AP US Government

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Political cartoons require critical thinking skills to determine the editorial commentary, or the underlying meaning. There are many parts to analyze with them, including any analogies, exaggerations, ironies, labels, or symbolism that may be present in the cartoon. Making annotations n the image can help with analyzing it. One way to analyze political cartoons is by using the acronym HAPPY:

H- Historical Context ( time and place )

A- Audience ( intended audience )

P- Purpose ( why was the source created )

P- Point of View ( the perspective )

Y- Why It Matters ( relevance of document to the argument/question )

The U.S. Constitution is made to establish a government created by the people, which contrasts with a monarchy, theocracy, dictatorship, and totalitarian governments. The people are sovereign, the United States being a democracy.

The People are the citizens and inhabitants of the United States, including the state-level leaders and legislatures.

The Constitution is the plan, or outline, of the U.S. government-- how it is structured and how it functions.

Interest Groups are groups with shared goals who work together to get policies passed or changed.

Political Parties are groups of people with shared beliefs about government who work together to get those with like beliefs elected to public office.

Media refers to the different methods of mass communication, including television, newspapers, and the internet, that share information with the people.

The Legislative Branch is given power by the U.S. Constitution to create laws. Congress lies here, and is bicameral, being made up of two parts: House of Representatives-- The number of representatives per state in the U.S. House is based upon the population of the states in relation to each other. The Senate-- Each state has two senators.

The Executive Branch is given power by the U.S. Constitution to enforce laws. The President lies here and is elected by the Electoral College-- a group from each state who cast their votes based on the popular vote in each state. The Cabinet-- A group of advisers to the president that is made up of the heads of executive departments and other officials as determined by the president. The Vice President--They're elected with the president and takes over if the president is unable to serve. they also serve as president over the Senate but only votes in the case of a tie.

The Judicial Branch is given power by the U.S. Constitution to interpret laws. The Supreme Court lies here, being the highest court, or the court of final authority over all other courts, state or federal. Other Federal Courts include state-level courts, along with the U.S. Courts of Appeal and U.S. District Courts.

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Government is the formal instructions and procedures through which a territory and its people are ruled.

The Preamble established that the intention of the U.S. Constitution is to create a government by the people.

Anarchy is a state where the absence of government results in disorder and lawlessness.

Monarchy is a government in which a ruler, such as a king or queen, rules a country or territory.

Theocracy is a government in which the head of a religion rules a country or territory.

Dictatorship is a government ruled by a leader who has absolute power and keeps control by force.

Totalitarian is a centralized government in which a single party rules a nation by stopping or removing any opposition.

Democracy is a government ruled by the people, either directly or indirectly.

The Preamble also outlines the role of the government, which is to establish justice, keep peace, protect and ensure 's well-being, and securing natural rights for future generations.

The founders also believed that government should be based on multiple ideas of how to organize and structure political power.

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These ideas include:

Limited Government, which is a ruling body whose powers are defined and restricted in law, usually by a written constitution.

Natural Rights, which is rights that people are born with and that no government can take away.

Popular Sovereignty, which is the principle that the legitimacy of the government depends on the will or consent of its people.

Republicanism, which is the principle that government officials are elected by the people and represent their interests.

Finally, Social Contract, which is the idea that people agree, or consent, to government authority and in return the government protects the people and their rights.

Participatory Democracy is when the government is ruled by the majority the people through the election of representatives who serve as trustees-.

Citizens lie below the Elected Representatives.

Pluralist Democracy are groups who compete to promote their policy and rely on bargaining and compromise to affect political decision making. These groups are often called interest groups.

Citizens lie below the Interest Groups, who lie below the Elected Representatives.

Elite Democracy are elective representatives that include, or are influenced, by a small number of powerful elite to affect policy in the best interests of this select group.

The Citizens lie beneath the Elected Representatives, who lie below the Elites.

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Declaration of Independence is a formal statement announcing the independence of the 13 American colonies from Great Britain, adopted by the second Continental Congress in 1776.

The Introduction gives reason for writing, including that breaking away from a ruling country should include notification of the reason why.

The Statement of Rights describes colonists' beliefs about government, including John Locke's natural rights and social contract theory.

The List of Grievances is lists of colonists' 29 complaints against King George III, which include taxation without representation, forcing colonists to keep British soldiers in their homes, restricting the colonists' trade, and shutting down colonial legislatures.

The Reproach to "British Brethren" explains that the colonists are ready to break ties, if necessary, with other individuals in Britain as well, including those in Parliament.

The Resolution of Independence states that because of the Grievances and failure of the King or Parliament to address them, the colonies would now be "Free and Independent States."

