#apgovt

didn’t highlight to go back, reread, and highlight just the main stuff. saves time and helps to study for tests :))

hiya! I took ap gov last year and the mnemonics i had were super helpful, so i decided to share them with the world! some are really good, and some are kind of a stretch, but whatever works! I hope this helps you all!!

court cases

Dred Scott v Sandford: slaves are not citizens, the federal government can’t prohibit slavery in the territories: Dred Scott sounds like Dred’s not, and Dred’s not a citizen

Engel v Vitale: no more state sponsored prayer in public schools: Engel sounds like angels, angels are not vital(e) 

Gitlow v New York: free speech applies to the states: you gotta get low (on the chain of power, so like to the states) to get your rights

Korematsu v USA: essentially ruled that relocating Japanese Americans during wartime (WWII) was constitutional: Korematsu is a Japanese name, and Koremat-sued! (i don’t think he actually sued but you get the point)

Lemon v Kurtzman: struck down state funding for private religious schools, funding had to pass the lemon test: lemons are sour, the opposite of sour is salty, the schools were salty about their funding getting taken away

Mapp v Ohio: established the exclusionary rule: eXclusionary rule, X marks the spot on a map (Mapp)

McCulloch v Maryland: established the supremacy clause: Maryland is not supreme!

Plessy v Ferguson: separate but equal is constitutional: P and F look similar and are on separate sides of the case. they aren’t equal, but neither were the so called ‘equal’ facilities 

Schneck v USA: established the clear and present danger test=free speech can be limited when a clear and present danger results: Schneck can’t talk shit

amendments

1st: freedom of RAPPS: RAPPS = religion, assembly, press, petition, speech

9th and 10th: the constitution prioritized the rights of the people, so the rights not listed in the constitution belong to the people amendment (9th) is before the powers not in the constitution go to the states amendment (10th)

13th, 14th, 15th: first slavery is abolished (13), then you can be a citizen (14), then you can vote regardless of race (15)

22nd: presidential term limits: two four year terms, 2+2=4

25th: established presidential line of succession: the 5 in 25 looks like an S

Yesterday I received my AP test results, and after an overall stressful year (complete with swapping GOV teachers midyear) I am proud to say that I scored a 5 on my AP GOV exam! This has been a personal goal for me and something that I’ve worked incredibly hard for the past school year. I thought I would share some of the resources I used to study/review in case they can be of use to anybody else. Best of luck, happy studying :)

Free Online (AP) Government Textbooks: 

American Government Institutions and Policies - 11th Edition (pdf)

Open Culture Textbooks (listed under Political Science, this is more about policy/political science aspect than government)

American Government - Lenz & Holman (pdf) 

* I rarely worked out of a textbook in both of my AP GOV classes, but it was helpful to have a text if I had questions about a lesson

Notes: 

Course Notes Chapter Notes (great to print/copy notes from, very detailed)

AP Study Notes Vocabulary (this site was so helpful to use throughout the year for definitions/extra information)

Spark Notes (good ole Spark Notes) 

Chapter Tests/ Review: 

Hampton High School Chapter Summaries (these are coming from one of the Cengage textbooks/readings, still very helpful) 

Cengage Chapter Questions / Cengage Chapter Tests (this is probably one of my favorite sites to review with, no need to have the textbook as the review is pretty general)

Review Videos: 

Adam Norris - Final Review (1:00, very helpful to review big ideas, watched it twice before the exam)

Adam Norris Chapter/Topic Reviews (0:03 - 0:11 on average) 

Crash Course Government and Politics (0:05 - 0:10 average, I found these somewhat irritating/fast, but they may be helpful to some, organized by topic) 

Adam Norris Supreme Court Cases - (0:11)

MackTeach Cram Review (2:57, incredibly long but fairly helpful, watched part of this before my exam)

Review:

Albert AP US Government Review (multiple choice tests and free response questions for specific topics, membership required to access all tests)

4 Tests AP US Government Exam (a full length multiple choice test and free response questions, allows you to save your progress and continue at a later time) 

Barron Practice Exam (full length multiple choice and free response exam, flash player is required)

Shaker AP US Government Review Guide (pdf - 142 pages, this review guide contains all the definitions/information for the exam, great overall review)

*I used a fill in review packet that I downloaded somewhere online, I currently cannot find it (if I do it will be linked)

Tips:

- Consider taking an (AP) history/US history course prior to AP GOV if you have the opportunity to. I learned about many important historical figures/politicians from APUSH as well as landmark court cases/documents. It was definitely helpful to have some background knowledge on the subject (but not necessary)!

- Keep up with vocab/notes! This is self explanatory but a lot of the work in class was defining things and discussing the history of government/politics, it’s easy to leave it for later and let it pile up

- Start reviewing for the exam at least a month in advance. Did I study every single day for a month? No. But it’s better to start early so you have enough time to review all content/become comfortable in weak spots. Spend time taking practice exams, read in your textbook/notes, practice essay questions, mindmap, use Quizlet, get together and review with friends. 

- There are so many resources for AP Government and Politics on Youtube, if you aren’t in the mood to read from a textbook once in awhile, video review is a great option