AP Government Review Set Elaborated Study Guide
1. 10th Amendment: Powers not expressly given to federal government by the Constitution are
reserved to states or the people. Also known as "reserved powers amendment" or "states' rights
amendment"
2. 13th Amendment: Abolished slavery. First of three "Reconstruction Amend- ments" passed
after Civil War (1865-70)
3. 14th Amendment: (1) All persons born in the U.S. are citizens; (2) no person can be deprived
of life, liberty or property without DUE PROCESS OF LAW; (3) no state can deprive a person of
EQUAL PROTECTION of the laws. Second of three "Reconstruction Amendments" passed after
Civil War.
4. 15th Amendment: States cannot deny any person the right to vote because
of race. Third of three "Reconstruction Amendments" passed after Civil War. First
Voting Rights Amendment (with 19, 24 & 26)
5. 16th Amendment: Power of Congress to tax income
6. 17th Amendment: Established the direct election of senators (instead of being chosen by state
legislatures)
7. 19th Amendment: States cannot deny the right to vote based on gender
8. 1st Amendment: Freedom of religion (establishment & free exercise clauses), speech, press,
assembly, and petition.
9. 22nd Amendment: Limits the president to two terms.
,10. 23rd Amendment: Gives Washington DC electoral college votes as if it were a state (DC still
has no representation in Congress)
11. 24th Amendment: Abolishes poll taxes
12. 26th Amendment: States cannot deny the right to vote based on age (18+)
13. 2nd Amendment: Right to arm bears. Supported by National Rifle Association interest group
& Republican Party.
14. 4th Amendment: No "unreasonable" searches and seizures. Exclusionary rule (Weeks v. US,
Mapp v. Ohio)
15. 5th Amendment: (1) No Self-Incrimination (Miranda)
(2) No Double Jeopardy (defendant cannot be tried again on the same, or similar charges)
(3) No deprivation of life liberty or property without "due process of law" (fair treatment)
16. 6th Amendment: The right to counsel in criminal trials. Gideon v. Wainwright held that
states must provide indigent defendants with a free lawyer ("public defender"). Right to jury in
criminal trials.
17. 7th Amendment: Right to jury in civil trials.
18. 8th Amendment: Government cannot inflict cruel and unusual punishment. Meaning of
"cruel" based on "evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society."
Categorical bans on death penalty: juveniles, retarded,
non-murder crimes...
19. 9th Amendment: Unenumerated Rights Amendment. Citizens have unenu- merated rights in
addition to those stated in the Constitution. Not been developed by Supreme Court (too open
ended)
,20. Constitution: A nation's basic law, creates political institutions, assigns or divides power in
government and often provides certain guarantees to citizens. Can be written or unwritten.
21. Agents of Socialization: Family (most important); TV/media (growing in im- portance);
friends/peers; school (formal socialization). How we develop (absorb) opinions & beliefs.
22. American Political Culture: A set of basic, foundational values and beliefs about
government that is shared by most citizens. Key elements: democracy, equality before the law,
limited government, capitalism & private property
23. Anti-Federalists: A group who opposed the ratification of the Constitution in
1787. They opposed a strong central government (tyranny) and supported states' rights. "I smell a
rat!"
24. Articles of Confederation: Set up the 1st independent American government (1783-88).
Nonbinding "league of friendship" among sovereign states with weak central government to help
with common defense & cooperation (like the European Union). Replaced by our current
constitution in 1788.
25. Bandwagon Effect: "Copy-cat" behavior. People often do things just because other people do
them. In primary elections, it is when people support the candidate everyone else seems to be
supporting (poll leaders). Leads to Primary Frontload- ing (states want to have the most impact in
the primary process)
26. Block Grants: Grants ($) given to the states by the federal government for a general purpose
(like education or road-building). Unlike categorical grants, states have discretion to decide how
to spend the money. Example = Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) (States develop
and implement welfare programs using federal money).
27. Casework: Assistance given to individual constituents by congressional mem- bers, like
helping an elderly person figure out how to get Medicare benefits. Major incumbency advantage.
, 28. Categorical Grant: A grant ($) given to the states by the federal government for a specific
purpose or program. The federal government tells the states exactly how to spend the money (no
state discretion unlike block grants). Example = Medicaid. Most common type of federal grant
because it gives Congress the most control over the states.
29. Checks and Balances: A major principle of the American system of gov- ernment. Helps
maintain separation of powers so that no one branch gets too powerful. Explained in Federalist 51.
Examples: President vetos laws; Senate confirms appointments & treaties; Congress impeaches
president & judges...
30. Chief Justice John Marshall: In office from 1801-1835 (longest serving CJ). Supported
increased power of federal government. Decided McCulloch v. Mary- land, Gibbons v. Ogden,
and Marbury v. Madison.
31. Civil Rights Act of 1964: Prohibits discrimination based on race or gender
in employment or public accommodations (restaurants, hotels). Created EEOC to enforce. Based
on Congress's interstate commerce clause power (discrimination impacts interstate commerce).
The most important federal civil rights law.
32. Commerce Clause: Art. 1, Sec. 8 of the Constitution (enumerated power). Congress has the
power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, among the several states ["Interstate
Commerce Clause"], and with the Indians. Interpreted by the Supreme Court very broadly
(Gibbons v. Ogden) until Lopez & Morrison.
33. Confederation: Nonbinding union of sovereign states (example = European
Union, America under Articles of Confederation).
