AP Government Mid Term Exam Review Part Two

What is the difference between Capitalism and Communism?

Both are economic systems, but capitalism allows for private ownership of property and businesses, less government involvement, a belief in the free market system. Communism calls for the state to control the means of production – land, labor and capital, and also a violent class overthrow of the working class over the factory and business owners.

How does our Constitution limit the government?

Through the concept of separation of power and checks & balances on those powers that are separated among the 3 branches. We also have the Bill of Rights, which limits the government’s ability to trample on our rights. Also, judicial review is included as it keeps Congress & the President from overstepping the Constitution.

What are literacy tests (voting)?

The requirement that people pass a reading test in order to vote – the idea is that we want intelligent people voting, not illiterates. Illiterate whites were allowed under the Grandfather clause, or if you grand pappy could vote, so could you (leaving out blacks, since most of their grandfathers were slaves)

Explain our core values of liberty and equality

We may not treat each other all the same, but we’re all treated the same UNDER THE LAW…you don’t have to like Latinos, but white & brown all get treated the same by our government. We also all get the same freedoms and have the same opportunities (in theory) in our society.

How is liberty and equality more prevalent in our capitalist society than in a communist society?

You can set your own course, decide for yourself what you want to do. We all have the opportunity to move forward free of interference from the government. In our society, your ideas are more important than the state’s ideals. Our government does not guarantee your condition in life, your life is a result of your actions.

What’s the Twenty-sixth Amendment?

Lowered the voting age to 18.

What was the Twenty-fourth Amendment?

Elimination of the Poll Tax.

How is it that we have limited government?

Well, the Constitution was written not long after we shook off the shackles of the King of England, so we didn’t want to have too powerful a government. So we came up with something novel – separation of powers, where each of the three branches have clearly defined powers, and there is a balance of power that we keep in check through vetoes, veto overrides, Senate confirmation of treaties, etc…

How do “we the people” ourselves limit our government?

Primarily through self-government. Voting is based on winning a majority of our votes and of course the preferences of a majority of the people. This preference of the majority is evident in the preferences of the majority in votes in Congress and in the Supreme Court

What is federalism?

A separation and distribution of power between the national and state governments

What is federalism? A separation and distribution of power between the national and state governments Dual federalism

What is federalism? A separation and distribution of power between the national and state governments Dual federalism is a precise separation of powers between the national and state governments – National government has delegated power like declaring war, State governments have reserved powers like managing elections, voting registration.

What is cooperative federalism?

Where the national and state governments share responsibilities because oftentimes issue affect more than one state or the entire nation as a whole and the national government may assist one or many states to deal with an issue such as security. National government also has access to more financial resources than states do.

What are categorical grants?

Monetary disbursements from the federal to state governments. These grants are for only certain designated activities.

What are Mandates? (funded and unfunded)

Mandates are specific requests from the federal to the state governments. Funded mandates are supported by the national government. Unfunded mandates are required programs dictated by the national government, but no funds are allocated, therefore the states are required to follow the law but pay for mandates from state funds.

How did the Federalists and the Anti- federalists agree to limit government?

Clearly they weren’t divided over the entire constitution…They agreed with the idea of a chief executive with limited power, checks & balances along with separation of power, as well as they compromised and passed a Bill of Rights to keep the federal government from limiting our rights.

What is the exclusionary rule?

The legal principle that government is prohibited from using in trials evidence that was obtained by unconstitutional means. (for example, through illegal search and seizure) Mapp v. Ohio

Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

Cleveland PD entered Dollree Mapp’s home, and failing to find what they were looking for, found PORN! Illegal at the time, Mapp’s conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court on the grounds that she had been subjected to unreasonable search and seizure.

What is the Fourth Amendment?

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

How has the “exclusionary rule” changed over the years?

We’ve moved away from the strict “probable cause”. Whren v. US (1996) upheld the conviction when police found drugs on the front seat of the car when there was no probable cause they would be there (traffic stop as a pretext to stop the suspect)

What’s Devolution?

Embodies the idea that American federalism will be strengthened by the partial shift in authority from the federal government to the state and local governments. (The passing down of authority from the national government to states and localities.)

The End