AP Gov Required Documents

Brutus #1

• argues against ratification

• believes the Constitution will create a central gov. controlled by an elite of elected reps. who have the power to destroy the sovereignty of the states

• the best remedy against an elitist model of rep. gov. is a system that retains strong state sovereignty (a confederacy!)

• in a country as large as the US, it is impossible for representatives to truly understand their constituents

• basically argues for a large legislature to represent the will of a large country. however, also concedes that a large republic is dangerous to personal liberty and undermines the states

Federalist #51

• proposes a system of checks and balances that will safeguard the rights and liberties of citizens

• writes in support of the Constitution

• believes minorities will be protected under the new gov. because society itself will split into many groups, making it impossible for any to make a majority

Federalist #10

Federalists:

• believes in the superiority of a large republic in controlling factions

• delegates authorities to elected reps. and disperses power between states and nat. gov

Document:

• supports a rep. gov because it is most effective against factionalism

• liberty is a necessity to factions

• big republics/populations naturally creates more individual beliefs, making it hard for factions to combine into a majority

Federalist #70

• argues for a strong executive leader

• believes one leader is better than a council because there won’t be dangers of difference in opinion or tension

• a single leader would be “watched more” by the people

Federalist #78

• agrees with power of judicial review because it will protect the judicial branch from the other branches

• the judicial branch is the least dangerous with no control over the “sword” or the “purse” and neither force nor will but just judgment; ultimately still depends on the executive branch to implement their decisions

• no legislation is legal until the judiciary branch has expressed their judgement

• independence of the judges is a safeguard against negative aspects of society

• only a few people can adequately and efficiently fulfill the role of the court, therefore their position should be permanent

MLK’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail

when the law supports injustice and inequality, it is permissible, even morally justifiable, to break the law

The Articles of Confederation

a weak form of national government before the U.S. Constitution was drafted.

1st amendment

freedom of expression (religion, speech, press, assemble, position)

2nd amendment

right to bear arms

3rd amendment

protection against quartering soldiers

4th amendment

protection against unlawful search & seizure

5th amendment

right to due process of law, includes protection against self-incrimination

6th amendment

rights granted to the accused, including a speedy public trial with an impartial jury, the right of the accused to be informed of charges against them, the right to confront the accuser, the right to an attorney

7th amendment

right to a trial by jury

8th amendment

protection from excessive bail; cruel & unusual punishment

9th amendment

guarantee of unenumerated rights retained by the people

10th amendment

guarantee that states or the people have all the rights not delegated to the federal gov. or prohibited to the states

13th amendment

abolished slavery

14th amendment

No Sate shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the US; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws

15th amendment

the right to vote shouldn’t be denied on the basis of race, color, or servitude

16th amendment

congress has the power to lay and collect taxes on incomes

18th amendment

prohibition

19th amendment

right to vote can’t be denied or abridged based on sex

Article I

established the legislative branch

Article II

established the executive branch

Article III

established the judicial branch

Article IV

states, state and federal relationship

Article V

amendments

Article VI

supremacy clause