👩🏾‍⚖️AP US Government Frequently Asked Questions

Key Concepts and Terminology

• Federalism divides power between the national government and state governments, with each level having its own responsibilities and areas of authority
• Separation of powers splits the federal government into three branches (executive, legislative, and judicial) to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful
• Checks and balances allow each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches and prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful (presidential veto, congressional override, judicial review)
• Enumerated powers are the specific powers granted to the federal government by the Constitution (regulate interstate commerce, declare war, coin money)
• Reserved powers are powers not specifically granted to the federal government that are reserved for the states (education, law enforcement, infrastructure)
• Concurrent powers are powers shared by both the federal and state governments (taxation, borrowing money, establishing courts)
• Implied powers are powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but are considered necessary and proper for the federal government to carry out its enumerated powers (establish a national bank, regulate immigration)

Constitutional Foundations

• The Constitution establishes the framework for the U.S. government and outlines the powers and responsibilities of each branch
• The Preamble sets forth the purpose of the Constitution and the goals of the government ("We the People," "establish Justice," "insure domestic Tranquility")
• Article I establishes the legislative branch (Congress) and outlines its powers and responsibilities (make laws, declare war, regulate commerce)
  • Congress is divided into two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate
  • The House of Representatives is based on population, with each state receiving a number of representatives proportional to its population
  • The Senate has two senators from each state, regardless of population
• Article II establishes the executive branch (president) and outlines its powers and responsibilities (enforce laws, command military, make treaties)
• Article III establishes the judicial branch (Supreme Court and lower federal courts) and outlines its powers and responsibilities (interpret laws, resolve disputes between states)
• The Bill of Rights (first ten amendments) protects individual liberties and limits the power of the government (freedom of speech, right to bear arms, protection against unreasonable searches and seizures)
• Amendments to the Constitution can be proposed by a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress or by a national convention called by two-thirds of the state legislatures, and must be ratified by three-fourths of the states

Branches of Government

• The executive branch, headed by the president, is responsible for enforcing laws and conducting foreign policy
  • The president is elected to a four-year term and can serve a maximum of two terms
  • The president has the power to veto legislation, nominate federal judges and cabinet members, and serve as commander-in-chief of the military
  • The vice president is elected along with the president and assumes the presidency if the president is unable to serve
• The legislative branch, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, is responsible for making laws
  • Representatives serve two-year terms, while senators serve six-year terms
  • Bills must pass both the House and the Senate and be signed by the president to become law
  • Congress has the power to override a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority in both chambers
• The judicial branch, consisting of the Supreme Court and lower federal courts, is responsible for interpreting laws and resolving disputes
  • The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land and has the power of judicial review, allowing it to declare laws unconstitutional
  • Federal judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, and serve lifetime appointments to ensure their independence
• The system of checks and balances allows each branch to limit the power of the others (presidential veto, congressional override, judicial review)

Federal, State, and Local Relationships

• Federalism divides power between the national government and state governments, with each level having its own responsibilities and areas of authority
• The Supremacy Clause of the Constitution establishes that federal law takes precedence over state law when there is a conflict
• The Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people
• States have the power to establish local governments, such as counties and municipalities, and delegate powers to them
• The federal government can influence state and local policies through grants and mandates (requiring states to meet certain conditions to receive federal funding)
• Cooperative federalism involves the federal and state governments working together to address issues (Medicaid, education)
• Dual federalism, where the federal and state governments operate independently in their own spheres, has largely given way to cooperative federalism
• The federal government can preempt state laws in areas where it has authority (immigration, national security)

Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

• Civil liberties are individual freedoms protected by the Constitution and Bill of Rights (freedom of speech, freedom of religion, right to due process)
• Civil rights are guarantees of equal protection under the law and freedom from discrimination (voting rights, equal access to education and employment)
• The Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause prohibits states from denying any person equal protection under the law
• The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in public accommodations, employment, and education
• The Voting Rights Act of 1965 banned discriminatory voting practices and ensured equal access to the ballot
• Affirmative action policies aim to increase diversity and address past discrimination in education and employment
• The Supreme Court has played a crucial role in interpreting and expanding civil rights and civil liberties (Brown v. Board of Education, Roe v. Wade, Obergefell v. Hodges)

Political Participation and Elections

• Voting is the most fundamental form of political participation in a democracy
• The Fifteenth, Nineteenth, and Twenty-sixth Amendments expanded voting rights to African Americans, women, and 18-year-olds, respectively
• Voter turnout in the United States is relatively low compared to other developed democracies
• Factors influencing voter turnout include age, education, income, and race (older, more educated, and higher-income individuals tend to vote at higher rates)
• The Electoral College is the system used to elect the president, with each state receiving a number of electors equal to its total number of representatives in Congress
• A candidate must receive a majority (270) of the 538 electoral votes to win the presidency
• In most states, the candidate who wins the popular vote receives all of the state's electoral votes (winner-take-all system)
• Political parties play a crucial role in the electoral process by nominating candidates, mobilizing voters, and shaping policy agendas
• The two major political parties in the United States are the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, which have dominated American politics since the mid-19th century

Public Policy and Interest Groups

• Public policy is the course of action taken by the government to address issues and solve problems
• The policy-making process involves identifying problems, formulating solutions, adopting policies, implementing programs, and evaluating outcomes
• Interest groups are organizations that seek to influence public policy on behalf of their members or causes (labor unions, business associations, environmental groups)
• Interest groups engage in lobbying, campaign contributions, and grassroots mobilization to shape policy outcomes
• Political Action Committees (PACs) are organizations that pool campaign contributions and donate them to candidates who support their interests
• Iron triangles are close relationships between interest groups, congressional committees, and government agencies that shape policy in a particular area (defense contractors, Armed Services Committee, Department of Defense)
• Issue networks are looser coalitions of interest groups, policy experts, and government officials that form around specific policy issues (healthcare reform, climate change)
• The media plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion and setting the policy agenda by deciding which issues to cover and how to frame them

Common Misconceptions and Tricky Topics

• The Constitution does not explicitly mention "separation of powers" or "checks and balances," but these principles are embedded in the structure of the government
• The number of representatives in the House is fixed at 435, but the number of representatives per state can change based on population shifts
• The president can veto a bill, but Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds majority in both chambers
• The Supreme Court can declare laws unconstitutional, but it cannot make laws or enforce its decisions
• The federal government has grown in size and scope over time, but states still retain significant powers and responsibilities
• The Bill of Rights originally applied only to the federal government, but most of its provisions have been incorporated to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause
• The Electoral College can result in a candidate winning the presidency without winning the popular vote (2000, 2016)
• Interest groups and PACs can influence policy, but they are subject to regulation and disclosure requirements
• The media is protected by the First Amendment's freedom of the press, but it is not immune from bias or manipulation