AP UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT &POLITICS

1. AP UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT &POLITICS MONDAY, MAY 4 2009 8:00 AM TAC HOUSE

2. THE TEST • Two parts • Multiple – choice: 60 questions 45 mins. • Free response – 4 questions 100 mins. (must do all 4 questions) • Scoring • Mid 80s – 120 = 5 • 70s – Mid 80s = 4 • High 40s – 70 = 3 • High 20s – high 40s = 2 • 0 – high 20s = 1 (The ranges change from year to year – use this only as an approximate guideline.)

3. Multiple-choice • Structure of Multiple-choice questions • Straight forward questions may involve defining terms or making a generalization. • Negative questions might include “all of the following except” and requires extra time because it demands that you consider every possibility. • Multiple multiple-choice questions uses Roman numerals to list several possible correct answers. • The stimulus-based question involves interpreting a chart, graph, table, quote, etc. to determine the anwer.

4. Multiple-choice • Scoring • Number –(number wrong x .25) = raw score rounded up or down to nearest whole number • Ex) 47 correct – (8 wrong x .25) = 45 section I Raw Score • Guessing • Always go with your first answer. • Only change if you are 200% sure that the answer is wrong. • Only guess if you can eliminate one or more of the answers, otherwise leave the question blank • No points for blank answers

5. Free-Response (Essay Questions) • 4 questions 100 min (all 4 required) • You will have about 25 min per question • Read question carefully • Underline what the question asks you to do • Label each part to make sure that you answer all of the parts • Bulleting is acceptable but writing the answer scores better • If you bullet the answer make sure you explain your bullet

6. Free-Response (Essay Questions) • Prompt vocabulary • Analyze: evaluate • Define: briefly tell what something means • Describe: create a mental picture by using details or examples • Discuss: give details about • Explain: make something clear by giving reasons or examples • Argue/defend/justify/support: give evidence to show why an idea or view is right or good • Categorize/classify: sort into groups according to a given set of traits or features

7. Free-Response (Essay Questions) • Prompt vocabulary (cont.) 8. Compare and contrast: point out similarities and differences 9. Determine cause and effect: decide what leads to an event or circumstance (cause) and what results from an event or circumstance (effect) 10. Evaluate/judge: determine the worth or wisdom of an opinion, belief, or idea

8. Free-Response (Essay Questions)Hints • Don’t use words that you are uncomfortable using or not familiar with. • Don’t try to “fake out” the reader. • Don’t preach, moralize, editorialize, or use “cute” comments. • Don’t “data dump” or create “laundry lists.” • Do write neatly and legibly. • Do use correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

9. Do answer all questions and all parts of each question Do support your essay with specific evidence and examples. Do pay attention to dates and terms like “modern.” Do stop when you finish your essay. Do your best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Free-Response (Essay Questions)Hints cont.

10. Constitutional underpinnings of United States Government

11. Architecture and Development of U.S. Government • Purpose of Government • Found in Preamble of US Constitution • Forming a more perfect union • Establishing justice • Insuring domestic tranquility • Providing for common defense • Promoting the general welfare • Securing the blessing of liberty

12. Forms of Government Anarchy Autocracy Absolute monarchy Constitutional monarchy dictatorship Oligarchy Aristocracy Theocracy Democracy Direct democracy Representative democracy Architecture and Development of U.S. Government

13. Architecture and Development of U.S. Government • Theories of Democratic Government • Traditional democratic theory • Pluralist theory • Elitist theory • Bureaucratic theory • Hyperpluralism

14. Architecture and Development of U.S. Government • Influences on American Government • Ancient Greeks and Romans • Enlightenment philosophers • Magna Carta • Parliament • Petition of Right • English Bill of Rights

15. Architecture and Development of U.S. Government • Colonial Experiences • Colonial charters • House of Burgesses • Mayflower Compact • Difficulties with Britain • Continental Congress

16. Architecture and Development of U.S. Government • Declaration of Independence • Articles of Confederation • Constitutional Convention

17. Architecture and Development of U.S. Government • Compromises • Connecticut (Great) Compromise • The Three-Fifths Compromise • The Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise

18. Basic principles within the Constitution Limited Government Popular Sovereignty Separation of Powers Checks and Balances Federalism Architecture and Development of U.S. Government

19. Formal Amendment Process Amend 2/3 2/3 Votes by each House of Congress Of states call for a national convention N N S S 3/4 3/4 Of state legislatures Of special state conventions Ratify

20. Architecture and Development of U.S. Government • Informal Amendment Process • Legislative actions • Executive actions • Judicial interpretation/judicial review • Custom and useage

21. Federalism • Constitutional basis of Federalism • Delegated powers • Implied powers • Inherent powers • Concurrent powers • Reserved powers (State governments) • Prohibited powers

22. Federalism • Interstate Relations • Full faith and credit clause • Privileges and immunities clause • Extradition • Interstate compacts

23. Federalism • Guarantees to the State • Republican form of government • Protections against foreign invasion • Protections against domestic violence • Respect for the geographic integrity of states

24. Federalism • Establishing national supremacy • McCulloch v. Maryland • Established the implied powers of the national government and national supremacy • Gibbons v. Ogden • Defined commerce as including all business dealings, and powers to regulate interstate commerce belonging exclusively to the national government.

