AP®︎ U.S. Government & Politics Unit 1: Notes & Study Guide
Prepare for your quiz, test, or the AP exam with a comprehensive review on Unit 1 of AP U.S. Government & Politics – Foundations of American Democracy.
Unit 1: Foundations of American Democracy
This unit explores the philosophical foundations, structure, and principles of American democracy, including the Constitution, federalism, and the tensions between liberty and order.
Begin with Topic 1.1: Ideals of DemocracyTo review Unit 1, go through each of the 9 topics below.
Everything you actually need to know for your Unit 1 test, pulled directly from the AP® U.S. Government & Politics curriculum.
Ideals of Democracy
Ideals of Democracy
- The Democratic Ideals Behind American Government
- How Limited Government Is Protected
- The Declaration of Independence
Types of Democracy
Types of Democracy
- What Representative Democracy Is
- The Three Models of Democracy
- How the Constitution Reflects All Three Models
Government Power and Individual Rights
Government Power and Individual Rights
- The Ratification Debate Over Liberty and Power
- Federalist and Anti-Federalist Views
- Federalist No. 10 and How a Large Republic Controls Faction
Challenges of the Articles of Confederation
Challenges of the Articles of Confederation
- What the Articles of Confederation Were
- How the Government Was Structured
- The Major Weaknesses of the Articles
Ratification of the U.S. Constitution
Ratification of the U.S. Constitution
- Ratification as Compromise
- The Major Compromises
- Federalists and Anti-Federalists
Principles of American Government
Principles of American Government
- Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances
- The Main Checks Each Branch Has
- Federalist No. 51
Relationship Between the States and National Government
Relationship Between the States and National Government
- What Federalism Is
- National, State, and Shared Powers
- When National and State Power Collide
Constitutional Interpretations of Federalism
Constitutional Interpretations of Federalism
- Federalism and the Four Clauses That Move the Balance
- McCulloch v. Maryland and Broad National Power
- Commerce Clause Expansion and Limits
Federalism in Action
Federalism in Action
- How Federalism Shapes Policymaking
- Multiple Access Points for Stakeholders
- State Policy Variation and Cooperative Federalism
Notes
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