Basic Review AP Government & Politics Created by The Marist Summer Institute U.S. Government and Politics Tony Cordell, Facilitator

The “Seven” Basic Points  Constitutional Underpinnings  Political Beliefs and Behaviors  Political Parties, Interest Groups & Mass Media  Institutions of Government –Congress, Executive, and Judicial  Public Policy  Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

The U.S. Constitution Basic Principles Basic Principles Separation of power & checks and balances Separation of power & checks and balances Federalism Federalism Representation Representation Bicameralism Bicameralism State to State Relations State to State Relations Amending Process Amending Process Supremacy Clause Supremacy Clause

Legislative Branch Organizational Structure Organizational Structure Political Parties & Leadership Political Parties & Leadership Committee Systems Committee Systems Party influence on the committee system Party influence on the committee system Review Qualifications of the members Review Qualifications of the members Basic Responsibilities of the House Basic Responsibilities of the House Basic Responsibilities of the Senate Basic Responsibilities of the Senate Relationship with the other branches Relationship with the other branches

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

Congress “…enumerated, implied, and commerce powers…” “…enumerated, implied, and commerce powers…” All laws must pass both houses All laws must pass both houses Power to override veto Power to override veto Must pass a budget each year Must pass a budget each year Propose Constitutional Amendments Propose Constitutional Amendments Creates and funds federal agencies Creates and funds federal agencies “…elections are the best term limits…” “…elections are the best term limits…”

The President Formal Powers Formal Powers Commander-in-chief Commander-in-chief Executes the Law Executes the Law Veto Power Veto Power Appointment Power Appointment Power Pardoning Power Pardoning Power Foreign Policy Foreign Policy Policy Initiator Policy Initiator State of the Union State of the Union Informal Power Informal Power Head of Party Head of State Inherent Powers Executive Privilege

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

Election of the President Caucuses and Primaries – Delegates National Convention – Nomination National Convention – Running Mate National Convention – Party Platform Campaigns and impact of Mass Media General Election 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 Based on Popular vote – winner-take-all

Electoral College - continued Electors vote in December Votes counted in January Candidate must have 270 votes In a tie – House elects President In a tie – Senate elects Vice-president

Possible reforms District System The “Maryland Plan” Keep the College…remove electors Popular vote Constitutional Amendments ???

Executive Branch – “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 – Quasi-legislative, quasi-judicial, and oversight

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

Executive Office Office of the Vice-President Office of the First Lady Office of Management & Budget National Security Council National Security Agency Council of Economic Advisors White House Staff

Judicial Branch “…the least dangerous 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 – McCulloch v. Maryland Commerce Power – Gibbons v. Odgen

The Court and Public Policy The Supreme Court renders decisions Implementation of decisions depends on – Congress – create appropriate legislation – Executive – issues executive orders – States – compliance – Public Opinion

Federalism “implied not explicit” Division of Power State Powers & National Powers “areas of responsibility” Reserved powers vs. Implied Powers Dual or Traditional – “layer-cake” Cooperative – “marble-cake”

Fiscal Federalism New Deal & Cooperative Federalism Great Society & Creative Federalism Conservative View – New Federalism Devolution State Budgets Dollars v. Control –Categorical grants –Block grants

A Few Simple Points  Certain theories can be applied throughout the Course. These theories along with understanding of basic concepts are extremely important…  Interconnections…whenever possible “connect” one theme with another.

Concepts & Theories  Demographics  Political Socialization  Socio-Economic Status  Mandatory v. Discretionary Spending  Platforms to Policy Incumbency and constituency service  Policy, Agencies, and Budgeting

Demographics  Categorizing the Population  Just a Few Gender Age Race Region Religion  Cross-cutting cleavages

Political Socialization Values to Principles to Participation  Creating a “philosophical” basis  Just a Few: Family Education Peers Demographic Characteristics Age Religion Region

Socio-Economic Status (SES) “…where you fit on the table…”  Education (most important)  Income  Demographic characteristics Age, gender, race, religion, region  “higher” on the table…more participation  “lower” on the table…less participation

Mandatory vs. Discretionary  Entitlements – must be paid by law to individuals meeting eligibility  More Mandatory – less Discretionary  “….who gets what…who gets cut…”

Platforms to Policy  Constituency Service  Must make promises to get elected…  Once elected must create policy  Policy is basis of elections  District Policy  State Policy  National Policy

Policy and Budgeting  If policy is passed….what is the cost?  “…where is the funding…”?  If new policy….need a new agency  If a new agency…  “,,,where is the funding…?  No funding, no policy…  Cut programs….raise taxes

Linkage Mechanisms “…where you find the politics…” “…linking demands to the decision makers….Interest groups, political parties, campaigns, elections, and the media…”

Interest Groups Specific Focus Disturbance Theory Educate and Influence Support Candidates Fund Candidates – 527’s Lobby Iron Triangles Issue networks

Political Parties Broad Focus Select and Run Candidates Create Philosophical attachment Gain control of Government Organizes Congress

Campaigns – Pulls Concepts Together – “interconnections” Political Parties – focus of campaign Interest Groups – supports campaign Media – information source Funding – “the life blood” Elections – the “end result”

Elections Politics is a game….”you are either on offense…or you are on defense…” Elections tells who won the game…

The Media… “….all you know about politics is what you see, hear, or read….” “…who does it, when did they do it, and how does the public perceive it…? “…socialization filters the media….”