25. Federalism • Federalism today • Dual Federalism (layer cake federalism) • Cooperative Federalism (marble cake federalism) • New Federalism (devolution) • Fiscal Federalism (granting or withholding money to pay for programs) • Grant-in-aid • Categorical grants • Block grants • Revenue sharing • Mandates • Unfunded mandates

26. Political beliefs and Political Behaviors

27. Political Culture • American Democratic Values • Majority rules/minority rights • Equality • Private property • Individual freedoms • Compromise • Limited government

28. Political Culture • Political Socialization • Family • Education • Group affiliation • Demographics • Mass Media • Opinion leaders • Events

29. Political Culture • Public Opinion is a collection of shared attitudes of many different people in matters relating to politics, public issues, or the making of public policy. • Measuring public opinion • Sampling • Preparing valid questions • Controlling how the poll is taken • Analyzing and reporting results

30. Political Culture • Ideology: A political spectrum • Radical • Liberal • Moderate • Conservative • reationary

31. Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass media

32. Political Parties • Roles of Political Parties • Party in the electorate • Party in government • Party in organization

33. Political Parties • Party systems • One-party system • Two-party system • Multi-party system

34. Political Parties • What do political parties do? • Recruit candidates • Nominate and support candidates for office • Educate the electorate • Organize the government

35. Political Parties • Party identification and membership • Ideology • Education • Income • Occupation • Race or ethnicity • Gender • Religion • Family tradition • Region of the country • Marital status

36. Political Parties • Two-Party tradition in America • Why a two-party tradition? • Historical roots • Electoral system • Election laws

37. Political Parties • Rise of political parties • Party Development (1789 – 1800) • Democratic Domination (1800 – 1860) • Republican Domination (1860 – 1932) • Return of Democrats (1932 – 1968) • Divided Government (1968 – present)

38. Voting and Elections • Forms of Political Participation • Voting • Discussing politics and attending political meetings • Forming interest groups and PAC’s • Contacting public officials • Campaigning • Contributing money • Running for office • Protesting government decisions

39. Voting and Elections • Expansion of Suffrage • Elimination of religious, property ownership, and tax payment qualifications after 1800 • Elimination of race disqualifications (15th amendment) • Elimination of gender disqualification (19th amendment) • Elimination of grandfather clause, white primaries, and literacy requirements with passage of federal civil rights legislation and court decisions • Allowing Washington D.C. residents to vote (23rd amendment) • Elimination of poll taxes (24th amendment) • Lowering voting age to 18 (26th amendment)

40. Voting and Elections • Issue or policy voting • Direct primary • Recall • Referendum • Initiative

41. Voting and Elections • Low voter turnout • Expansion of electorate • Failure of political parties to mobilize voters • No perceived difference between candidates or parties • Mistrust of government • Apathy • Satisfaction with the way things are • Lack of political efficacy • Mobility of electorate • Registration process

42. Voting and Elections • Factors affecting voting • Education • Occupation and income • Age • Race • Gender • Religion • Marital status • Union membership • Community membership • Party identification • geography

43. Voting and Elections • Types of elections • Primary elections • Closed primary • Open primary • Blanket primary • Run-off primary • General elections • Special elections

44. Voting and Elections • Campaign finance regulations and reforms • Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) 1971 • Amended in 1974 to establish the Federal Election Commission (FEC) • In 1976, Buckley v. Valeo ruled that spending limits established by FEC in 1974 were unconstitutional, ruling that those restrictions were in violations of the 1st amendment of freedom of expressions • Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform (BCRA) 2002 • Banned use of “soft money”

45. Interest Groups and the Mass Media • Function of Interest Groups • Raise awareness and stimulate interest in public affairs • Represent membership • Provide information to government • Provide channels for political participation

46. Interest Groups and the Mass Media • Types if interest Groups • Economic Interest Groups • Groups that Promote Causes • Public Interest Groups

47. Interest Groups and the Mass Media • Strategies of Interest Groups • Influencing elections • Lobbying • Direct lobbying • Grassroots lobbying • Coalition lobbying • Litigation • Going public

48. Interest Groups and the Mass Media • Political Action Committees (PACs) • Political arms of interest groups • Regulation of Interest Groups • Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act 1946 • Lobbying Disclosure Act 1995 • Mass Media • Mass media refers to all forms of communication that transmit information to the general public

49. Interest Groups and the Mass Media • Development of the Modern Media • Newspapers • Magazines • Radio • Television • Internet as Media

50. Interest Groups and the Mass Media • Roles if the Media • Informing the public • Shaping public opinion • Providing a link between citizens and government • Serving as watchdog • Agenda-setting