AP U.S. Government & Politics
Review
2/3s
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Both houses of Congress must pass an identical
version of a bill with this majority
Override of a presidential veto in both houses of
Congress
Senate approval of a treaty
Proposal for a Constitutional Amendment in both
houses of Congress
States can petition Congress for a constitutional
Amendment by a national convention
US Constitution
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Preamble … “We the People of the United States, in
Order to form a more perfect Union…”
7 articles
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Article I – Legislative, II – Executive, III – Judicial, IV – Full
faith credit, extradition, federalism, creation new states, V –
Amending, VI – Supremacy Clause, VI – Ratification
27 Amendments (Bill of Rights 1-10, added 1791)
1787
“Supreme Law of the Land”
A “living document”
Principles of the Constitution
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Checks and Balances
Separation of Powers
Federalism
Republicanism
Judicial review
Other liberties included within the articles
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Writ of habeas corpus
Bill of attainder
Ex post facto laws
Articles of Confederation
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National government could not levy taxes
No national army
No control over trade (domestic of foreign)
No federal supremacy
No Supreme Court
No Executive
Amendments only by unanimous vote
To pass laws – required a 9/13s vote
1781-1787
Federalist #10
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James Madison
Factions (interest groups/parties)
Factions allow us to consider all sides; inevitable differences; but
dangerous if not monitored. Gov’t is the mediator between
factions, none should gain enough power to violate other’s
rights in free gov’t
“liberty is to faction what air is to fire…”
“The regulation of these various and interfering interests forms
the principal task of modern legislation…”
George Washington in his Farewell Address warned against
factions and political parties
Federalist #51
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James Madison
Checks and balances and separation of powers
of the national government
“The great difficultly lies in this: you must first
enable the government to control the governed;
and in the next place oblige it to control itself.”
“ambition must be made to counteract
ambition”
Federalist #78
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Alexander Hamilton
Judicial power implied judicial review
The independence of judges is an essential safeguard
against effects of society
(Judicial Branch) has “neither FORCE NOR WILL,
but merely judgment…”
“right of the courts to pronounce legislative acts void…
“No legislative act, therefore, contrary to the
constitution, can be valid.”
Delegated Powers
“Expressed” or “Enumerated”
 Powers listed in the Constitution
 Most are found in Article I, Section 8
(Powers of Congress)
 Article II – Executive Branch
 Article III – Judicial Branch
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Implied Powers
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Authority granted by inference of the
Constitution’s delegated powers
Article I, section 8 “necessary and proper
clause”
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
The Executive has Commander-in-Chief power
to “make war” whereas Congress has the
delegated power to “declare war”
Inherent Powers
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Self-evident powers
Protection the citizens under the government
Powers which are automatic for a nation-state -- foreign
negotiations, make international agreements, acquire
territory, protection of citizens, etc.
The US is a sovereign power among nations
Presidents question their inherent powers during times
of crisis and emergencies
Article I
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Legislative Branch (Congress)
House and Senate
Very detailed powers (I.8)
impeachment
Gives Congress the most power
“Necessary-and-proper” clause
Habeas corpus, no bill of attainder or ex post facto laws
Interstate commerce clause
Article II
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Executive Powers
Vague on purpose and meaning
Commander-in-Chief (power to make war)
Make treaties
Make pardons
State of the Union Address
Appointments to the federal gov’t
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
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Judicial review
1st time S.C. declared a Congressional act -Judiciary Act of 1789 -- unconstitutional
Chief Justice John Marshall wrote decision
Legitimized the role of the Supreme Court
Grants
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Ways that federal gov’t disperses $ to state and local
governments
“Grants-in-aid”
Categorical -- formula grants, $ for a specific purpose,
subject to federal supervision
Project Grants -- state, local, and nongovernmental
agencies can apply for $ (universities, employment
training programs)
Block -- few strings attached, broad grants (child care,
