.
26. What were the "effects of judicial review" listed in #4.
27. How is the Constitution changed "informally?"-Name four ways that it is done.
28. How can the Constitution be changed "formally."
29. Name two methods of ratifying the Constitution
30. What is the difference between a "simple" majority and a "supermajority?"
31. Define "federalism."
32. Read the four reasons (A-F) that a federal system was set up in the US.
33. What are "unfunded mandates"?
34. What is "cooperative federalism?" Why is it referred to as "marble cake" federalism?
35. Read Amendment 10
36. What does the Tenth Amendment give to the states?
37. What does "when in doubt as to which holds a power, matters should be resolved in favor of the states" mean?
38. Understand McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) case. Know the details. What was the SC's decision (read 1 and 2 in bold)
39. What is the elastic clause?
40. What are the provisions of the Commerce clause?
41. What was Nixon's "New Federalism?"--which political party more closely aligns with "NF?"

CONSTITUTIONAL UNDERPINNINGS

1. Bicameral legislature: two-house legislature.

2. Block grant: money granted by the federal government to the states for a broad purpose (e.g., transportation) rather than for a narrow purpose (e.g., school lunch program).

3. Categorical grant: money granted by the federal government to the states for a narrow purpose (e.g., school lunch program) rather than for a broad purpose (e.g., transportation).

4. Centralists: those who favor greater national authority rather than state authority.

5. Checks and balances: system in which each branch of government can limit the power of the other two branches (e.g., presidential veto of a congressional law).

6. Commerce clause: gives Congress the power to regulate commerce among the states, with foreign nations, and among Indian tribes. Granted through Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution.

7. Concurrent powers: those held by both Congress and the states, e.g., establishing law enforcement agencies.

8. Confederation: system in which sovereign states are only loosely tied to a central government (e.g., the US under the Articles of Confederation).

9. Decentralists: those who favor greater state authority rather than national authority.

10. Direct democracy: system in which the people rule themselves.

11. Elastic clause: states that Congress can exercise those powers that are "necessary and proper" for carrying out the enumerated powers (e.g., establishment of the first Bank of the United States).

12. Enumerated powers: those that are specifically granted to Congress in Article 1, section 8 of the Constitution (e. g., the power to tax). Also known as expressed powers.

13. Federalism: constitutional sharing of power between a central government and state governments. Different varieties:

Dual federalism: system in which the national government and state governments are coequal, with each being

dominant within its respective sphere.

Cooperative federalism: system in which both federal government and state governments cooperate in solving

problems.

New Federalism: system in which the national government restores greater authority back to the states.

14. Federalist Papers: group of 85 essays written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay for the purpose of persuading the people of New York to adopt the Constitution.

15. Formal amendment: a change in the actual wording of the Constitution. Proposed by Congress or national convention, and ratified by the states.

16. Implied powers: those that are "necessary and proper" to carry out Congress' enumerated powers, and are granted to Congress through the elastic clause.

17. Indirect democracy: system in which the people are rule by their representatives. Also known as representative democracy or republic.

18. Inherent powers: foreign policy powers (e.g., acquiring territory) held by the national government by virtue of its being a national government.

19. Informal amendment: a change in the meaning, but not the wording, of the Constitution (e.g., through a court decisions such as Brown v. Board).

20. Judicial review: power of the courts to rule on the constitutionality of laws and government actions. Established by Marbury v. Madison, 1803.

21. Mandates: requirements imposed by the national government upon the states. Some are unfunded mandates (they are imposed by the national government, but lack funding).

22. Marbury v. Madison, 1803: established the power of judicial review.

23. McCulloch v. Maryland, 1819: established principle of national supremacy and validity of implied powers.

24. Police powers: powers of the states to protect the public health, safety, morals, and welfare of the public.

25. Popular sovereignty: principle in which ultimate political authority rests with the people.

26. Reserved Powers: powers held by the states through the 10th Amendment. Any power not granted to the US government is "reserved" for the states.

27. Separation of powers: principle in which the powers of government are separated among three branches: legislative, executive, judicial.

28. Shays' Rebellion: 1786 revolt by Massachusetts farmers seeking relief from debt and foreclosure that was a factor in the calling of the Constitutional Convention.

29. Supermajority: a majority greater than a simple majority of ½ +1 (e.g., 3/5, 2/3).

30. Unicameral legislature: one-house legislature.