Foundational Documents/Cases for AP Gov

Federalist 10

An essay written by James Madison in 1787, addressing the dangers of factionalism and advocating for a strong, united republic to mitigate the effects of factions on governance.

Brutus 1

An essay written by an anonymous Anti-Federalist in 1787, arguing against the ratification of the Constitution and emphasizing the dangers of a large centralized government, advocating for individual state sovereignty.

Federalist 51

Written by James Madison in 1788, it discusses the system of checks and balances in government, aiming to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power.

McCulloch v Maryland

A landmark Supreme Court case decided in 1819 that established the principle of federal supremacy over state laws and upheld the constitutionality of the Second Bank of the United States.

US v Lopez

A Supreme Court case from 1995 that ruled the Gun-Free School Zones Act exceeded Congress's authority under the Commerce Clause, reinforcing the limits of federal power.

Baker v Carr

A landmark Supreme Court case from 1962 that addressed redistricting and established the principle of 'one person, one vote,' ruling that legislative districts must be roughly equal in population.

Shaw v Reno

A significant Supreme Court case in 1993 that addressed racial gerrymandering and ruled that redistricting based on race must be held to a standard of strict scrutiny to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act.

Federalist 70

An essay written by Alexander Hamilton advocating for a strong, unitary executive to ensure energy and decisiveness in governance.

Federalist 78

An essay by Alexander Hamilton that argues for the independence of the judiciary and the power of judicial review, asserting that courts have the duty to void laws that are contrary to the Constitution.

Marbury v Madison

A landmark Supreme Court case from 1803 that established the concept of judicial review, empowering the Supreme Court to invalidate laws and executive actions that conflict with the Constitution.

Engel v Vitale

A Supreme Court case from 1962 that ruled that it is unconstitutional for state officials to compose an official school prayer and encourage its recitation in public schools, violating the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

Wisconsin v Yoder

A Supreme Court case from 1972 that held that Amish parents could not be compelled to send their children to public school beyond the eighth grade, as it violated their religious beliefs and the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.

Tinker v Des Moines

A Supreme Court case from 1969 that upheld students' First Amendment rights by ruling that school officials could not censor student expression unless it substantially disrupted the educational process.

Schenk v United States

A Supreme Court case from 1919 that established the "clear and present danger" test, ruling that speech creating a clear and imminent threat to national security is not protected under the First Amendment.

New York Times v US

A Supreme Court case from 1971 that established the right of the press to publish classified information in the absence of prior restraint, affirming First Amendment protections.

McDonald v Chicago

A Supreme Court case from 2010 that extended Second Amendment rights to state and local governments, ruling that the right to keep and bear arms is applicable through the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause.

Letter from Birmingham Jail

A letter written by Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963 while imprisoned for protesting against racial segregation. It outlines his philosophy of nonviolent resistance and argues for the moral urgency of civil rights.

Citizens United v Federal Election Commission

A Supreme Court case from 2010 that ruled political spending by corporations and unions is a form of protected free speech under the First Amendment, allowing them to spend unlimited money on independent political expenditures.

Declaration of Independence

A document adopted in 1776 that declared the thirteen American colonies free from British rule, outlining the principles of individual rights and the justification for revolution against tyranny.

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States, ratified in 1781, which established a weak federal government and was later replaced by the Constitution due to its ineffectiveness.

The Constitution

The supreme law of the United States, adopted in 1788, that established the national government, fundamental rights, and the framework for its operation, including the system of checks and balances.

Brown v Board of Education

A landmark 1954 Supreme Court case that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, overturning the precedent set by Plessy v. Ferguson.

Gideon v Wainwright

t was a 1963 Supreme Court case that ruled that the Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to counsel for defendants in criminal cases, even if they cannot afford an attorney.