Constitutional Foundations Pt. 1

AP Test Breakdown  The Constitutional Foundations of the United States (5-15 percent)  Political Theories and Beliefs and their influence on individuals (10-20 percent)  The Development and Philosophies of Political Parties, Elections, Interest Groups and Mass Media (10-20 percent)  The Formal Institutions of Government, the Bureaucracy, and the Development of Public Policy (35-40 percent)  Public Policy – (5-15 percent)  Civil Liberties and Civil Rights (5-15 percent)

Constitutional Foundations of the United States  Historical development and adoption of the Constitution  Separation of Powers  Checks and Balances  Federalism  Theories of Modern Government.

 Systems of Government  Unitary – All power is vested in the central federal government  Confederate – decentralized government where states have most of the power.  Federal – Government where states and the central federal government share power.  Types of Democracies  Republic/Representative Democracy – government where people elect leaders to represent them.  Direct Democracy – government where people rule themselves and vote on all issues.

 Declaration of Independence:  Influenced by John Locke's Natural Rights  Listed the grievances of the colonists  Events that Led to the Constitution:  The Weak Articles of Confederation  Shay’s Rebellion

Problems with the Articles of Confederation  States had almost all the power  There was a one-house congress  Congress couldn’t tax the states  It took 2/3rds majority to pass laws  It took all 13 states to agree to change/amend the Articles

Constitutional Convention  Virginia Plan – wants a legislature based on population  New Jersey Plan – wants a legislature that is equal  Connecticut Compromise – Creates Bicameral Congress – 2 parts – House and Senate  House is based on population  Senate is based on equality  Judicial Branch will not be elected  President is indirectly elected

Compromises on slavery  Founders would not ban slavery but set a date for ending the importation of slaves in 1808  All slaves would count as 3/5s of a person in the census.

Economic Powers  Elastic Clause – Congress can do what ever is necessary and proper  They can tax, regulate interstate commerce  Create a national currency

Checks and Balances

Ratifying the Constitution  9 states must ratify the constitution in order for it to become the supreme law of the land.  The federalists support the constitution and wrote the Federalist Papers to get others to like it. They used the name Publius to sign their papers.  The Anti-Federalists did not support the constitution. They were mostly farmers and common people, and insisted that a bill of rights be added.

Informal Ways to change the meaning of the Constitution  Executive Actions  Judicial Review  Political Party practices such as nominating the president  Legislative Actions

To Be continued