AP GOV: REQUIRED CASES, AMENDMENTS, AND REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Marbury V. Madison

• Facts: William Marbury was appointed a judge by John Adams but didn’t receive his commission before Thomas Jefferson took office. Jefferson’s Secretary of State refused to deliver it.

• Concepts: Judicial review, separation of powers

• Outcome: Court said Marbury deserved the commission but ruled the law he used was unconstitutional

• Impact: Established judicial review, making the Court powerful

McCulloch V. Maryland

• Facts: Maryland tried to tax the national bank; James McCulloch refused to pay

• Concepts: Necessary & Proper Clause, federal supremacy

• Outcome: Bank is constitutional; states cannot tax federal institutions

• Impact: Strengthened federal authority

United States V. Lopez

• Facts: Student Alfonso Lopez Jr. brought a gun to school and was charged under a federal law

• Concepts: Commerce Clause limits, federalism

• Outcome: Law struck down; gun possession not interstate commerce

• Impact: Limited Congress’s power

Brown V. Board of Education

• Facts: Linda Brown had to attend a segregated school far from home

• Concepts: Equal Protection Clause

• Outcome: Segregated schools are unconstitutional and violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

• Impact: Ended “separate but equal”; fueled Civil Rights Movement

Citizens United V. FEC

• Facts: A nonprofit wanted to air a film critical of Hillary Clinton before an election

• Concepts: Free speech, campaign finance

• Outcome: Limits on independent political spending struck down

• Impact: Rise of Super PACs and big money in elections

Engel V. Vitale

• Facts: New York schools required a short, voluntary prayer at the start of the day

• Concepts: Establishment Clause

• Outcome: School-sponsored prayer is unconstitutional

• Impact: Reinforced church–state separation

Wisconsin V. Yoder

• Facts: Amish parents refused to send children to school past 8th grade for religious reasons

• Concepts: Free Exercise Clause

• Outcome: Amish exempt from compulsory education laws

• Impact: Protected religious practices

Tinker V. Des Moines Independent Community School District

• Facts: Students wore black armbands to protest the Vietnam War and were suspended

• Concepts: Symbolic speech

• Outcome: Students have free speech unless it disrupts school

• Impact: Expanded student rights

New York Times Co V. United States

• Facts: Government tried to stop publication of the Pentagon Papers about the Vietnam War

• Concepts: Prior restraint, free press

• Outcome: Government cannot censor press without strong reason

• Impact: Strengthened press freedom

Schenk V. United States

• Facts: Charles Schenck distributed leaflets urging resistance to the draft during World War I

• Concepts: Clear and present danger

• Outcome: Speech creating danger can be limited

• Impact: Defined limits of free speech

Gideon V. Wainwright

• Facts: Clarence Gideon couldn’t afford a lawyer and was denied one

• Concepts: Right to counsel

• Outcome: States must provide attorneys in criminal cases

• Impact: Expanded due process protections

McDonald V. Chicago

• Facts: Otis McDonald challenged Chicago’s handgun ban

• Concepts: Selective incorporation

• Outcome: Second Amendment applies to states

• Impact: Expanded gun rights nationwide

Shaw V. Reno

• Facts: North Carolina created oddly shaped majority-Black districts

• Concepts: Equal Protection, redistricting

• Outcome: Race cannot be the main factor in drawing districts

• Impact: Limited racial gerrymandering

1st Amendment

• What it does: Protects freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, petition

• Key idea: Limits government power over expression

• Why it matters: Foundation of civil liberties and many Supreme Court cases (speech, religion)

2nd Amendment

• What it does: Right to bear arms

• Key idea: Individual vs collective rights debate

• Why it matters: Central to gun policy debates and cases like McDonald v. Chicago

3rd Amendment

• What it does: No quartering soldiers in homes

• Key idea: Privacy from government intrusion

• Why it matters: Rarely used, but supports privacy principles

4th Amendment

• What it does: Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures

• Key idea: Warrants require probable cause

• Why it matters: Limits police power; affects criminal procedure

5th Amendment

• What it does: Due process, double jeopardy, self-incrimination (“plead the fifth”)