welfare, social services, and health care
Mandates
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Mandates law be implemented at all levels of
government
New Deal Programs and Great Society
Programs were mandates for the nation
Lawyers for indigent persons
Unfunded Mandates
Americans With Disabilities Act (1990)
 “No Child Left Behind” (NCLB) of 2001
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McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
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Federal supremacy
Unanimous decision
Question over the power of Congress to establish a
national bank
(I.8.18) Congress may “make all laws necessary and
proper for carrying into execution …and all other
powers vested in…the gov’t of the Unites States ” or
the elastic clause
Justice John Marshall expanded the role of the national
government
“Power to tax is the power to destroy”
Due Process
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5th and 14th Amendments
Equal treatment under the law
Protection against deprivation of life, liberty, or
property
Rights of the accused
V
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th
(5 )
Amendment
Due process
Eminent domain (gov’t will pay $ for private
property)
Self-incrimination
Double jeopardy
Capital crime -- Grand Jury (except Military and
emergencies)
XIV
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th
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Amendment
Due process
Defined citizenship
Incorporation
Application of due process to the States -- “ nor
shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or
property, without the due process of the law”
 Gitlow v. New York (1925)
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“Equal-protection” clause
st
1
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Amendment
Establishment Clause: “make no law respecting the
establishment of …”
Free exercise clause “or prohibiting the free exercise
of…”
Liberties: religion, speech, press, assembly (also
petition)
Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971) “lemon test or 3-prong test”
Engle v. Vitale (1962) no prayer in school
Schenck v. United States (1919) “clear and present danger”
Gitlow v. New York (1925) incorporation
Horizontal Federalism
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State to state relations
Full Faith & Credit (IV,1) requires states to enforce
judgments of other states (divorce) and accept public records as
valid (marriage licenses, i.d.)
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Interstate Privileges and Immunities (IV, 2) must
extend to extend citizens of other states (question today over
same-sex marriages)
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Extradition (IV, 2) states must deliver criminals back to
home state
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Interstate Compacts (I, 10)
peacefully
states must settle disputes
Suffrage Amendments
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15th – (1870) African Americans
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19th – (1920) Women
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26th – (1971) 18 year-old vote
Participation in Government
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Conventional
Unconventional
House of Representatives
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435, 2 year term, 25 yrs old, 7 resident, citizen
Apportionment by population for each state Florida has 25
districts)
Districts decided by state legislatures, census of pop every 10
years
Smaller constituency, less staffers, less media, limited debate time
All appropriation/revenue bills start in the HOUSE
Ways and Means Committee
Rules Committee (decides rules of debate)
Quorum (218)
Speaker of the House (3rd in the succession of presidency)
Policy specialists
Power to impeach (accuse)
Senate
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100 (2 per state)
Larger constituency, more staffers, more seniority,
more media, more prestige
6 year term, 30 yrs old, 9 yrs resident, citizen
Riders allowed on bills
Filibuster and cloture (3/5 of Senate)
Confirmation presidential nominations: federal judges,
ambassadors, US marshals, Supreme Court justices
Ratify treaties (2/3)
Hold impeachment trials
Presidency
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Article II
4 year term, 35 yrs old, 14 yr resident and
natural- born citizen
22nd Amendment, max 2 terms in office, or 10
years, reaction to FDR
“Gerrymandering”
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Drawing of boundary lines for districts to obtain
partisan or factional advantage
From Governor Gerry of MA in 1811
Shaw v. Reno (1993) racial gerrymandering illegal
Veto
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President can veto and send the bill back to
Congress with the reasons why
Pocket veto -- if the President does not sign or
veto within 10 days and Congress adjourns the
bill is dead
LAW -- “put it in a drawer” President neither
signs or vetoes within 10 days (Congress in
session), bill becomes law.