34. Congressional Demographics: Rich highly educated white male protestant lawyers &
businessmen! Women VERY underrepresented! (<17%)
1. 10th Amendment: Powers not expressly given to federal government by the Constitution are
reserved to states or the people. Also known as "reserved powers amendment" or "states' rights
amendment"
2. 13th Amendment: Abolished slavery. First of three "Reconstruction Amend- ments" passed
after Civil War (1865-70)
3. 14th Amendment: (1) All persons born in the U.S. are citizens; (2) no person can be deprived
of life, liberty or property without DUE PROCESS OF LAW; (3) no state can deprive a person of
EQUAL PROTECTION of the laws. Second of three "Reconstruction Amendments" passed after
Civil War.
4. 15th Amendment: States cannot deny any person the right to vote because
of race. Third of three "Reconstruction Amendments" passed after Civil War. First
Voting Rights Amendment (with 19, 24 & 26)
5. 16th Amendment: Power of Congress to tax income
6. 17th Amendment: Established the direct election of senators (instead of being chosen by state
legislatures)
7. 19th Amendment: States cannot deny the right to vote based on gender
8. 1st Amendment: Freedom of religion (establishment & free exercise clauses), speech, press,
assembly, and petition.
9. 22nd Amendment: Limits the president to two terms.
,10. 23rd Amendment: Gives Washington DC electoral college votes as if it were a state (DC still
has no representation in Congress)
11. 24th Amendment: Abolishes poll taxes
12. 26th Amendment: States cannot deny the right to vote based on age (18+)
13. 2nd Amendment: Right to arm bears. Supported by National Rifle Association interest group
& Republican Party.
14. 4th Amendment: No "unreasonable" searches and seizures. Exclusionary rule (Weeks v. US,
Mapp v. Ohio)
15. 5th Amendment: (1) No Self-Incrimination (Miranda)
(2) No Double Jeopardy (defendant cannot be tried again on the same, or similar charges)
(3) No deprivation of life liberty or property without "due process of law" (fair treatment)
16. 6th Amendment: The right to counsel in criminal trials. Gideon v. Wainwright held that
states must provide indigent defendants with a free lawyer ("public defender"). Right to jury in
criminal trials.
17. 7th Amendment: Right to jury in civil trials.
18. 8th Amendment: Government cannot inflict cruel and unusual punishment. Meaning of
"cruel" based on "evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society."
Categorical bans on death penalty: juveniles, retarded,
non-murder crimes...
19. 9th Amendment: Unenumerated Rights Amendment. Citizens have unenu- merated rights in
addition to those stated in the Constitution. Not been developed by Supreme Court (too open
ended)
,20. Constitution: A nation's basic law, creates political institutions, assigns or divides power in
government and often provides certain guarantees to citizens. Can be written or unwritten.
21. Agents of Socialization: Family (most important); TV/media (growing in im- portance);
friends/peers; school (formal socialization). How we develop (absorb) opinions & beliefs.
22. American Political Culture: A set of basic, foundational values and beliefs about
government that is shared by most citizens. Key elements: democracy, equality before the law,
limited government, capitalism & private property
23. Anti-Federalists: A group who opposed the ratification of the Constitution in
1787. They opposed a strong central government (tyranny) and supported states' rights. "I smell a
rat!"
24. Articles of Confederation: Set up the 1st independent American government (1783-88).
Nonbinding "league of friendship" among sovereign states with weak central government to help
with common defense & cooperation (like the European Union). Replaced by our current
constitution in 1788.
25. Bandwagon Effect: "Copy-cat" behavior. People often do things just because other people do
them. In primary elections, it is when people support the candidate everyone else seems to be
supporting (poll leaders). Leads to Primary Frontload- ing (states want to have the most impact in
the primary process)
26. Block Grants: Grants ($) given to the states by the federal government for a general purpose
(like education or road-building). Unlike categorical grants, states have discretion to decide how
to spend the money. Example = Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) (States develop
and implement welfare programs using federal money).
27. Casework: Assistance given to individual constituents by congressional mem- bers, like
helping an elderly person figure out how to get Medicare benefits. Major incumbency advantage.
, 28. Categorical Grant: A grant ($) given to the states by the federal government for a specific
purpose or program. The federal government tells the states exactly how to spend the money (no
state discretion unlike block grants). Example = Medicaid. Most common type of federal grant
because it gives Congress the most control over the states.
29. Checks and Balances: A major principle of the American system of gov- ernment. Helps
maintain separation of powers so that no one branch gets too powerful. Explained in Federalist 51.
Examples: President vetos laws; Senate confirms appointments & treaties; Congress impeaches
president & judges...
30. Chief Justice John Marshall: In office from 1801-1835 (longest serving CJ). Supported
increased power of federal government. Decided McCulloch v. Mary- land, Gibbons v. Ogden,
and Marbury v. Madison.
31. Civil Rights Act of 1964: Prohibits discrimination based on race or gender
in employment or public accommodations (restaurants, hotels). Created EEOC to enforce. Based
on Congress's interstate commerce clause power (discrimination impacts interstate commerce).
The most important federal civil rights law.
32. Commerce Clause: Art. 1, Sec. 8 of the Constitution (enumerated power). Congress has the
power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, among the several states ["Interstate
Commerce Clause"], and with the Indians. Interpreted by the Supreme Court very broadly
(Gibbons v. Ogden) until Lopez & Morrison.
33. Confederation: Nonbinding union of sovereign states (example = European
Union, America under Articles of Confederation).
34. Congressional Demographics: Rich highly educated white male protestant lawyers &
businessmen! Women VERY underrepresented! (<17%)
