AP U.S. Government & Politics

Outline / Structure of Constitution Preamble - Introduction Articles – Main parts Amendments – 27 (1-10: B.O.R.)

Preamble We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Articles Article I – Legislative Branch Article II – Executive Branch Article III – Judicial Branch Article IV – Relations among the States Article V – Amendment Process Article VI – Debts, Supremacy, Oath Article VII – Ratification Process

Constitutional Change The Amendment Process Informal Changes

Amendments Bill of Rights and 11-12 (early Amendments) Civil War Amendments 13-15 Later Amendments 16-27

Informal Changes As the words of the Constitution are reread, reinterpreted, and reapplied, informal changes in the meaning occur…changes the spirit of the Constitution. Such informal changes are also made by actions of Congress, the President, and the courts, as well as by several common political practices that have developed over the last 200 years.

Basic Principles Popular Sovereignty Limited Government Separation of Powers Checks and Balances Judicial Review Federalism

Separation of Powers “Ambition must be made to counteract ambition” – James Madison Dividing the power b/w three equal and independent branches Checks and Balances – a constitutionally mandated structure that gives each of the three branches some degree of oversight and control over the actions of the others.

Federalism System which divides the powers of government b/w the national gov’t and state gov’ts (power of national gov’t supreme) Unitary Confederacy

Vocabulary Delegated Powers Concurrent powers Reserved powers Expressed (Enumerated) powers Implied powers Inherent powers Concurrent powers Reserved powers (10th Amendment)

Court Cases Marbury v Madison (1803) MuCulloch v Maryland (1819) Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) Heart of Atlanta Motel v. U.S. (1964) U.S. v. Lopez (1995)

Important Clauses Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic) Clause Full Faith and Credit Clause Supremacy Clause Privileges and Immunities Clause Extradition Clause Commerce Clause

Powers Denied Under the Constitution Bill of attainder Ex post facto laws Generally, taking arbitrary actions affecting constitutional rights and liberties. Writ of habeas corpus

The Constitution & Democracy Document has become much more democratic over time 17th Amendment Voting rights extended

Institutions of National Government

Legislative Branch / Congress Bicameralism Organization Political Parties & Leadership Committees All laws must pass through both houses Power to override a veto Must pass a budget each year Appropriates funds Declares war

Main Points House – 2 Year terms Senate – 6 Year terms Reapportionment Redistricting Constituency Speaker of the House Exclusive Committees Impeachment Midterms Elections Domestic Focus Equal Representation Broader constituency Majority Leader Tries Impeachment Advice & Consent Midterm Elections Foreign Policy

Executive Branch / President Formal powers Informal powers Commander-in-chief Executes the Law Veto Power Appointment Power Pardoning Power Foreign Policy Policy Initiator State of the Union Head of Party Head of State Inherent Powers Executive Privilege Executive Agreements Agenda setting Meet with world leaders Access to media/bully pulpit

Related Constitutional Amendments Twelfth Amendment - Two Ballots Twentieth Amendment – Lame Duck Twenty-second – term limits – 10 years Twenty-third Amendment – Three from DC Twenty-fifth Amendment - Succession

Election of the President Caucuses and Primaries – Delegates National Convention – Nomination Running Mate Party Platform Campaign General Election Electoral College

Electoral College Number of Senators & Representatives Three from “D.C.” States control selection of electors Each party has own slate of electors Voters vote for electors Electors vote for the President

Electoral College (con’t) Based on Popular vote – winner-take-all; Electors vote in December Votes counted in January Candidate must have 270 votes In a tie – House elects President Senate elects Vice-president

Vice President No Constitutional “executive” powers First in Line for Presidency Twenty-fifth Amendment Balance the Ticket Can be a “Dead End” Job Power delegated by the President

The Federal Bureaucracy The Cabinet Independent Agencies Executive – “cabinet like” Regulatory – “protects consumers” Corporations – “Post Office and TVA Nominated by President Confirmed by the Senate Implementation of Policy

Executive Office of the President (E.O.P.) A collection of administrative and advisory bodies which assists the president in overseeing policy. It includes the National Security Council, the Council of Economic Advisors, the Office of Management and Budget, among others.

The Judiciary Article III Congress created the federal district courts & circuit courts of appeals Congress established the no. of justices on the Supreme Court Congress can impeach & remove federal justices Supreme Court assumed the power of judicial review

Judicial Branch One supreme Court Congressional/legislative courts Judiciary Act 1789 No qualifications for judges Appointment for life – “politically insulated” Original & Appellate Jurisdiction Impeachment & conviction

Judicial System District Trial Courts Courts of Appeals State Court of Last Resort Control of Docket – Solicitor General Writ of Certiorari Rule of Four Oral Arguments & Opinions

Judicial Power and National Power “…basic Landmark Decisions…” Judicial Review – Marbury v. Madison Implied Powers & Supremacy – McCulloch v. Maryland Commerce Power – Gibbons v. Odgen