• Key idea: Protects rights of the accused

• Why it matters: Core to fair legal process

6th Amendment

• What it does: Right to speedy trial, lawyer, impartial jury

• Key idea: Fair trials

• Why it matters: Expanded by Gideon v. Wainwright

7th Amendment

• What it does: Jury trials in civil cases

• Key idea: Citizen role in legal system

• Why it matters: Less tested, but part of judicial rights

8th Amendment

• What it does: No cruel and unusual punishment; no excessive bail/fines

• Key idea: Limits punishment

• Why it matters: Used in death penalty and prison debates

9th Amendment

• What it does: People have rights beyond those listed

• Key idea: Unenumerated rights

• Why it matters: Supports privacy rights (like in Roe v. Wade)

10th Amendment

• What it does: Powers not given to federal gov go to states

• Key idea: Federalism

• Why it matters: Central to state vs federal power conflicts

13th Amendment

• What it does: Abolished slavery

• Why it matters: Foundation of civil rights

14th Amendment

• What it does: Citizenship, due process, equal protection

• Key clauses:

  • Equal Protection → Brown v. Board of Education

  • Due Process → incorporation of rights

• Why it matters: MOST important amendment for civil rights & liberties

15th Amendment

• What it does: Voting rights regardless of race

• Why it matters: Expanded democracy (though limited in practice for years)

17th Amendment

• What it does: Direct election of senators

• Why it matters: Increased democratic participation

19th Amendment

• What it does: Women’s suffrage

• Why it matters: Major expansion of voting rights

22nd Amendment

• What it does: Limits president to 2 terms

• Why it matters: Prevents excessive executive power

23rd Amendment

• What it does: Washington, D.C. gets electoral votes

• Why it matters: Expands voting representation

24th Amendment

• What it does: Bans poll taxes

• Why it matters: Removes barriers to voting

25th Amendment

• What it does: Presidential succession & disability rules

• Why it matters: Ensures continuity of government

26th Amendment

• What it does: Voting age lowered to 18

• Why it matters: Expands voter participation (linked to Vietnam War)

Declaration of Independence

• Argues that people have natural rights (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness).

• Claims the government’s power comes from the consent of the governed.

• Justifies breaking away from Britain due to repeated abuses by the king.

Articles of Confederation

• Creates a weak national government with most power held by states.

• Lacks power to tax or enforce laws.

• Shows early fear of strong central authority.

U.S Constitution

• Establishes a stronger federal government with 3 branches.

• Built on checks and balances and separation of powers.

• Aims to balance power between national and state governments (federalism).

Federalist #10

• Argues factions are inevitable, but a large republic helps control them.

• Prevents any one group from gaining too much power.

• Supports the Constitution as protection against majority tyranny.

Federalist #51

• Emphasizes checks and balances to control government power.

• “Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.”

• Protects against tyranny by dividing power.

Brutus #1

• Argues the Constitution creates a government that is too powerful.

• Warns it will erase state authority.

• Predicts a large republic cannot truly represent the people.

Bill of Rights

• Protects individual freedoms (speech, religion, etc.).

• Limits government power.

• Added to address Anti-Federalist concerns.

Federalist #70

• Argues for a strong, single president.

• Says unity in the executive branch ensures accountability and efficiency.

• Warns multiple executives would weaken leadership.

Federalist #78

• Defends the judicial branch as least powerful.

• Supports judicial review (courts can strike down unconstitutional laws).

• Emphasizes importance of an independent judiciary.

Letter from a Birmingham Jail

• Martin Luther King Jr. argues that injustice anywhere threatens justice everywhere, so people cannot wait passively for change.

• Defends nonviolent civil disobedience, saying individuals have a moral duty to break unjust laws.

• Criticizes moderates who prioritize order over justice, urging immediate action for civil rights.

Supremacy Clause

• Federal law is the highest law of the land.

• States cannot override national laws.

Necessary and Proper (Elastic) Clause

• Congress can make laws needed to carry out its powers.

• Expands federal power beyond what’s explicitly listed.

Commerce Clause

• Congress can regulate interstate (and foreign) commerce.

• Basis for many federal laws.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

• States must recognize laws and court decisions of other states.

Privileges and Immunities Clause

• States cannot discriminate against citizens of other states.

Extradition Clause

• States must return fugitives to the state where the crime was committed.

Establishment Clause

• Government cannot establish an official religion.

Free Exercise Clause

• Protects the right to practice religion freely.