AP Government Ranting Review

Here's some quick notes I wrote for the Class of 2008... still is relevant... for the most part....

My prediction is that one of the FRQs will cover the presidential election process, so know the difference between a primary and caucus, how a candidate becomes a potential nominee through the "money primary" all the way to the nominating convention and then the general election.

Good luck. Have fun at Prom.
Random facts.

* African Americans vote Democrat.
* Filibuster occurs in the Senate but it's INFORMAL, not a CONSTITUTIONAL power.
* Congress declares wars, but the President deploys the troops.
* The President must notify Congress within 48 hours according to the War Powers Resolution Act.
* People don't vote because they are not registered to vote.
* The "Solid" South refers to the fact that the South has consistently voted Republican. Recent elections, including the upcoming 2008 election, may not necessarily be "solid" for the Republicans.
* A "Blue Dog" Democrat = conservative Democrat
* "Horse-race" journalism refers to the fact that we pay attention to the media's coverage of the presidential candidates and not the actual issues at hand.
* The gender gap refers to the fact that women tend to vote Democrat more so than men (ie "soccer mom" vote)
* The vote in the Midwest tends to determine the presidential outcome (ie. OHIO and PENNSYLVANIA) - The Dems hope to swing that into their favor this year
* The Supreme Court hears just about 1-2% of cases that are sent to them. Most cases are heard by the court of appeals and the SC simply approves them. Most never make the Court's docket.
* Amicus Curiae briefs are used by interest groups to lobby courts.
* Three important committees: Rules (sets conditions for debate, calendar for bills), Appropriations (deals with the actual spending of money budgeted in committees), Ways and Means (determines where particular bills are headed -- it's where bills go initially)
* Rules committee is only in the House, not the Senate
* Senate = Period 1, House of = Period 2
* Senate: 30 years old, 9 years living as a resident, citizen, living in State
* House: 25 years old, 7 years living as a resident, citizen, living in State (informal to live in District)
* Pres: 35 years old, 14 years living in US, natural-born citizen
* Commerce clause has been used to strengthen power of national government (Heart of Atlanta, Gibbons)
* 10th Amendment: States' rights (US v. Lopez), limits on power of commerce clause - this case is more of an aberration than the norm - the federal government has tended to increase its power relative to the states
* Party structure in the US is DECENTRALIZED! ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL!
* White House Staff = White House Office = CHIEF OF STAFF = LOYAL TO THE PRESIDENT = JAMES BAKER FOR RONALD REAGAN!!!! KNOW THIS!!!!
* State legislatures draw district boundaries and tend to gerrymander them to favor Congresspeople like Grace Napolitano - who gets money from labor union and business PACs alike, although the trend is for business PACs to increase. Labor union membership is on the decline.
* 1st Amendment - speech, religion, press, petition, assemble
* "Wall of separation" - Engel vs. Vitale, Lemon v. Kurtzman - religion and schools separate. I pray that you understand this. Irony intended.
* Lobbyists supply TECHNICAL INFORMATION PRIMARILY. They do wine and dine, BUT THEY LOBBY FOR INTEREST GROUPS (ahem, Gaby)!
* 1994 = Republican Revolution led by Newt Gingrich - Dems held the House for a long time, but that year voters ousted the Dems and elected in a landslide Republicans... Hillarycare was a bust. By 1996, Bill Clinton "triangulated" and became a centrist Democrat and "ended welfare as we know it." Welfare became more of a state burden as is education.
* block = whatever money, categorical = strings attached
* President = leader of political party BUT NEVER MENTIONED IN CONSTITUTION!
* Two-party system benefits under a single-member district determined by plurality and not majority of votes.
* In case of a tie in electoral college, goes to the House where each state gets ONE VOTE. Need to win majority (26 states).
* Senate ratifies treaties with 2/3 vote NOT THE HOUSE
* Justices must pass a President's litmus test
* Legislative veto violates principle of separation of powers, giving legislative authority to the executive - but some state practice it, just not Congress!
* Federalist 10 - Factions exist, and they are best contained in a federalist government or a large republic. It is impractical to destroy factions, but layered government tends best to limit the effects of faction.
* Unfunded mandates = No Child Left Behind. Think a law with no money attached.
* Incorporation Doctrine = 14th Amendment. Study the 38 Court Cases. They will come up.
* DOCTRINE OF ORIGINAL INTENT = "JUDICIAL RESTRAINT" - The idea that you only do what the Constitution says to do. "JUDICIAL ACTIVISM" is the opposite. The Warren Court tended to be activists and expanded civil liberties.
* Cloture (60 senators) ends a filibuster.
* Cabinet posts (sec state, defense), FBI (gov agencies), SEC (regulatory agency) need majority confirmation of the Senate, White House staff does NOT
* PACs give money to incumbents ($5,000 max), $2,300 max to individuals, in Buckley v. Valeo it established unlimited individual contribution to own campaign but limits to others
* 2008 is a "critical election" in that a party realignment may occur. Electorate may move more Democrat because in 2004 and 2000 it was Republican. Depends on how the Midwest votes and the formerly "Solid South" may not be solid anymore
*Will I run for Congress? Will be slaughtered in the House (90% incumbent re-election rates) but may win the Senate (70% re-election rates). Watch out Barbara Boxer!

That's all. Maybe reading this over and over may jump you from a 2 to a 3 or 4 to a 5. Marginal benefit.

Good luck.