ap gov foundational documents

Federalist No. 10

an essay in which Madison argues that the dangers of faction can be mitigated by a large republic and republican government

Brutus 1 (1787)

an Antifederalist Paper arguing that the country was too large to be governed as a republic and that the Constitution gave too much power to the national government

Declaration of Independence (1776)

The fundamental document establishing the US as an independent nation, adopted on July 4, 1776. It declared the 13 colonies independent from Britain, offered reasons for the separation laid out the principles for which the Revolution was fought

Articles of Confederation

1st Constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788 (weaknesses-no executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade)

Bill of Rights, 1791

Popular term for the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The amendments secure key rights for individuals and reserve to the states all powers not explicitly delegated or prohibited by the Constitution.

Federalist No. 51 (1788)

Separation of powers guards against tyranny; bicameral legislature elected differently with different powers ensures branch doesn't dominate; checks and balances should cause branches to complete with one another.

"Letter from a Birmingham Jail," 1963

A letter written by Martin Luther King Jr. after he had been arrested when he took part in a nonviolent march against segregation. He was disappointed more Christians didn't speak out against racism. Advocated nonviolence protest methods

Federalist No. 78, Brutus essays

Robert Yates (anti-federalist) argues the judiciary is too powerful because they are independent, the preamble can extend their power to virtually every case, no authority can remove them from office or lower their salaries, and they can only be removed for "corrupt motives" and not "a mistake in judgement."

Federalist 70

• energy in the executive is a leading character in the definition of good government

• a feeble executive implies a feeble execution of the government

• energy -> unity and duration in office

Due Process Clause

part of the 14th Amendment which guarantees that no state deny basic rights to its people

Federalism

a form of government in which power is divided between the federal, or national, government and the states

Equal Protection Clause

Constitutional guarantee that everyone be treated equally-14th amendment

Fourteenth Amendment

made "all persons born or naturalized in the United States" citizens of the country

Necessary and Proper Clause

constitutional authorization for Congress to make any law required to carry out its powers

Supremacy Clause

Article VI of the Constitution, which makes the Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.