AP US GovernmentKey Review Topics

I. Constitutional Underpinnings & FederalismA) Considerations that influenced the formulation of

the Constitution• ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION• John Locke / The Federalist Essays• ADOPTION OF CONSTITUTION• a) COMPONENTS OF MAJOR ARTICLES• b) AMENDING PROCESS• c) KEY AMENDMENTS• d) ELECTORAL COLLEGE PROCESS• e) IMPEACHMENT PROCESS

I. Constitutional Underpinnings & Federalism

B) SEPARATION OF POWERS

• a) War

• b) Raising Revenue

• c) Impeachment

• d) legislation

Major Checks and the nature of each

• Veto

• Supreme Court Rulings

I. Constitutional Underpinnings & Federalism

• C) Theories of Democratic government

• Interest group pluralism / hyperpluralism

• Elitism

• Incrementalism

• equality of opportunity NOT results

I. Constitutional Underpinnings & Federalism

C) Federalism – Why federalism (4)?1) Define federal, unitary, confederal gvts. 2) Describe state/national govt relationship

a) McCulloch v. Marylandb) Unfunded Mandates – give examplesc) Types of sanctions (cross over/cross cutting)c) Block Grants

3) Identify federal responsibilities / state responsibilities

II. Political Beliefs & Behaviors

A) Beliefs that citizens hold about their government and their leaders1) Mistrust2) Trends in presidential approval3) Trends in approval of Congress

B) Process by which citizens learn about politics1) Political Socialization 2) Selective Perception

II. Political Beliefs & Behaviors

- Demographic groups and voter behavior

- Identify major demographic groups and describe their political behavior.

- Describe voter turnout

II. Political Beliefs and Behaviors

C) The nature sources and consequences of public opinion- dealignment

D) The ways in which citizens vote and otherwise participate in political life1) Voting / statistics / obstacles to turnout2) Other forms of political participation

E) Factors that make citizens differ from one another in beliefs/behaviors

III. Political Parties, Interest Groups and Mass Media

A) Political Parties and elections1. Functions

- organize competition- get candidates elected- provide loyal opposition

2. Organization - National vs grass roots party membership- two party systems / multiparty systems

III. Political Parties, Interest Groups and Mass Media

3. Development

• - Realignment

• - Identify obstacles to third parties.

- Describe the decline of the political party

4. Effects on the Political process

III. Political Parties, Interest Groups and Mass Media

5. Electoral laws and systems- plurality elections, winner-take all, proportional representation- primary, caucus, convention- How do Dems/Repubs nominate Presidential Candidates?

- Electoral College Procedure6. Describe contemporary political campaigns

III. (B)Interest Groups

1) The range of interests represented2) The activities of interest groups

- techniques / resources- examples of specific groups and their resources

3) Effects on the Political Process- Federalist #10 James Madison- Incumbency advantage

4) Political Action Committees (PACs)- Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974 - McCain-Feingold, and Buckley v. Valeo

III. C) Media

1. Functions and structure of Media

2. Impact of media on politics

a) campaigns (watchdog)

b) gatekeeper

c) horse race journalism

IV. Institutions of Government(A) Congress

• Describe demographics of Congress

• Explain incumbency advantages

• Define gerrymandering / ID Supreme Court Limits

IV. Institutions of Government(A) Congress. . .

• Factors that influence Congress

• - Divided Government

• - Party Discipline (Conservative coalition)

• - interest group pluralism

• - district

IV. Institutions of Government(A) Congress. . .

• Legislative Process - Advantages of the majority party -The importance of committees- Speaker of the House - Rules Committee- Standing committees- committee assignments- leadership positions- filibuster / cloture- pork barrel politics

IV. Institutions of Government(A) Congress. . .

• Non-Legislative

- oversight of bureaucracy

- confirmation politics (Senate)

- impeachment / removal (House+ Senate)

- investigations

IV. Institutions of Government(A) Congress. . .

• What do Hse/Senate do collectively?

• What different powers do Hse/Senate have?

• Senate –

• - More prestigious (Armed Services)

• - Less formal, fewer rules

• - Confirmations / Treaties

• - Filibusters

IV. Institutions of Government(A) Congress. . .

• House of Representatives

• - power of the purse (Ways and Means)

• - closest to the people

• - more rules, fewer staff, less prestigious

Institutions of Government(B) Presidency

• What are the Constitutional Powers of the President?

• What are the informal powers of the President?

President & Congress

• How has the President gained power over Congress?

- Executive Orders

- Executive Agreements

- Impoundment

- War Powers

- Veto / veto threats

IV. Institutions of Government( C ) Courts

• Who creates federal courts?

• How are federal judges selected?

• How is the court system organized?

• Describe basic jurisdictional issues.

- What is habeas corpus?

- How do most court cases end?

• Describe Supreme Court procedure- What cases have original jurisdiction in the Supreme Court?

- How do Justices decide to grant cert?- How can outside groups influence the Supreme

Court?- Who is the solicitor General?- What is a concurring / dissenting opinion- What is Judicial Activism? What is Judicial

restraint?• Id/describe major rulings of the Warren, Burger

and Rehnquist Courts.

Institutions of Government (D) Bureaucracy

• ID/Describe Cabinet, independent agencies, EOP, and Government Corporations.

• Describe quasi-legislative and quasi-judicial functions

• What are iron triangles?• ID/describe rules of bureaucracy.

– Hatch Act– Freedom of Information Act– Pendleton Act

VI. Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

A) The development of civil liberties and rights by judicial interpretation (see cases)

B) Knowledge of substantive rights and liberties1. Constitutional limitations on Free Speech

a. In what cases can speech be limited?b. What types of speech are most unlimited?

2. Constitutional interpretations of Separation of Church and State

a. Lemon v. Kurtzmanb. New Jersey School Bus ruling

VI. Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

3. Constitutional development of right to privacy

4. Constitutional development of Due Process

C) The impact of the Fourteenth Amendment on the constitutional development of rights and liberties

1. Barron v. Balitmore

2. Gitlow v. New York

3. Gideon v. Wainright

Key Supreme Court Cases

• Bakke• Brown v. Board (II)• Engel v. Vitale• Gideon v. Wainright • Gitlow v. NY• Griswold v. Ct• Heart of Atlanta• Lemon v. Kurtzman• Marbury v. Madison• Mapp v. Ohio• McCulloch v. Maryland

• Miranda v. Arizona• Miller v. California• “New Jersey School Bus”• Planned Parenthood v.

Casey• Roe v. Wade• Schenk v. US• Swann v. Charlotte• Webster v. Reproductive

Health• Westbury / Baker

V. Public PolicyA) Public policy making in a federal systemB) The formation of policy agendasC) The role of institutions in the enactment of policyD) The role of the bureaucracy and the courts in

implementation/interpretationE) Linkages between policy processes and the

following 1. Institutions/federalism 2. Parties 3. Interest groups 4. Public opinion 5. Elections 6. Policy networks

F) THE PROCESS OF CREATING A NATIONAL BUDGET