Required Foundational Documents AP United States Government and Politics

Flashcards covering key concepts from foundational documents.

Declaration of Independence

Natural rights; government to protect them. Popular sovereignty; people = source of power. Social contract & ability to abolish unjust government.

Articles of Confederation

States were sovereign. Each state had 1 vote. Congress couldn’t collect taxes or regulate interstate commerce. No executive or judicial branches. States did whatever they wanted.

Constitution

Separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, republican form of government, limited government, Bill of Rights and amendments.

Federalist #10

Madison says factions are the biggest threat facing the republic. Factions are inevitable with liberty, and taking them away requires removing liberty. Control the negative effects of factions via a large republic, not a democracy.

Brutus #1

Advocates for a small republic. Warns about the dangers of the elastic clause and the federal government's power to tax. It would destroy states’ rights.

Federalist #51

Need for government to limit the ambition of men. Need for a limited government to prevent tyranny. Separation of powers and checks and balances to counteract ambition. Congress divided into two houses.

Federalist #70

Argues for a unitary executive; executive must be strong and energetic.

Federalist #78

Judiciary is the least dangerous branch because they can’t enforce their own rulings; life terms for judges ensure independence; and power of judicial review.

Letter from a Birmingham Jail

Demand that DoI and Constitution (14th amendment) ideals be applied to all; list of grievances; freedom is only achieved when demanded; advocates for civil disobedience.