AP Gov Notes Unit 1 - American Democracy

AristotlePurpose: serve the common interest, order stabilityLegitimacy - to regard common interest and not be corrupt, legitmate forms - royalty, aristocracy, constitutionalCorruptionRoyalty - tyranny, self centeredAristocracy - oligarchy - the richConstitution - democracyGov today:Oligarchy - serving the richs interestsConstitution gov vs democracy - issue of representationphilosopherView of human naturePurpose of govtSource of govtKey ideashobbesRight to peaceReject “nature”But humans are violentStop anarchy - peaceThe need for peace come from social contractSocial ContractStrong Central govtOrder over libertyrousseauFree, innocentSociety corruptsGovt reflect general will of peopleDirectly from societyPopular sovereigntyDirect democracyCivic participationlockeHas natural rights, wants to protect propertyProtect life liberty propertySocial contract, consent of governedAbolish and overthrowLimited govtNatural rightsRight to abolish/revoltDec of IndependenceIndependent -> AoC -> Convention -> Constitution -> Bill of rightsTypes of DemocracyParticipatoryBroad citizen participation, DirectPeople make policy decisions with voting, halls, referendums, protestsCloser the govt is to people the more legitimate it is (rousseau)Voting, jury duty, local meetings, contact representatives, protest, PluralistGroup based advocacyNGO - non govt organizationsGroups bargain and compete, no single dominatorHealthy compFederalist 10Special interest groups - national rifle assoc, NAACP, labor unionPolitical partiesGroups may encourage voting, volunteering, Campaign DonationAARP (retire ppl)EliteRepresentative democracyLimited citizen roleWelathy or educated elites / military eliteElectoral college or senate pre 17thExpert witness, testifying official, present ideas for bills, backdoor parties, campaign donations, lobbyingArticles of confederation1st constitutionWeak ntl govt13 independent states form a league of friendship (currency, law, militia, banks)Shay goes after the elites - feds too weakProblems - military, executive, nlt court, interstate trade, finance (ntl bnk/ntl currency)Key features - state sovereignty, unicameral congress can make war, treaty, brrow money, relations, 13 states = 13 votes, own troops/financeChange needs - constitutional convention 1787 - federalist want new cnositution, anti just wanna fixFederalistsRemove powers from statesDivide with branchesSingle person to lead execAntiPolitical power w/ stateLegis > execBill of rightsAnti federalists though this would strip away their rightsIt was for the richNo BORWas illega (not auth by aoc)States would lose powerWould lead to tyrannyBrutus 1Large republic threatens library (individ + state)TyrannicalStates should keep powerConcernselastic/necessary proper clause - expands federal powerSupremacy clause - SC/Congress supreme over land/state lawsLarge republic too distant form pplStanding armies threaten libertyParticaptory democracyFed 10Faction - people united by somehtign - political part, interest groupLarge republic control faction via representation and competitionsConstitutional conventionRepresentation in congressHow to elect presidentStronger fedVirginia (fed), new jersey plan (antifed)VirginiaLarge statesTwo housesRep on populationsJerseyOne houseequal representation⅗ compromiseSouthern states have more power/representation. Allows the spread of slavery/removal of nativesElectoral CollegeFilters people vote to state electors. Elites refine public choiceTarget swing states, competing groups like PACsCitizens still vote to let electors know what we want to represent100+435 (1 per district) = 535?? ≠ 538 actual electors3 for dc (23 amendment)states decide how electors are chosenRatification of the ConsitutionGreat Connecticut Compromise - bicameral congressElectoral College compromise of popular vote and congressional selection3/5 compslave trade - ban import cannot be discussed until 1808Bill of rightsAmendment process - 2/3 to propose, ¾ of states to approveOngoing debates stillliberty vs natl securityCore idealsnatural rightssocial contractpopular sovereigntygovt power restricted by lawSeparation of powers and checks and balancesFederalism - shared poweredRepublicanism of elected officialsArticles of ConfederationConstitution (preamble)The states (on behalf of)Speakers(s) whoThe peopleUnited States of AmericaName given to countryUnited States of AmericaEach state shall be soveirgn or independentfirst rights/actionsform a better union, right to property,free commerce and tradelist additional rightsestablish justice, ensure internal and external peaceSeparation of powerspower is divided between brancheschecks and balances can limit the power of branchesFed 51ambition must be made to counteract ambitioninfluence on public policy by groups and institutionsmany access pointsimpeachment & removalUS constitution’s commerce clauseRegulate both foreign & interstate trade, and with native tribesTo collect taxes and resolve disputes, including involving currencyoverride state to state commercehotel by interstate highwayany intermediate good that crossed state lines - literally any business so regulation of everything commerceincrease natl power a lotElastic Clausethe power for anything vested by the constitution (job given by constitution)Enumerated = explicitly listedImplied = not explicitly listed but may be “necessary and proper” to carry out enumerated powersElastic because it is a very wide interpretation of what the constitution grantsLoose interpretations give the federal govt more authority over many issuesanti Federalists thought this would make the govt too powerfulSupremacy ClauseThat the constitution is the law of the landThe federal law supercedes stateUnification, allow inner peaceStates may not be able to pass or use some of their lawsFederalism - the balance of power among a national authority and state authoritieslimited govtExclusive powers - powers held at one level of governmentSharing of powersCollect taxescourts, crimes & punishmentsregulate banksCertain shared ex. teaching credentialsDual = separate (layer cake national & state have their own things)Start of America - derived from constitutionCooperative = Shared (marble cake)FDR - new dealsFederal aid - national POWER through MONEYMedicaid MedicareFiscal Federalism1 trillion dollars go to grants in aid for statesInfluence state goals aligned with federalCategorical Grants: specific provisions to achieve policy targets (loved by feds)Mandatesdirect for states and local to comply with a rule or regulationFunded mandate - clean air actUnfunded mandate - state required fund any part or the wholeIe civil rights - no moneyendangered species - a little providedADA (1990) - no funding, taxes went upDevolution - returning more authority to state - Reagan, clintonNew federalism1980s under reaganReduce national powerMore block grants with auditTries to reduce size of national govtSolve local problems efficientlyEnded after 9/11

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