Foundational Documents To Know for AP AP Gov (copy)

Federalist 10

Advocates for a large republic to manage the dangers of factions effectively and warns against majority tyranny.

Brutus I

Written by Anti-Federalists to caution against ratifying the Constitution, arguing for a Bill of Rights and warning against centralized government.

Declaration of Independence

Asserts inalienable rights of individuals and justifies revolution against governments failing to protect these rights.

Articles of Confederation

Created a weak central government, highlighting the need for a stronger federal government.

Constitution

Establishes the structure of federal government with checks and balances among Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches.

Federalist 51

Advocates for separation of powers to prevent government overreach and justifies a bicameral legislature.

Federalist 70

Defends the necessity of a strong, single executive for effective governance and accountability.

Federalist 78

Describes the Judiciary as the least dangerous branch, emphasizing the need for its independence and judicial review.

Marbury v. Madison

Established judicial review, empowering the judiciary to strike down unconstitutional laws.

McCulloch v. Maryland

Affirmed federal supremacy and the existence of implied powers under the Elastic Clause.

Schenck v. US

Limited free speech during wartime by establishing the 'clear and present danger' test.

Brown v. Board of Education

Declared that racial segregation in public schools violates the Equal Protection Clause.

Engel v. Vitale

Prohibited school-sponsored prayer, reinforcing the separation of church and state.

Gideon v. Wainwright

Guaranteed the right to legal counsel in state courts, ensuring representation for defendants who cannot afford it.

Tinker v. Des Moines

Protected symbolic student free speech in public schools as long as it does not disrupt the educational process.

New York Times Co. v. US

Strengthened freedom of the press by ruling against prior restraint unless there's an imminent threat.

Wisconsin v. Yoder

Protected religious freedom over state education laws in cases involving religious practices.

Roe v. Wade

Legalized abortion, recognizing a woman's right to privacy in choosing to terminate her pregnancy.

Shaw v. Reno

Addressed and prohibited racial gerrymandering, requiring strict scrutiny and equal protection.

Citizens United v. FEC

Expanded corporate political spending rights, recognizing political spending as a form of protected speech.

McDonald v. Chicago

Incorporated the Second Amendment to the states, ensuring the right to bear arms is protected at both state and federal levels.

Federalist 10

Advocates for a large republic to manage the dangers of factions effectively and warns against majority tyranny.

Brutus I

Written by Anti-Federalists to caution against ratifying the Constitution, arguing for a Bill of Rights and warning against centralized government.

Declaration of Independence

Asserts inalienable rights of individuals and justifies revolution against governments failing to protect these rights.

Articles of Confederation

Created a weak central government, highlighting the need for a stronger federal government.

Constitution

Establishes the structure of federal government with checks and balances among Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches.

Federalist 51

Advocates for separation of powers to prevent government overreach and justifies a bicameral legislature.

Federalist 70

Defends the necessity of a strong, single executive for effective governance and accountability.

Federalist 78

Describes the Judiciary as the least dangerous branch, emphasizing the need for its independence and judicial review.

Marbury v. Madison

Established judicial review, empowering the judiciary to strike down unconstitutional laws.

McCulloch v. Maryland

Affirmed federal supremacy and the existence of implied powers under the Elastic Clause.

Schenck v. US

Limited free speech during wartime by establishing the 'clear and present danger' test.

Brown v. Board of Education

Declared that racial segregation in public schools violates the Equal Protection Clause.

Engel v. Vitale

Prohibited school-sponsored prayer, reinforcing the separation of church and state.

Gideon v. Wainwright

Guaranteed the right to legal counsel in state courts, ensuring representation for defendants who cannot afford it.

Tinker v. Des Moines

Protected symbolic student free speech in public schools as long as it does not disrupt the educational process.

New York Times Co. v. US

Strengthened freedom of the press by ruling against prior restraint unless there's an imminent threat.

Wisconsin v. Yoder

Protected religious freedom over state education laws in cases involving religious practices.

Roe v. Wade

Legalized abortion, recognizing a woman's right to privacy in choosing to terminate her pregnancy.

Shaw v. Reno

Addressed and prohibited racial gerrymandering, requiring strict scrutiny and equal protection.

Citizens United v. FEC

Expanded corporate political spending rights, recognizing political spending as a form of protected speech.

McDonald v. Chicago

Incorporated the Second Amendment to the states, ensuring the right to bear arms is protected at both state and federal levels.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Prohibited racial discrimination in voting, especially in the South.

Baker v. Carr

Established the principle of 'one person, one vote,' ensuring equal representation.

Reynolds v. Sims

Reinforced 'one person, one vote' in state legislative districts.

Civil Rights

Rights that guarantee individuals freedom from discrimination. These rights are generally seen as positive freedoms, meaning that the government must take active steps to ensure that every citizen is protected from illegal discrimination

Civil Liberties

Constitutionally protected freedoms from government interference. These rights

Affirmative Action

Policies designed to address past and present discrimination by providing advantages to historically underrepresented groups.

Title IX

Prohibits sex-based discrimination in any educational institution receiving federal funding.

Equal Protection Clause

Part of the Fourteenth Amendment that prohibits states from denying any person within their jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Due Process Clause

Deals with the administration of justice and thus the Due Process Clause acts as a safeguard from arbitrary denial of life, liberty, or property by the government outside the sanction of law.

Federalism

A system of government in which power is divided between a national government and regional (state) governments.

Separation of Powers

The division