1. AP Government Review Unit 1: Constitutional Framework
Chapters: “Constitution” and “Federalism
AP Government Review Unit 1: Constitutional Framework

2. Areas Covered in General
Attitudes/Beliefs of Revolutionaries
Weakness of Articles of Confederation
Constitutional Convention (Compromises)
Ratification (Federalist vs. Antifederalist)
Constitutional Aspects (Structure, Key Provisions, Amendment Process, Full Faith and Credit)
Federalist #10
Bill of Rights
Federalism (Eras of Dual and Cooperative, Examples, Court Cases)
Money and Control (Grants and Mandates)

3. Articles of Confederation
Unlike the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution does which of the following?
Restricts the ability of Congress to tax
Restricts the ability of Congress to establish an army or navy
Establishes a unitary form of government
Emphasizes state sovereignty over national sovereignty
Emphasis both national sovereignty and federalism

4. Anti-Federalists vs. Federalists
The debates between Federalists and Anti-Federalists were primarily about which of the following issues?
The right of people to rebel
The existence of slavery
The scope of power of the central government
The need to establish a standard currency
The representation of small and large states

5. Constitution (Structure)
Which of the following statements about political parties and the United States Constitution is true?
According to the constitution, only two major political parties may exist at any time
The Constitution requires political parties to be restricted by both federal and state law
The Constitution indicates that political party leaders at the national level be elected by political party leaders at the state level
The Constitution specifies that political party leaders must be native-born United States Citizens
The issue of political parties is not addressed in the Constitution

6. Constitution (Key Provisions)
Which of the following is a fundamental element of the United States Constitution?
Recognition of the centrality of political parties in government
Direct election of members of the executive branch
An executive branch that is more powerful than the legislature
Emphasis on a unitary system of government
Division of governmental authority across political institutions

7. Constitutional (Process/Amendment)
The procedure for formally amending the United States Constitution best illustrates which of the following?
The dominance of the national government over the state governments
The dominance of the state governments over the national government
The Founding Fathers’ desire to facilitate rapid constitutional revisions
The Supreme Court’s power to review constitutional amendments
The federal structure of the United States government

8. Federalist #10
In the Federalist #10, James Madison argued that factions in a republic are
A more serious threat if the republic is large
Natural but controllable by institutions
Not likely to occur if people are honest
Prevented by majority rule
Prevented by free elections

9. Bill of Rights
The Tenth Amendment to the Constitution has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to
Prevent states from taxing agencies of the federal government
Reserve powers to the states
Restrict the application of judicial review
Allow for the burning of the flag as an expression of protest
Limit the use of the legislative veto

10. Federalism (Structure)
In a federal system of government, political power is primarily
Vested in local governments
Vested in regional governments
Vested in the central government
Divided between central government and regional governments
Divided between regional governments and local governments

11. Federalism (National vs. State)
Of the following, which has been used the most to expand the power of the national government?
The commerce clause of the Constitution
The habeas corpus clause of the Constitution
The bill of attainder clause of the Constitution
The First Amendment
The Fifth Amendment

12. Federalism (Court Case)
In McCulloch v. Maryland, The Supreme Court established which of the following principles?
States cannot interfere with or tax the legitimate activities of the federal government
The judicial branch cannot intervene in political disputes between the President and Congress
The federal Bill of Rights places no limitations on the states
The federal government has the power to regulate commerce
It is within the judiciary’s authority to interpret the Constitution

13. FRQ (2007)

14. FRQ Rubric (2007)

15. FRQ Rubric (2007)

16. FRQ (2009)

17. FRQ Rubric (2009)

18. FRQ Rubric (2009)

19. FRQ Rubric (2009)

20. FRQ (2013)

21. FRQ Rubric (2013)

22. FRQ Rubric (2013)

23. FRQ Rubric (2013)

24. Path To Independence British “Obstructionism”
Abrupt Taxation
Crystallizes emerging philosophies
Enlightenment Influences (John Locke)
Natural Rights cannot be infringed on
Life, Liberty, Property
Government by consent rather than decree
Declaration of Independence
Restatement of Locke’s principles
Listed 27 specific abuses by Britain