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Continuing, he colonies would rule themselves and no longer give loyalty to Britain or follow its laws, but rather make their own, and states that the colonists will defend he Declaration of Independence with their lives, wealth, and honor.

Articles of Confederation was America's written constitution; served as the basis for America's national government until 1789.

Strengths:

Creates the first central government of the United states.

Functioned through the end of the Revolutionary War.

Listed some protections for individual rights, such as free movement between states.

Power was divided between the national and state governments.

Congress could:

- borrow money

- operate an army and navy

- create new states

- sign treaties

-declare war

- deliver mail

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Weaknesses:

Weak central government with no executive or judicial branch.

Each state printed its own currency.

Each state had one vote in the legislative branch and new laws required the support of nine of the 13 states, more than a majority.

Required unanimous agreement of the states to amend the document.

Congress could not:

- create taxes

- raise a national military separate from the states

- control trade between states

- control trade with other nations

Constitution the document that delineates the structure and functions of the U.S. government, ratified in 1788.

Separation of Powers is the division of government powers into legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Enumerated Powers are powers granted to the national government under the U.S. Constitution, also known as expressed powers.

LEJRASR is used to remember the main sections of the Constitution.

L: Legislative

E: Executive

J: Judicial

R: Reserved

A: Amendment

S: Supremacy

R: Ratification

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Federalists those who supported the Constitution as it was and argued for immediate ratification.

Anti-Federalists are those who did not wish to ratify the Constitution because they had concerns about the strength of the central government.

Federalists Argument:

Bill of Rights is unnecessary, even dangerous.

Separation of powers and checks and balances would be enough protection for protecting rights.

A strong, centralized government will prevent competing factions, or the "mortal disease" to democracy.

The Constitution balanced power between the three branches to avoid any transgressions on liberties.

The elected representative' "enlightened views and virtuous sentiments render them superior to local prejudices, and to schemes of justice".

Strong central government.

Anti-Federalist Argument:

Decentralized government, states supreme.

A strong, centralized government is a threat to democracy.

"They will use the power, when they have acquired it, to the purposes of gratifying their own interest and ambition.

Need greater protection to prevent power consolidation of central government.

Need a Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties.

The strength of the legislative branch in the Constitution is a weakness.

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The Amendment Process:

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Checks and Balances is the processes in which each branch of government can impact the actions of the other branches.

Unconstitutional means unlawful or not legal based on the guidelines set forth in the U.S. Constitution.

Judicial Review is the power to review and cancel laws or acts of government if determined to be unconstitutional.

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Legislative Over Judicial:

Can change size of federal court system and the number of Supreme Court justices. This is expressed in Article III, Section I, of the U.S. Constitution.

Can propose constitutional amendments. This is expressed in Article V, of the U.S. Constitution.

Can reject Supreme Court nominees. This is expressed in Federalist No. 51.

Can impeach and remove federal judges. This is expressed in Federalist No. 39.

Judicial Over Legislative:

Can declare laws unconstitutional. This is expressed under the Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison (1803).

Chief Justice presides over Senate during hearing to impeach the president. This is expressed in Article I, Section 3, of the U.S. Constitution.

Executive Over Judicial:

Nominates Supreme Court justices. This is expressed under Article II, Section 2, of the U.S. Constitution.

Nominates federal judges. This is expressed under Federalist No. 51.

Can pardon those convicted in federal courts. This is expressed under Article II, Section 2, of the U.S. Constitution.

Can refuse to enforce Court decisions.

Judicial Over Executive:

Can declare executive actions unconstitutional. This is expressed by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Chief Justice presides over impeachment of the president. This is expressed under Federalist No. 51

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Executive Over Legislative:

Can veto acts of Congress. This is expressed under Federalist No. 51.

Can call Congress into a special convention. This is expressed under article II, Section 3, of the U.S. Constitution.

Carries out laws passed by the Congress. This is expressed under Federalist No. 70.

Vice president casts tie-breaking vote in the Senate. This is expressed in Article I, Section 3, of the U.S. Constitution.

Legislative Over Executive:

Can override presidential veto. This is expressed under Federalist No. 51.

Can impeach and remove president. This is expressed under Federalist No. 51.

Can reject president's appointments and refuse to ratify treaties. This is expressed under Federalist No. 51.

Can investigate the president's actions. This is expressed under Federalist No. 51.

Can refuse to pass laws or to provide funding that the president requests.

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Federalism is the division of powers among local, state, and national governments.

The cooperative federalism view sees the levels of government overlapping and sharing responsibility to the citizens.

The dual federalism view sees the levels of government as distinct legal entities with separate layers of authority.

Unitary System is the national government is sovereign and delegates powers to lower governments.

Confederal Systems are many smaller, independent governments agree to unite on certain policies but stay in control of their own territories.

National Allocations:

Make all laws "necessary and proper" for the country.

