AP Government Key Documents and Cases Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering key foundational documents and landmark Supreme Court cases for AP Government review.

Federalist Essay 10

Written by Madison, it argues that while political factions are “evil,” they are inevitable in a free society; they can only be controlled by a large central government in a republic that protects minority rights.

Federalist Essay 51

Madison's argument that a large central government with $3$ branches, Checks and Balances, and Separation of Powers will effectively limit abuses of power.

Federalist Essay 70

Hamilton's argument that a strong single executive is necessary for guidance and strength, whereas having multiple leaders would result in chaos and confusion.

Federalist Essay 78

An argument for a strong, independent Judiciary featuring life-time tenure for Judges and Senate confirmation to ensure a fair, non-political decision-making process.

Articles of Confederation

The first U.S. government which provided a weak central authority that lacked the power to tax, control interstate commerce, or raise a military force.

Brutus 1

An Anti-Federalist document arguing that a strong central government would weaken state power and deprive individuals of liberties, contending that a large nation is too diverse for such a system.

Declaration of Independence

A document written by Jefferson adopting John Locke’s “social contract theory” to justify breaking away from English authority and the specific King.

The Constitution

The foundation for a stronger central government arranged in $7$ articles; it establishes Checks and Balances, Separation of Powers, and direct election for the House of Representatives.

Letter from Birmingham Jail

Written by MLK, Jr., it argues that protest is justified in the face of unjust laws and racism that has lasted $400$ years, stating it is morally correct to violate unjust laws for a greater good.

McCulloch v. Maryland

A ruling that states cannot tax the national bank due to the Supremacy Clause, and that the bank itself is constitutional under the Necessary and Proper Clause.

Marbury v. Madison

The case that established the power of “judicial review” by declaring a portion of the Judiciary Act unconstitutional, expanding the power of the Federal Courts.

Engel v. Vitale

A case where the Court incorporated the $1^{ ext{st}}$ Amendment to states to declare state-required prayer in public schools unconstitutional under the Establishment Clause.

Tinker v. Des Moines

A ruling that symbolic political speech is protected in public schools under the $1^{ ext{st}}$ Amendment unless it creates a “material disruption” to the educational process.

Wisconsin v. Yoder

A case holding that the Free Exercise Clause protects the right of Amish parents to stop their children's formal education before the state-mandated age of $16$.

New York Times v. United States

A ruling against the government's use of “prior restraint” regarding the Pentagon Papers, stating Freedom of the Press outweighs executive privilege except in specific National Security cases.

Schenck v. United States

The case that established the “clear and present danger” exception to the $1^{ ext{st}}$ Amendment, upholding an arrest for interfering with the military draft.

Gideon v. Wainright

A case that incorporated the $6^{ ext{th}}$ Amendment to the states, ensuring that defendants charged with a felony are entitled to a free attorney if they are indigent.

McDonald v. Chicago

A case that incorporated the $2^{ ext{nd}}$ Amendment “right to bear arms” to the states, ruling that restrictive city gun permit laws were unconstitutional.

United States v. Lopez

A ruling that restricted federal power by finding that gun possession on school grounds cannot be prosecuted under the interstate commerce clause, promoting the “devolution concept.”

Roe v. Wade

A case finding that the “Right to Privacy” (based on “Penumbras” in the Bill of Rights) prevents states from banning abortions during the early months of pregnancy.

Brown v. Board of Education

A ruling that racial segregation in public schools violates the Equal Protection Clause of the $14^{ ext{th}}$ Amendment; ordered desegregation with “ALL Deliberate Speed.”

Baker v. Carr

A case establishing the “One Man- One Vote” principle by holding that state voting districts must be of equal population size.

Shaw v. Reno

A ruling that “Strict Scrutiny” must be used when voting district lines are challenged based on race to ensure no violation of the Equal Protection Clause.

Citizens United

A ruling that the $1^{ ext{st}}$ Amendment protects the rights of Unions and Corporations to spend money on political speech, striking down certain campaign restrictions.