25. Articles of Confederation
Structure and Power
Unicameral Legislature
Each state had one vote
9 of 13 for passage of law
Powerless Executive and No Judicial
Unanimous Consent for Amendment
Key Weaknesses
No power to tax, had to request from states
No power to regulate commerce, no national economy
No court system to deal with conflict between states
No money to fund military
Shay’s Rebellion
Reveals weaknesses of Articles

26. Constitutional Convention
Issues Dealt With
Representation
Virginia Plan
New Jersey Plan
Compromise
Slavery
3/5 Compromise
Voting (left to states)
Key Concepts (Madison)
Separation of Power
Checks and Balances
Limits on Majority Power
Federalism

27. Ratification of Constitution
Technically Illegal
Federalists vs. Antifederalists
Federalists (Strong National Gov/Pro-Constitution
Antifederalists (State’s Rights/Anti-Constitution
The Federalist Papers
Federalist 10: Danger of factions, virtue of republic
Federalist 51: Separation of Powers to control factions
Bill of Rights
Antifederalists pushed for one, added after ratification
Ratification
Special Conventions

28. Amending the Constiution
Formal
Informal
Judicial Interpretation
Political Practices (Parties for example)
Proposal
Ratification
2/3 vote of both Houses of Congress
¾ vote of State Legislatures
National Convention called by Congress at the request of 2/3 of state legislatures
State Conventions ratify in ¾ of the states.

29. Sharing Power (Federalism)
A political system in which power is shared between local/regional governments (states) and a national government
Continues due to
Commitment to local government
Congress being elected by local constituency
Clear Advantage
Increase participation and activity

30. System of Federalism Based on 10th Amendment
Federal and State Relationships
No state can make treaties
No state can coin money
Elastic Clause muddies the waters
Decided by Supreme Court
State to State relationships
“Full Faith and Credit Clause”
“Privileges and immunities”
Extradition

31. “Types of Federalism” Dual Federalism (Layer Cake)
Early interpretation which held the States had powers in some areas and the federal in others but they did not overlap
Cooperative Federalism (Marble Cake)
More recent interpretation (1930s on) that hold the Federal and State governments both have power and responsibilities in certain areas. Leads to federal solutions implemented through the state’s apparatus.

32. Important Events 1919 McCulloch v. Maryland 1924 Gibbons v . Ogden
Implied Powers
Federal Supremacy
1924 Gibbons v . Ogden
Court defines commerce broadly, increasing Federal power
Nullification and the Civil War
Loss of distinction between Interstate and Intrastate commerce
Devolution
1995 United States v. Lopez
Restricts commerce clause
Medicaid and Medicare debate

33. Federal and State Money
Grants-In-Aid
Categorical Grants
Grants for specific purposes. Often require matching funds. Have many conditions of aid.
Block Grants
Grants for general purposes. Have little to no conditions of aid.
Stronger lobby for Categorical Grants

34. Mandates Two Types of Federal Control over States Conditions of Aid
What states must do to get grant money
Mandates
Regulations and Requirements State must meet (Environmental and Civil Rights mostly)
Often vague, left up to Federal Gov to define
Unfunded Mandates: Requirements given to states without providing funding to meet.

35. Key Vocabulary Amendment Process Antifederalists Bicameral
Bill of Rights
Checks and Balances
Constitution
Declaration of Independence
Factions
Federalism

36. Key Vocabulary Federalist Papers Federalists Great Compromise
Judicial Review
Natural Rights
New Jersey Plan
Ratification
Republic
Separation of Powers

37. Key Vocabulary Shay’s Rebellion Virginia Plan Unalienable Unicameral
Block Grants
Categorical Grants
Conditions of Aid
Cooperative Federalism
Devolution

38. Key Vocabulary Dual Federalism Extradition Federalism Federal System
Full Faith and Credit
Gibbons v. Ogden
Grants in aid
Initiative
Mandates

39. Key Vocabulary Mc.Culloch v. Maryland Nullification
Privileges and Immunities
Referendum
Unfunded
Unitary System