ap gov required documents, court cases, and clauses

ropinirole

declaration of independence

Provides the ideological foundation for the United States’ government. Founded on the concept of popular sovereignty.

articles of confederation

First document outlining the United States’ government. Left little power to the federal government to protect from tyranny.

constitution

Establishes the framework and the ideas that the government is build upon. Serves to protect individual rights.

federalist 10

Factions are an inevitable part of a democracy. A diverse republic is the best way to control factions and prevent tyranny of the majority.

brutus 1

A strong central government would threaten individual liberties and state sovereignty. It would be too distant to control and turn to tyranny.

federalist 51

Explains how a system of checks and balances will prevent any one branch from gaining too much power.

federalist 70

A strong, unified executive branch is necessary for the effective governance of a country. A single executive can act decisively, and be held accountable.

federalist 78

An independent judiciary with lifetime tenure is essential to avoid impartiality.

letter from birmingham jail

Defends civil disobedience against unjust laws. Argues for the necessity of actions against injustice.

marbury vs. madison

Established the ability for the court to strike down federal law, or judicial review.

mcculloch vs. maryland

State tried to tax the federal government, but the court ruled that the national government’s power is supreme to the state.

united states vs. lopez

National government passed a law restricting guns in a school zone, citing economic activity as the reason. The court ruled that possession of a gun is not an economic activity and is therefore not under the commerce clause

baker vs. carr

Tennessee had not reapportioned it’s districts, creating an unequal distribution of voters. This made some votes worth more than others. Established one person one vote.

shaw vs. reno

A congressional reapportionment plan in north carolina drew districts based on race. The redistricting plan was challenged because of the abnormal shape of certain districts, drawn to create black majority districts. The court ruled that redistricting solely based on race was unconstitutional and in violation of the equal protection clause of the fourteenth amendment.

brown vs. board of education of topeka

Determined that segregation of schools solely based on race was unconstitutional. Separate is inherently unequal .

engel vs. vitale

New York public schools composed an official prayer to be recited after the pledge of allegiance. While voluntary, the prayer created indirect pressure to conform to a religion established by the government. The court ruled that a state imposed prayer was in violation of the establishment clause and was therefore unconstitutional.

wisconsin vs. yoder

Amish community in wisconsin wanted to pull their children from school after 8th grade. Wisconsin had compulsory education laws that the Amish were in violation of. Court ruled that Wisconsin’s compulsory education laws infringed on the free exercise granted to the Amish by the constitution. The case solidified the precedent that free exercise took priority over the state’s interest in education.

tinker vs. des moines independent community school district

Students wore black armbands to school in order to protest the vietnam war. They were suspended for violating school policy. Court ruled that it was not constitutional for the school to restrict the students’ right to free speech protected by the first amendment because it did not cause a “substantial disruption”.

schenk vs. united states

schenk was convicted of violating the espionage act for distributing pamphlets encouraging men to resist the draft. Court decided that freedom of speech was not violated because of the “clear and present danger” caused by the pamphlets.

new york times vs. united states

President Richard Nixon wanted to suppress the publication of leaked classified documents about the United States’ involvement in Vietnam. He claimed it endangered national security and was therefore not protected by freedom of the press. The court decided that preventing the publication was indeed a violation of the first amendment.

gideon vs. wainwright

A Florida court refused to provide a public defender for Gideon, who was accused of robbery. Gideon appealed his conviction because his sixth amendment rights were violated. The court ruled that states were required to provide a lawyer to any defendant who could not afford one.

mcdonald vs. chicago

State of chicago had a ban on handguns. McDonald argued that the ban was in violation of the second amendment. The court ruled that the ban was a violation of the second amendment, incorporating the right to bear arms to the states.

citizens united vs. federal election commission

Private interest groups are allowed to spend an unlimited amount of money on uncoordinated campaign funding.

commerce clause - constitution

congress has the power to regulate interstate commerce

elastic clause - constitution

congress has the power to pass laws deemed “necessary and proper” to carry out their expressed powers

supremacy clause - constitution

the federal law is the supreme law of the land

establishment clause - 1st amendment

forbids the government from establishing a religion that its citizens must follow

free exercise clause - 1st amendment

forbids the government from inhibiting the free exercise of religion

due process clause - 5th/14th amendment

noone shall be deprived of “life, liberty or property” without due process of law

equal protection clause - 14th amendment

no state shall deny any person the equal protection of the laws