Enumerated Powers of Congress
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Levy taxes
Borrow
Regulate commerce
Naturalization and bankruptcy
Coin money
Establish a Post Office
Patents and copyrights
Create Courts
Declare war
Create army and navy
Govern the District of Columbia
War Powers Act of 1973
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Reaction to Vietnam Conflict
Congressional act sent to Nixon, he vetoed it, sent back
to Congress, overrode veto with 2/3 vote
President can commit US forces to action only
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After a declaration of war by Congress
In national emergency created by an attack on the U.S. of it
forces
President must report his action to Congress within 48 hours
and withdrawn troops within 60 days
Congress with a concurrent resolution remove troops after 90
days without a veto by President
Formal Powers of President
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Commander in chief
Commission officers of the armed forces
Grant pardons
Convene Congress
Receive ambassadors
Wield “executive power”
Execute laws
Appoint officials
Veto and approve legislation
Make treaties
Informal Powers of the President
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Morale builder
Party leader
Legislative leader
Coalition leader
Crisis manager
Personnel recruiter
“Leader of the Free World”
Persuader “bully pulpit”
Line-item veto
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State governors have this power
Intent to give President more power over the
budget
Line Item Veto Act 1996
Clinton et al. v. New York et al. (1998) decision
6-3; unconstitutional
Legislative veto
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Congress would invalidate acts made by the
Executive Branch
Immigration and Naturalization Service v. Chadha
(1983) Supreme Court held that legislative veto
is unconstitutional; question over the separation
of powers
Bipartisan Campaign Finance
Reform Act
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“McCain-Feingold bill” (2002)
Changed some parts in the Federal Election Campaign
Act (FECA) of 1974
$2000 individual candidate
$5000 to state party or PAC
$20,000 to national party committee
Ban on soft money (donations made to parties for the
purpose of general party maintenance & support)
Buckley v. Valeo (1976) individual candidate can spend
unlimited amount on self campaign
impoundment
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Used by the President to control expenditures in
the budget
Temporary delay tactic to control spending
Budget and Impoundment Control Act (1974)
reduced the President’s impoundment powers
docket
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Supreme Court’s agenda of cases to be heard
100 granted writ of certiorari “to be informed”
Only 2 or 3 cases are original jurisdiction cases
(majority of cases are heard by appeal)
Rule of four (at least 4 justices must agree to
hear a case)
stare decisis
Appellate jurisdiction
IV
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th
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Amendment
Unreasonable search and seizures are prohibited
Mapp v. Ohio (1961) – a search warrant is
required if evidence obtained (or it is not
admissable)
“Exclusionary rule” established from this
decision
VI
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th
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Amendment
Fair and speedy trial
Miranda v. Arizona (1966) rights of the accused,
silent and counsel
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) counsel must be
provided in felony cases
Laissez-faire vs. Keynesian
Economics
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Laissez-faire economists believe that the
government should never become involved in
economic issues (the Great Depression forced the
disappearance of laissez-faire economics)
Keynesian economists (John Maynard Keynes)
believe that the government can smooth out
business cycles by influencing the amount of
income individuals & businesses can spend on
goods & services (accomplished through fiscal &
monetary policy)
Fiscal & Monetary Policy
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Fiscal policy – the government action of either
lowering or raising taxes, which results in more
or less consumer spending or enacting of
government spending programs (such as
building highways or hospitals)
Examples – “Reaganomics” of the 1980s,
President George W. Bush’s tax rebates/tax cuts
to prevent recession of the 1990s led to record
budget deficits
Fiscal & Monetary Policy
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Monetary Policy – the process by which the government
controls the supply of money in circulation and the supply
of credit through the actions of the Federal Reserve Board
(the Fed).
The Fed can increase the amount of money in circulation
by lowering interest rates (this makes borrowing money
less expensive because interest on the money is low,
resulting in higher prices & higher wages)
If the Fed raises interest rates, the impact on the
economy will be deflationary, resulting in either more
stable or lower prices or wages.
Monetary Policy
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The Fed can implement monetary policy in 3 ways:
1. By manipulating the reserve requirement which raises or lowers
the amount of money banks are required to keep on hand.
2. By manipulating the discount rate which raises or lowers the
interest banks pay to the Federal Reserve banks for borrowing
money (lower interest rates encourages borrowing/spending)
3. By manipulating open market operations as the Fed buys and
sells U. S. government bonds. People buy bonds because they have
a better interest rate than savings accounts. When the Fed sells
bonds, people withdraw money from banks to take advantage of
the bond’s higher interest rate (causes consumer interest rates to go
up)