Unit 1- Constitutional Foundations (AP Exam Review)
I.
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Ideas of the Founders
Protect against tyrannical gov’t
Provide guaranteed liberty; not necessarily “equality”
Separation of Powers (to diffuse influence of factions); Madison’s Federalist
No. 10
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II.
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III.
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Constitution
Federalism – shared power between federal, state, local (Federalists/AntiFederalists or Centralists/Decentralists)
Separation of Powers (Congress given the most)
Checks and Balances (Veto/Confirmation/Defense Funding/Commander-inChief/Unconstitutional)
Constitution is supreme (McCulloch v. Maryland) (1819): Federal Bank could
not be taxed by state bank
Constitution has to adapt to changing circumstances (U.S. as global power
gives the executive more authority)
o Political Parties
o Technology
o Bureaucracy
Constitutional Principles
Marbury v. Madison (1803) – “judicial review”
“Full Faith and Credit” Clause – one states laws recognized by another
(drivers licences); Brown v. Board of Ed. (desegregation)
Necessary and Proper Clause (“elastic” clause) – Gives Congress more power
than is actually listed in Article I.
Reserved/Enumerated Powers/Concurrent Powers
Amending Constitution (2/3 vote in both houses)
Amendment No. 10; Powers not granted to fed; reserved to state
IV.
Theories
 Majoritarian – Leaders influenced by peoples will
 Elite – Wealthy elite (minority) dominates policymaking
 Pluralist – Many groups of interests compete; no one dominates
V.
Federal Grants
 Gives more power to federal government over state
 “Strings attached” to federal funds
 Categorical - $ given to states for narrow purpose like school lunch
program (NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND has strings attached); HEAD
START, FOOD STAMP PROGRAMS
 Block - $ given to states for broad purpose like “transportation” (favored
by Republicans) – Associated with DEVOLUTION; NEW
FEDERALISM (EDUCATION, LAW ENFORCEMENT
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Mandates/Unfunded Mandates (ex. No Child Left Behind)