Dr. East, Unit 1 – AP Government
Theme: The Supreme Law of the Land
Unit Description:
The study of modern politics in the United States requires students to examine the kind of government
established by the Constitution (the Supreme Law of the Land), paying particular attention to federalism,
the separation of powers, and checks and balances. Understanding these developments involves both
knowledge of the historical situation at the time of the Constitutional Convention and an awareness of the
ideological and philosophical traditions on which the Framers drew; for example, why did Madison fear
factions? What were the reasons for the swift adoption of the Bill of Rights? Familiarity with the United
States Supreme Court’s interpretation of key provisions of the Constitution will aid understanding of
theoretical and practical features of federalism, separation of powers, and checks and balances. Students
should be familiar with a variety of theoretical perspectives relating to the Constitution, such as democratic
theory, theories of republican government, pluralism, and elitism. [The College Board] This unit represents 515% of the AP Exam.
Essential Questions:
1. What philosophical thoughts influenced our founding documents?
2. Who were our founding fathers?
3. What thoughts about government and the “public good” influenced our founding fathers?
4. What is the basic structure of our federal government as outlined by our constitution?
5. What is federalism and how are governmental powers divided in this country?
6. How do we make changes to our federal government?
7. How has the Supreme Court supported federal power?
8. How does our republican government (republic = indirect democracy) compare to other
types of government?
Essential Understandings:
1. The United States is a representative democracy, this means that it is a republic with
indirect democracy. People elect delegates or representatives to govern them.
2. The United States more of capitalist, free-market economy than other types of places with
governments that regulate socialist or communist economies.
3. The 1776 Declaration of Independence identified freedoms and rights that the US gov. -with it’s Constitution and amendments -- continues to further and protect.
4. The Constitution that we have now improved upon problems we found while governing
under the Articles of Confederation (ratified in 1781 after we achieved independence from
Great Britain).
5. The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was a drawn out contest between political groups
favoring more Federal government power and those that favored more State government
power. It was also a fight between states with large populations and states with smaller
populations.
6. A need for the “Bill of Rights” emerged very soon after the ratification of the constitution
and it also lead to the creation of the Federalist Papers (1787-1788) – essays that explain
our system of government and opposing sides at the time of the convention.
7. Our two party political system emerged from opposing groups at the convention – some
supported Hamilton’s call for a strong central government (a conservative federalist
position) and some supported Jefferson’s desire for strong state governments (a more
radical, states’ and individuals’ rights position).
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8. “Federalism” as a political concept has changed over time – the Civil War, the Great
Depression, and World War II were major events that led to these changes.
9. The Constitution is short and mostly focused on Congress, the writers did not intend to list
all possible powers and interpretations.
10. The Preamble to the Constitution lists six basic goals of the new government – create a
more perfect Union, Execute Justice, Insure Domestic Tranquility, Provide for a Common
Defense, Promote the General Welfare, and Secure the Blessings of Liberty.
11. Article I of the Constitution has the most detail and covers the organization and powers of
Congress. Critical powers are established in the Commerce Clause and the Elastic Clause
sections.
12. Almost all Executive powers listed in Article II are vague and checked by Congress. Judicial
and state powers are even more vague.
13. There have been 27 amendments to the constitution (the first ten are called the Bill of
Rights).
14. Federal powers are listed in the Constitution or directly implied by the Constitution. All
powers not listed in the Constitution are reserved to the states.
15. Federalism has shifted in meaning from a sharing of power between federal and state
government authority to the bulk of gov. power being in the hands of the federal
government. State’s unwillingness to protect basic rights has contributed to this shift.
16. The separation of powers and checks and balances limit Federal powers.
17. Judicial review was not listed in the Constitution, but was established by the Supreme
Court decision of Marbury v. Madison.
18. Control of federal funds is a major way the federal government extends its power.
19. Federal powers have increased and decreased over time and Supreme Court cases have
sometimes upheld or checked federal power.
Lessons(s):
1. Defining Government
2. Comparing Types of Government
3. Intellectual Origins of the
Constitution: Enlightenment Thinkers,
Declaration of Independence, and
Articles of Confederation
4. Framers of the Constitution and Steps
to the Constitutional Convention
5. Ratifying the Constitution, the
Federalist Papers, and the beginnings
of the 2 party system
6. Constitution: Separation of Powers
into Three Branches, Checks and
Balances and Checks Against Majority
Rule
7. Changing the Constitution, The Bill of
Rights, and Amendments
8. Federalism and the Constitution
9. Federalism and the Constitution
10. Supreme Court Cases Upholding
Federalism
Terms and phrases you need to know:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
order
civility
empowerment
government
politics
citizens
posterity
ordain
9. elections
10. American Dream
11. policies
12. perfect Union
13. tranquility
14. capitalism
15. socialism
16. communism
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17. dictatorship
18. totalitarian
19. theocracy
20. absolute monarchy
21. parliamentary
22. republic
23. anarchy
24. oligarchy
25. indirect democracy
26. direct democracy
27. Constitution
28. the Enlightenment
29. popular sovereignty
30. public good
31. majority rule
32. separation of powers
33. checks and balances
34. Legislative branch
35. Judicial branch
36. Executive branch
37. unitary government system
38. confederate government system
39. federalism/federalist gov. system
40. federalist
41. Publius
42. anti-federalist
43. dual federalism “layer cake”
44. cooperative federalism “marble cake”
45. fiscal federalism (new federalism)
46. delegate (representative)
47. 1rst Cont. Congress (1774)
People You Need to Know:
1. Thomas Jefferson
2. John Locke
3. Charles de Montesquieu
4. Daniel Shay
5. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
48. 2nd Cont. Congress (1777)
49. Shay’s rebellion (1786)
50. Constitutional Convention (1787)
51. The Virginia Plan (1787)
52. The New Jersey Plan (1787)
53. The Connecticut Compromise (1787,
Great Compromise)
54. The 3/5ths Compromise (1787)
55. Ratification
56. Habeas Corpus
57. Ex post facto laws
58. expressed (enumerated) powers
59. implied powers
60. inherent powers
61. reserved powers
62. concurrent powers
63. prohibited powers
64. devolution
65. categorical grant
66. block grant
67. mandates
68. loose construction
69. strict construction
70. doctrine of nullification
71. McCollough v. Maryland
72. Gibbons v. Ogden
73. commerce clause
74. necessary and proper
75. full faith and credit
76. treaties
77. Pluralism v Elitism in Governance
6. Alexander Hamilton
7. James Madison
8. John Jay
9. George Washington
10. John Adams
Documents You Need to Know:
1. Articles of Confederation (1781)
2. Constitution (1787)
3. Federalist Papers (85 essays - 10, 51, 78, and 84, specifically)
4. Bill of Rights
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