Studied by 32 people
Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition
1st Amendment
Right to bear arms
2nd Amendment
No quartering (housing) of soldiers
3rd Amendment
No unreasonable search or seizure
4th Amendment
No double jeopardy, no self incrimination, right to due process
5th Amendment
Right to a speedy trial by jury and counsel
6th Amendment
The right to a jury trial in civil cases
7th Amendment
No excessive bail or cruel punishment
8th Amendment
The rights of the people are not limited to those expressly listed in the Constitution
9th Amendment
All powers not delegated to the National Government by the Constitution is reserved for the States
10th Amendment
An individual cannot sue a state in federal court
11th Amendment
Separate election/ballots for President and Vice President
12th Amendment
Abolished slavery
13th Amendment
Establishes US citizenship by birth or naturalization, grants due process and equal protection to all citizens
14th Amendment
Right to vote cannot be denied on the basis of race
15th Amendment
Congress has the power to collect an income tax
16th Amendment
Popular election of US Senators
17th Amendment
Prohibition of intoxicating liquors
18th Amendment
Right to vote cannot be denied on the basis of sex or gender (woman’s suffrage)
19th Amendment
Presidential terms and events upon death of a president
20th Amendment
Repeal of prohibition (18th Amendment)
21st Amendment
Limits Presidential tenure in office to two terms or ten years
22nd Amendment
D.C. has the same number of Electoral votes as the least populated state
23rd Amendment
Outlawed poll tax
24th Amendment
Rules for Presidential succession/disability, who fills office if President resigns/dies
25th Amendment
Must be 18 years old to vote
26th Amendment
Congress cannot accept a pay raise until next term
27th Amendment
Outlines the powers and establishment of the Legislative branch, creates the two houses of Congress
Article 1
Establishes the Executive branch and jobs/powers of the President
Article 2
Establishes the Judiciary Branch and Supreme Court as well as outlining cases and trial by jury
Article 3
Outlines States’ rights, creates states equal to one another, and ensures “power by the people”
Article 4
Process to change the Constitution and change/add an Amendment
Article 5
Supremacy Clause (Constitution and all laws/treaties of the US to be the supreme law of the land)
Article 6
Ratification of the US Constitution
Article 7
Commerce Clause, Necessary and Proper Clause, outlines the enumerated powers of the legislative branch
Article 1, Section 8
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordained and establish this Constitution for the United States of America
Preamble
Established judicial review, allowing courts to declare laws unconstitutional
Marbury v Madison (1803)
Affirmed federal supremacy and implied powers under the Necessary and Proper Clause
McCulloch v Maryland (1819)
Declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause
Brown v Brown of Education (1954)
Guaranteed the right to legal counsel for defendants in criminal cases under the 6th Amendment
Gideon v Wainwright (1963)
Protected students’ right to symbolic speech under the 1st Amendment
Tinker v Des Moines (1969)
Limited the ability of state and local governments to regulate firearms
McDonald v City of Chicago (2010)
Limited Congress’ power under the Commerce Clause, striking down the Gun-Free School Zones Act
US v Lopez (1995)
Held that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts cannot be limited under the 1st Amendment
Citizens United v FEC (2010)
Established the principle of “one person, one vote,” allowing federal courts to review redistricting issues
Baker v Carr (1962)
Prohibited school-sponsored prayer in public schools under the Establishment Clause
Engel v Vitale (1962)
Protected the freedom of the press against prior restraint by the government
New York Times Co v US (1971)
Established the “clear and present danger” test for speech restrictions under the 1st Amendment
Schenck v US (1919)
Ruled that racial gerrymandering violates the Equal Protection Clause
Shaw v Reno (1993)
Protected the right to free exercise of religion, exempting Amish children from compulsory education
Wisconsin v Yoder (1972)
Explains the importance of checks and balances and the separation of powers
Fed 51
Highlights key weaknesses such as the lack of power to tax, no executive authority, and inability to regulate commerce
Failures of the Articles of Confederation
Discusses the judiciary’s independence and the necessity of judicial review
Fed 78
Warns against the proposed Constitution, focusing on potential federal overreach and loss of state power
Brutus 1
Defends the strategy of nonviolent resistance against racial injustice
Letter from Birmingham Jail
Addresses the dangers of factions and the benefits of a large republic
Fed 10
Advocates for a strong, single executive to ensure accountability and efficiency
Fed 70
Concern: “The necessary and proper clause is a blank check to Congress”
Brutus 1
Example: Shay’s Rebellion exposed the inability of the government to maintain order
Failures of the Articles of Confederation
Quote: “Liberty is to faction what air is to fire”
Fed 10
Quote: “If men were angels, no government would be necessary”
Fed 51
Quote: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”
Letter to a Birmingham Jail
Quote: “The judiciary…. will always be the least dangerous to the political rights of the Constitution”
Fed 78
Quote: “Energy in the executive is a leading character in the definition of good government”
Fed 70
Quote: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal”
Declaration of Independence
Powers not explicitly listed but inferred from the Constitution
implied powers
The division of powers between national and state governments
federalism
A principle that government is restricted in its powers and cannot infringe on individual rights
limited government
A clause allowing Congress to make laws required to carry out its enumerated powers
necessary and proper clause
An agreement among individuals to create a government and abide by its rules
social contract
A procedure for creating and approving the federal budget
the budget process
a House committee that allows all members to debate bills with a lower quorum
Committee of the Whole
A Senate agreement to proceed without objection, speeding up processes
unanimous consent
A tactic for delaying legislation in the Senate and the procedure can be ended with a 60-vote majority
filibuster
a powerful House committee that controls the flow of bills and sets debate rules
rules committee
The president’s power to reject a bill passed by Congress
veto
Directives from the president that have the force of law without congressional power
executive orders
The president’s use of their position to promote policies directly to the public
bully pulpit
Debate over the scope of presidential powers
limited executive vs expanded executive
Previous case or legal decision that may be or (binding precedent) must be followed i. subsequent cases
precedent
The principle of adhering to precedent in judicial decisions
stare decisis
Alliance of various interest groups and individuals who unite in order to promote a single issue in government policy
issue networks
Ensuring that laws and regulations are followed by individuals and businesses
compliance monitoring
The power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional
judicial review
Protections from government infringement on individual freedoms
civil liberties
Protections against discrimination and ensuring equal treatment under the law
civil rights
Nonverbal expression protected by the 1st Amendment, such as flag burning
symbolic speech
Government prohibition of speech or publication before it occurs (censorship)
prior restraint
A law prohibiting gender discrimination in federally funded education programs
Title IX of 1972
Types of elections for selecting party nominees, either open to all or only party members
primaries
Shifts in party loyalties that change political landscapes
realignments
The percentage of eligible voters who cast ballots in an election
voter turnout
Committees that raise money for candidates or issues
PACs
Parties outside the two major ones, influencing policy and elections
third parties
The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power
separation of powers
An agreement that created a bicameral legislature with representation by population in the House and equal representation in the Senate
Great Compromise
A 1786-87 uprising by farmers in Massachusetts protesting economic injustices, showing the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
Shay’s Rebellion
A model of democracy where no one group dominates politics and organized groups compete to influence policy
pluralist democracy
A model of democracy in which citizens have the power to decide directly on policy
participatory democracy
A Senate agreement to proceed without objection, speeding up processes
unanimous consent
