1. AP U.S. Government & Politics

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

3. 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.

4. 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

5. Constitutional Change
The Amendment Process
Informal Changes

6. Amendments
Bill of Rights and (early Amendments) Civil War Amendments Later Amendments 16-27

7. 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.

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

9. 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.

10. 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

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

12. 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)

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

14. 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

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

16. Institutions of National Government

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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.

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

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