AP Government

1. AP Government Unit 1 Chapter 1

2. Theories of Democratic government • Majoritarian aka traditional democratic theory • Government by the people is interpreted as government by the majority of the people • Assumes knowledgeable voters will go to the polls to vote on issues and choose candidates whom they have decided will best represent them • This will be accomplished by the process of popular elections

3. Pluralist Theory • Interest groups compete in the political arena to try and influence public policy • No single group has power and must compromise and bargain • A middle position is achieved • Groups will have to agree • Pluralist believe that competing groups are healthy and offer choices to the electorate

4. Elitist Theory • Founder C. Wright Mills • Wrote the Power Elite • Most important policies were set by a loose coalition of 3 groups • cooperate leaders • Top military leaders • Key political leaders Most of the élites were outside the government and enjoy great advantages of wealth, status, or organizational position. Tended to dominate politics in all policy areas The idea that the United States is an elitist system is supported by the fact that the wealthy sectors of society often have the most effective interest groups

5. Bureaucratic Theory • Hierarchical structure of modern government • Appointed officials who are the bureaucrats carry out the day to day workings of the government.

6. Hyper pluralism • Pluralism on steroids • Many interest groups trying to gain control of the government and thus the government cannot operate • Causes a gridlock • Too many groups to reach a compromise difficult to pass meaningful policies • Any policies passed basically watered down policies of the original

7. Constitutional foundations • Articles of Confederation 1781-1789 • 1st written constitution of the U.S. • Created a loose confederation of states

8. Structure • Weak national government • Unicameral Congress • Each state had one vote regardless of size • No executive or judicial branch

9. Powers of Congress • Very limited powers • Make war and peace • Send and receive ambassadors

10. Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation • Congress had no power to levy or collect taxes • No power to regulate foreign or interstate commerce **This was one of the major factors leading to the adoption of the Constitution** • Required all 13 states to approve and pass amendments to change the Articles themselves • No executive to make the states obey and enforce the Articles of Confederation or the laws it made. • No judicial branch or national court system

11. Accomplishments Under the Articles of Confederation • Established the methods under which new states and territories would enter the union. • Negotiated the treaty that ended the American Revolution • Setting the precedence of Federalism, whereby the states and central government shared governing responsibilities

12. Shay’s Rebellion • Rebellion of farmers unable to pay debt on farms • Not enough money to pull together a military to stop the rebellion • State militia formed ..fired shots rebellion stopped. • Created a sense of urgency to create a strong national government to maintain order.

13. Who’s Who at the National Convention • George Washington—head of convention • Ben Franklin—oldest member • James Madison—father of the Constitution • Thomas Jefferson, John Adams away in Europe. • Patrick Henry refused to attend saying “he smelled a rat”

14. The Framers • How do “we” create a strong enough government to preserve order but not threaten liberty??? • Committed to--- • Limited government • Protecting property rights • Madison wanted— • To keep government out of the hands of the majority • Separating the powers of government • Encouraging self-interest with limits

15. Issues and Compromises

16. Virginia Plan • AKA Large State Plan • By Edmund Randolph • Bicameral legislature (2 houses) • Membership based on population • Gave large states the advantage • Government divided among three separate powers: executive, legislative, and judicial

17. New Jersey Plan • Small State Plan • By William Patterson • Government could tax and regulate trade • Unicameral legislature (one house) • Each state had one vote • Representatives chosen by state legislatures • Multi-person executive branch elected by the legislature • They would have no veto power • Could be removed by the states • No provisions for a national system of courts.

18. Great Compromise • AKA Connecticut compromise • By Roger Sherman • Lower house -House of Representatives based on population (favors large states) revenue raising bills would originate here • Upper House -Senate -2 senators from each state (favors small states) -selected by state legislatures

19. North vs. South Controversy • Some support or the abolition of slavery at the Constitutional Convention • Founding Fathers failed to eliminate slavery because: • Felt a fight over slavery might destroy national unity and southern states might not ratify the constitution

20. Three-fifths Compromise • How do “we” count slaves when determining a states population? Should slaves be counted in the populations of Southern states? • Southern View: wanted to count the slaves • Northern View: opposed to counting the slaves • Framers decided to count 3/5ths of the slaves in deciding representation and taxes in the House of Representatives.

21. Slave Trade • The federal government was not allowed to prohibit the importation of slaves until the year 1808, at which time Congress could vote to abolish the practice (which they did) • Slavery is addressed three times in the Constitution -three-fifths compromise -Slave-trade -Fugitive Slave Claus -NO WHERE IN THE CONSTITIUTION CAN YOU FIND THE WORDS SLAVE OR SLAVERY.