Maintain armed forces.

Regulate foreign and interstate commerce.

Regulate immigration and naturalization.

Establish federal courts below the Supreme Court.

Establish foreign policy.

Acquire and govern U.S. territories and admit new states.

Declare war.

Coin and print money.

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Concurrent Allocations:

Enact and enforce laws.

Establish courts.

Levy taxes.

Borrow money.

Charter banks.

Provide (spend funds) for the general welfare.

State Allocations:

Establish marriage laws.

Establish public school systems.

Assume other powers neither delegated to the national government nor prohibited to the states.

Regulate corporations.

Establish licensing requirements for certain regulated professions.

Regulate intrastate commerce.

Establish local governments.

Administer elections.

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The commerce clause gives Congress the power to "regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes …"

This clause was interpreted by the courts to establish a broad definition of commerce in the case of Gibbons v. Ogden (1824).

Under the commerce clause, the federal government can prohibit state laws that interfere with business involving more than one state. It also means that a state can't make its own trade deals with a foreign nation.

The necessary and proper clause is also known as the elastic clause. It gives Congress the power to "make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers …"

This clause gives Congress implied powers. These powers are not directly specified in the Constitution, but are interpreted as necessary for Congress to fulfill its enumerated powers.

Implied Powers are powers not directly stated in the Constitution but rather interpreted as belonging to the national government.

This clause was interpreted by the courts to support the U.S. government's implied powers in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819). In Missouri v. Holland (1920), the Court interpreted the necessary and proper clause to mean that Congress could make laws to implement and extend the terms of a treaty.

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The supremacy clause states that the Constitution "and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding."

This clause establishes the Constitution and federal laws as the highest laws in the nation, and that they supersede state law. It was cited to support the supremacy of national law over state law in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819). It was also used in Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) to set a precedent to explain the Supreme Court's ruling.

The full faith and credit clause states that "Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State."

This clause requires states to uphold and honor the laws and rulings of other states, including public acts and records.

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The privileges and immunities clause states that "Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States."

This means that the basic rights extended to citizens must be upheld in all states, regardless of the state in which a person lives. However, this doesn't completely stop states from placing different requirements on those from another state.

The Tenth Amendment states that powers not expressly given to the national government are reserved to the states or the people.

It protects the powers of the state governments and prevents the federal government from taking over responsibilities reserved to the states because the first three articles of the Constitution do not delegate them to the national government.

The amendment helps preserve the limited central government the framers intended.

In Bond v. United States (2011), the court ruled that though Congress has the power to make laws to enforce a treaty, it cannot do so in a way that infringes on the states' reserved powers.

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The first section of the Fourteenth Amendment helps define U.S. citizenship and protects the right of citizens to "equal protection" under the law. It defines citizens as people either "born or naturalized in the United States." It then describes how citizens are due certain protections and privileges under the law that no state government may take away.

It provided justification for people to challenge state laws seen as infringing on their right to "due process" and "equal protection" under the law.

In Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), the Supreme Court ruled that refusing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, or not respecting this license in another state, violates the right of same-sex couples to due process and equal protection.

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A published case opinion has several aspects:

Syllabus, which is the summary to help the reader understand the case and decision.

Main Opinion, which is the Court's final decision in the case. Majority Opinion is the official ruling on a court case in which a majority of the justices agree. The main decision could often represent a plurality or per curiam decision, though.

Plurality is a court decision agreed to by the greatest number of judges, but not a majority of them, (not more than half). Per Curiam is a unanimous court opinion.

Concurring Opinion, which is the opinion that agrees with the official decision, but may have more information added.

Dissenting Opinion, which is the opinion that doesn't agree with the official decision.

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The Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 prohibited any unauthorized individual from knowingly carrying a firearm within a school zone.

United Sates v. Lopez (1995)

A landmark Supreme Court decision ruling that a federal law banning possession of handguns near schools was unconstitutional because the issue did not have a strong enough relationship to interstate commerce as defined by the commerce clause

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Electoral College is a group of people from each state who officially elect the president of the United States, typically based on the popular vote. in each state.

The USA PATRIOT Act allows intelligence agencies to access personal information and records of targeted individuals without informing them, or getting permission.

The Extension of this act is debated due to its argued infringement on individual rights, which is supported in the Bill of Rights, and encroached in the reserved powers of the states as well as specified in the Tenth Amendment and Article IV.

No Child Left Behind Act was a grant program signed in 2002 by President George W. Bush that directed testing elementary and secondary students in math and reading proficiency.

This act requires states to create, fund, and implement programs that would help all students become proficient in these areas.

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Every Student Succeeds Act requires that students become good at math and reading on standardized tests, but allows states and school districts to dictate their own performance standards.