AP Government
Mid Term Exam
Review
Part Two
What is the difference between
Capitalism and Communism?
What is the difference between
Capitalism and Communism?
Both are economic systems, but capitalism
allows for private ownership of property
and businesses, less government
involvement, a belief in the free market
system. Communism calls for the state to
control the means of production – land,
labor and capital, and also a violent class
overthrow of the working class over the
factory and business owners.
How does our Constitution
limit the government?
How does our Constitution
limit the government?
Through the concept of separation of
power and checks & balances on those
powers that are separated among the 3
branches. We also have the Bill of Rights,
which limits the government’s ability to
trample on our rights. Also, judicial review
is included as it keeps Congress & the
President from overstepping the
Constitution.
What are
literacy tests (voting)?
What are
literacy tests (voting)?
The requirement that people pass a reading
test in order to vote – the idea is that we
want intelligent people voting, not
illiterates. Illiterate whites were allowed
under the Grandfather clause, or if you
grand pappy could vote, so could you
(leaving out blacks, since most of their
grandfathers were slaves)
Explain our core values of
liberty and equality
Explain our core values of
liberty and equality
We may not treat each other all the same,
but we’re all treated the same UNDER THE
LAW…you don’t have to like Latinos, but
white & brown all get treated the same by
our government. We also all get the same
freedoms and have the same opportunities
(in theory) in our society.
How is liberty and equality more
prevalent in our capitalist society than
in a communist society?
How is liberty and equality more
prevalent in our capitalist society than
in a communist society?
You can set your own course, decide for
yourself what you want to do. We all have
the opportunity to move forward free of
interference from the government. In our
society, your ideas are more important than
the state’s ideals. Our government does
not guarantee your condition in life, your
life is a result of your actions.
What’s the
Twenty-sixth Amendment?
What’s the
Twenty-sixth Amendment?
Lowered the voting age to 18.
What was the
Twenty-fourth Amendment?
What was the
Twenty-fourth Amendment?
Elimination of the Poll Tax.
How is it that we have limited
government?
How is it that we have limited
government?
Well, the Constitution was written not long
after we shook off the shackles of the King of
England, so we didn’t want to have too
powerful a government. So we came up with
something novel – separation of powers,
where each of the three branches have clearly
defined powers, and there is a balance of
power that we keep in check through vetoes,
veto overrides, Senate confirmation of treaties,
etc…
How do “we the people”
ourselves limit our government?
How do “we the people”
ourselves limit our government?
Primarily through self-government. Voting
is based on winning a majority of our votes
and of course the preferences of a majority
of the people. This preference of the
majority is evident in the preferences of the
majority in votes in Congress and in the
Supreme Court
What is federalism?
What is federalism?
A separation and distribution of power
between the national and state
governments
What is federalism?
A separation and distribution of power
between the national and state
governments
Dual federalism
What is federalism?
A separation and distribution of power
between the national and state
governments
Dual federalism is a precise separation of
powers between the national and state
governments – National government has
delegated power like declaring war, State
governments have reserved powers like
managing elections, voting registration.
What is
cooperative federalism?
What is
cooperative federalism?
Where the national and state governments
share responsibilities because oftentimes
issue affect more than one state or the
entire nation as a whole and the national
government may assist one or many states
to deal with an issue such as security.
National government also has access to
more financial resources than states do.
What are categorical grants?
What are categorical grants?
Monetary disbursements from the federal
to state governments. These grants are for
only certain designated activities.
What are Mandates?
(funded and unfunded)
What are Mandates?
(funded and unfunded)
Mandates are specific requests from the
federal to the state governments. Funded
mandates are supported by the national
government. Unfunded mandates are
required programs dictated by the national
government, but no funds are allocated,
therefore the states are required to follow
the law but pay for mandates from state
funds.
How did the Federalists and the Antifederalists agree to limit government?
How did the Federalists and the Antifederalists agree to limit government?
Clearly they weren’t divided over the entire
constitution…They agreed with the idea of
a chief executive with limited power,
checks & balances along with separation of
power, as well as they compromised and
passed a Bill of Rights to keep the federal
government from limiting our rights.
What is the exclusionary rule?
What is the exclusionary rule?
The legal principle that government is
prohibited from using in trials evidence
that was obtained by unconstitutional
means. (for example, through illegal
search and seizure) Mapp v. Ohio
Mapp v. Ohio (1961)
Mapp v. Ohio (1961)
Cleveland PD entered Dollree Mapp’s
home, and failing to find what they were
looking for, found PORN! Illegal at the
time, Mapp’s conviction was overturned by
the Supreme Court on the grounds that she
had been subjected to unreasonable
search and seizure.
What is the
Fourth Amendment?
What is the
Fourth Amendment?
The right of the people to be secure in their
persons, houses, papers, and effects,
against unreasonable searches and
seizures, shall not be violated, and no
Warrants shall issue, but upon probable
cause, supported by Oath or affirmation,
and particularly describing the place to be
searched, and the persons or things to be
seized.
How has the “exclusionary
rule” changed over the years?
How has the “exclusionary
rule” changed over the years?
We’ve moved away from the strict
“probable cause”. Whren v. US (1996)
upheld the conviction when police found
drugs on the front seat of the car when
there was no probable cause they would be
there (traffic stop as a pretext to stop the
suspect)
What’s Devolution?
What’s Devolution?
Embodies the idea that American
federalism will be strengthened by the
partial shift in authority from the federal
government to the state and local
governments. (The passing down of
authority from the national government to
states and localities.)
The End