Interesting Point about Media Teach Media throughout the entire course President and “going public” Interest Groups and rallies, educating, agenda Political Parties “same as above” Campaigns “politics in the living room” Unique terms Pack journalism Issue framing Creation of Agenda Horse-race journalism

Civil Liberties & Civil Rights Civil Liberties, especially civil rights, is a perfect way to understand policy demand, creation, and implementation. Civil Liberties, especially civil rights, is a perfect way to understand policy demand, creation, and implementation.

Civil Liberties – The Bill of Rights Freedoms of …..freedoms from… Freedoms of …..freedoms from… Protection against National Government Protection against National Government Protection of ideas and expression Protection of ideas and expression Protection from arbitrary police action Protection from arbitrary police action

Important Concepts First Amendment Establishment Clause Establishment Clause Free Exercise Clause Free Exercise Clause Clear and Present Danger Clear and Present Danger Fighting Words Fighting Words Freedom of Association Freedom of Association Symbolic speech Symbolic speech

Important Concepts Due Process Amendments Exclusionary Rule Exclusionary Rule Miranda Rights – due process Miranda Rights – due process Right to Attorney Right to Attorney Right to Witnesses Right to Witnesses Trial by Jury – criminal & civil Trial by Jury – criminal & civil No torture No torture

Civil Rights – “… the right to enjoy your liberties…” The Fourteenth Amendment The Fourteenth Amendment “…no state shall make or enforce any law that shall abridge the privileges and immunities….nor deny due process of law…nor deny equal protection of the law…” “…no state shall make or enforce any law that shall abridge the privileges and immunities….nor deny due process of law…nor deny equal protection of the law…” The Incorporation Doctrine The Incorporation Doctrine

Important Concepts Separate but equal Separate but equal Affirmative Action Affirmative Action De Jure De Jure De facto De facto Race and Gender Race and Gender Suspect Classification & Strict Scrutiny Suspect Classification & Strict Scrutiny

Policy Teaching policy (usually the last chapters) is an excellent overall review of the course. Review separation of powers, checks and balances, various responsibilities of the branches, budget, constituency demands, incumbency, campaigns….basically EVERYTHING Teaching policy (usually the last chapters) is an excellent overall review of the course. Review separation of powers, checks and balances, various responsibilities of the branches, budget, constituency demands, incumbency, campaigns….basically EVERYTHING

Domestic Policy Review Policy Process….demands, linkages, decision makers, output Review Policy Process….demands, linkages, decision makers, output Review Fiscal Policy and budget Review Fiscal Policy and budget Review Monetary Policy and the FED Review Monetary Policy and the FED Innerconnections Innerconnections

Review Basics Redistributive – distributive Redistributive – distributive Regulatory Regulatory Healthcare – Medicaid, Medicare Healthcare – Medicaid, Medicare Social Programs – AFDC, TANF, Food Stamps Social Programs – AFDC, TANF, Food Stamps Corporate & Middle Class Programs Corporate & Middle Class Programs Social Security Social Security Review Mandatory and discretionary spending Review Mandatory and discretionary spending

Steps of the policymaking process 1. Agenda setting 2. Policy formulation 3. Policy adoption 4. Policy implementation 5. Policy evaluation

Fiscal vs. monetary policy Fiscal policy Government regulates the economy through its powers to tax and spend Government regulates the economy through its powers to tax and spend Politicians play a major role Politicians play a major role Budget Process Budget Process “money in…money out…” “money in…money out…” Monetary policy Adjust interest rates to control the money supply The Fed, not politicians, determine monetary policy Experts & Specialized More Efficient

Foreign Policy An Excellent Review An Excellent Review The president The president Chief executive Chief executive Head of state Head of state Commander-in-chief Commander-in-chief Chief diplomat Chief diplomat Chief legislator Chief legislator

Who makes foreign policy?, cont’d. Executive branch Executive branch National Security Council National Security Council State Department State Department Defense Department Defense Department Joint Chiefs of Staff Joint Chiefs of Staff Intelligence community Intelligence community New director of national intelligence New director of national intelligence Department of Homeland Security Department of Homeland Security

Who makes foreign policy?, cont’d. Congress Congress Ratify treaties (Senate) Ratify treaties (Senate) Confirm appointments (Senate) Confirm appointments (Senate) Declare war Declare war Exercise spending power Exercise spending power Oversee executive branch Oversee executive branch Pass legislation Pass legislation

Power struggles Since both Congress and the president have foreign policy powers, the Constitution may be an invitation to struggle Since both Congress and the president have foreign policy powers, the Constitution may be an invitation to struggle Discuss the social-economic agenda and subsequent gconflicts between conservatives and liberals….attach those discussions to political parties and the branches of government Discuss the social-economic agenda and subsequent gconflicts between conservatives and liberals….attach those discussions to political parties and the branches of government Point out conflicts, even discuss 2006 mid-term elections has a referendum on the actions of the president Point out conflicts, even discuss 2006 mid-term elections has a referendum on the actions of the president Campaigns…interest groups….political parties….media Campaigns…interest groups….political parties….media

Final Thoughts “…by no means is this an exhaustive study guide, this is a starting point…a Basic Review…add vocabulary words, other concepts, current event material and be creative….” “…by no means is this an exhaustive study guide, this is a starting point…a Basic Review…add vocabulary words, other concepts, current event material and be creative….” Can you think of anything I left out…???!!!??? Can you think of anything I left out…???!!!???

FRQ Activity Using the “Acorn Review Outline” Using the “Acorn Review Outline” Go through the past FRQ’s and place in the correct “curriculum requirement” Go through the past FRQ’s and place in the correct “curriculum requirement” (2006 #1) format (2006 #1) format Draw Conclusions and discussions Draw Conclusions and discussions