22. Electing the President • Under Articles of Confederation there was no executive to enforce laws • The framers did not favor popular election of the president…doubted the ability of the people to govern and make decisions • The solution was the Electoral College • States would appoint electors equal to the number of representatives in Congress • Electors would cast their ballot for 2 persons • Most votes President second highest votes VP • **changed in 1804 with the 12th amendment which mandates separate votes for each office** • In the event tat no one receives a majority, the election is then decided in the House of Representatives

23. Electoral College: • Eliminated fear of a popular vote for president • Delegates agreed that the president’s term of office should be 4 years • President should be eligible for reelection

24. Ratification of the Constitution • Delegates signed the Constitution September 17, 1787 • Had to ratified by 9 of the 13 states before it could go into effect • Debate over ratification divided citizens into two camps, Federalists and Anti-Federalists

25. Federalists • For the Constitution • Led by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay • For a strong central government • Protection of property rights • Did not feel there was a need for a bill of rights

26. Anti-Federalists • Against the Constitution • Led by Jefferson, Adams, Patrick Henry • State’s rights, strong state governments • Weak national government • Wanted a Bill of Rights to protect their individual liberties form the government

27. Ratification by the States • Small states happy with the Great Compromise ratified quickly signed the Constitution • First important test took place in Massachusetts • Federalist were able to win over the Anti-Federalist in Mass once they agreed to a Bill of Rights after the Constitution had been ratified • By June 1788 9 states had ratified…leaving Virginal an New York left to sign.

28. Virginia • Biggest and most populous state • Anti-Federalists led by Patrick Henry • Influence of George Washington and promise of a Bill of Rights led to it’s ratification

29. New York • Alexander Hamilton led the fight for its ratification

30. Federalist Papers • Key Issue in The Federalist campaign for New York was a series of essays written for a New York newspaper, • 85 Essays written in support for the Constitution by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay • Written under the pseudonym “Publius” by all three men

31. Federalist 10 • Most frequently cited • Large Republic; • The anti-federalists were united in the belief that liberty could only be secure in a small republic in which rulers were physically close to, and closely checked by the ruled • Madison argued that liberty is safest in large “extended” republics. • In a small community there will be relatively few differences in opinion but in a large republic, there will be many opinions and interests.

32. Factions • Another issue addressed in No. 10 that ties into the theme of a large republic was that the proposed government was not likely to be dominated by any faction • Factions today are political parties or interest groups • He argued that factions in a republic were anurla but controllable by institutions such as the government

33. Federalist 51 • Minority Rule and Minority Protection • Madison argued that the factions that formed in a large republic would be more moderate that those that formed in a small one because the bigger the republic the greater the variety of interests. • Madison pressed his argument for a large republic but from a different angle in Federalist 51

34. Checks and Balances • Madison argued that a separation of powers would control the efforts of tyranny from any source • If power is distributed equally among the three branches, he argued each branch will have the capacity to counteract the others

35. Federalist 78 • Written by Hamilton • Judicial Review • Supreme Court’s right to rule upon the constitutionality of laws passed by Congress • This was an appropriate check on the legislative branch.

36. No Bill of Rights??? • Federalists, felt the constitution did contain specific guarantees of individual liberty • Habeas Corpus: may not be suspended except during invasion or rebellion • This is to prevent-illegal arrests and imprisonment; a court ordering an officer to bring a prisoner I custody before a judge and show sufficient t cause for his/her detention • Bill of Attainder: a law that declares a person, without a trail, to be guilty of a crime • No expost-facto law may be passed by Congress or the states—this makes criminal an act that was legal when it was committed or that increases the penalty or a crime after it has been commited(means after the fact) • Trial by Jury in criminal cases guaranteed • No religious tests for holding political office

37. The Bill of Rights • Without the Bill of Rights the Constitution was not going to be ratified • More than 100 amendments were proposed by the states • Eventually narrowed down to 12 which were approved by congress and sent to the Senate • Ten became part of the Constitution in 791 after the approval of the required ¾ of the states. • The Bill of Rights protect personal liberties form being abused by the government

38. Constitution and Direct Democracy • Framers did not intend to create a direct democracy • The size of the country made it physically impossible • Mistrust of the popular masses • Intended to create a republic-government with a system of representation

39. Examples • House of Representatives: chosen by the people • Senate: chosen by the state legislatures, not the people • President: chosen by the electoral college • Supreme Court: judicial review-Supreme Court can declare an act passed by congress unconstitutional