Unit 1 Foundational Documents- AP Gov

Federalist no. 10

Argued that a geographically expansive national government would better protect republican liberty. Also warned against factions.

Brutus no. 1

the Constitution diminishes the States; a large nat gov won't be able to represent the people; too big; too many clashing opinions; room for tyranny

Declaration of Independence

people have a duty to abolish a bad government; list of grievances; peacefully tried to get change; individual rights of the people

Federalist no. 51

lays out the importance of separating powers between branches of gov and between national/state gov to prevent tyranny

Connecticut Compromise

established bicameral legislature

3/5 Compromise

slaves and reps in House count as 3/5 of a person

Article I

Establishes Legislative Branch; the qualifications and powers of the House and Senate

Article II

Establishes Executive Branch; qualifications and powers of the President

Article III

Establishes Judicial Branch; powers and qualifications of Supreme Court

Supremacy Clause

Constitution is supreme

Full Faith and Credit Clause

states have to honor government proceedings of other states

Commerce Clause

Congress regulates interstate commerce; used to expand their power across the country

Necessary and Proper Clause

Congress can do anything needed to exercise their powers; creates concept of implied powers

Formal Amendment Process

Starts at Congress/National Convention -> State Convention/ State Legislature

Tenth Amendment

powers not given to the federal government are reserved for the states

Seventeenth Amendment

People now vote directly for senators instead of through a state legislature

Marbury v. Madison

Established judicial review

McCulloch v. Maryland

Confirmed that national government can set up a bank (Necessary & Proper Clause) and states can't try to tax the government to override them (Supremacy Clause)

Gibbons v. Ogden

National government can regulate basically every form of interstate commerce (Commerce Clause, Supremacy Clause)

United States v. Lopez

Congress cannot use the Commerce Clause to make possession of a gun in a school zone a federal crime because it's within one state