AP US Government

Summary:

Unit 1: Foundations of American Democracy

Core Idea: The U.S. Constitution was designed to create a government strong enough to function, but limited enough to protect liberty.
Key Documents:
- Declaration of Independence: Natural rights, consent of the governed
- Articles of Confederation: Weak central government, no power to tax
- Constitution: Stronger federal system, separation of powers, checks and balances
- Federalist No. 10: Factions are inevitable; a large republic controls them
- Brutus No. 1: Warned that a strong national government could threaten liberty
Core Concepts:
- Popular sovereignty: power from the people
- Republicanism: elected representatives
- Limited government: government must follow the law
- Separation of powers: legislative, executive, judicial
- Checks and balances: branches keep each other in line
- Federalism: power shared between national and state governments
Key Clauses:
- Supremacy Clause: Constitution > state laws
- Necessary and Proper Clause: expands congressional power
- Commerce Clause: used to justify wide federal regulation

Core Idea: Policy-making is a tug-of-war between branches designed to check each other’s power.
Congress:
- Bicameral: House (population, 2 years) + Senate (equal, 6 years)
- Powers: make laws, declare war, control budget
- Committees do the legislative groundwork
- Checks: override vetoes, confirm appointments
President:
- Powers: veto, commander-in-chief, executive orders, appointments
- Informal powers: bargaining, persuasion, media influence
- Checks: vetoed by Congress, limited by courts
Judiciary:
- Judicial review (Marbury v. Madison): courts can strike down laws
- Life tenure ensures independence
- Bound by precedent but can overturn it
Bureaucracy:
- Implements laws via regulations
- Iron triangles: agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees influence policy
- Oversight: Congress can investigate or cut funding

Core Idea: Liberty and equality are core American values, but applying them fairly is an ongoing debate.
Civil Liberties = protections from government
Civil Rights = protections by government
Key Amendments:
- 1st: speech, religion, press, assembly, petition
- 4th: protection from unreasonable searches
- 5th & 6th: due process, right to counsel, fair trial
- 14th: equal protection + incorporation of Bill of Rights to states
Landmark Cases:
- Engel v. Vitale: no school-led prayer
- Wisconsin v. Yoder: religious freedom > school attendance
- Tinker v. Des Moines: student speech protected
- Schenck v. U.S.: limits on speech in wartime
- Gideon v. Wainwright: right to a lawyer
- Roe v. Wade: right to privacy → abortion rights
- Brown v. Board: ended segregation in schools
Affirmative Action: Bakke case allowed race as one factor, but not quotas

Core Idea: People’s values drive their political attitudes and shape the policies they support.
Political Socialization:
- Family, media, education = biggest influences
- Globalization and major events (e.g., 9/11, recessions) can shift views
Major Ideologies:
- Liberal: more gov in economy, less in social issues
- Conservative: less gov in economy, more in social issues
- Libertarian: minimal government
Public Opinion:
- Measured by polls, accuracy depends on sample size, neutrality, margin of error
- Influences policy, but not always followed (especially on complex issues)

Core Idea: Democracy depends on the people — and they have many ways to be heard.
Voting:
- U.S. has lower turnout than many democracies
- Barriers: registration, weekday elections, ID laws
- Expanded over time:
  - 15th (race), 17th (direct election of senators), 19th (women), 24th (no poll tax), 26th (18-year-olds)
Political Parties:
- Organize elections, shape platforms, connect voters to gov
- Realignment: major shift in party support (e.g., New Deal era)
Interest Groups:
- Push policy through lobbying, electioneering, litigation
- PACs and Super PACs fund campaigns — money = influence
Media:
- Agenda-setting power
- Rise of partisan media and social media has changed how people engage
Other Participation: Protests, petitions, town halls, digital activism