Resource Bank

1st Amendment

1st Amendment

Guarantees freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.

2nd Amendment

Protects the right to bear arms.

4th Amendment

Protects against unlawful searches and seizures.

5th Amendment

Guarantees due process.

6th Amendment

Ensures the right to a speedy/public trial with an impartial jury.

8th Amendment

Prohibits cruel and unusual punishments.

10th Amendment

Powers not reserved for the federal gov. are given to the people

14th Amendment

Guarantees equal citizenship rights.

15th Amendment

Enforces universal male suffrage.

19th Amendment

Grants women the right to vote.

26th Amendment

Establishes the voting age limit at 18 years.

Article 1

Establishes the legislative branch.

Article 1 Section 2

Congress can impeach the president 

Article 1 Section 8

Congress can tax & has implied powers 

Article 1 section 9

Right to habeas corpus

Article 2

Establishes the executive branch.

Article 2 section 2

Presidential pardoning power 

Article 3

Establishes the judicial branch.

Article 6 section 2

Supremacy clause (no one is above the constitution) 

Federalist 47

Argues for the separation of powers.

Federalist 51

Discusses checks and balances.

Federalist 70

Advocates for energy in the executive branch.

Federalist 78

Argues for judicial review and independence.

Trump v United States

Rules that the president is immune from criminal prosecution for official actions.

United States v Nixon

Confirms executive privilege is not absolute; Nixon had to surrender tapes.

Dickerson v United States

Upheld the requirement to read Miranda rights upon arrest.

Katz v United States

Established the reasonable expectation of privacy in phone conversations.

United States v Jones

Upholds constitutional protections against GPS surveillance under the 4th Amendment.

Marbury v Madison

Established the principle of judicial review.

Dred Scott v Sandford

Ruled that African Americans could not be citizens and affirmed slavery rights.

Brown v. Board of Education

Declared that separate but equal is inherently unequal, ending school segregation.

Obergefell v Hodges

Legalized gay marriage nationwide.

Roe v Wade

Protected abortion rights at a national level.

McCleskey v Kemp

Addressed racial discrimination in the death penalty; upheld existing laws.

Magna Carta

Foundation for legal rights; established due process and limited royal power.

English Bill of Rights

Outlined rights including habeas corpus and the right to petition.

Intolerable Acts

A series of punitive measures against American colonies.

Writs of Assistance

Permitted searches without specific warrants in colonial America.

Doctrine of Incorporation

Applies the Bill of Rights to the states via the 14th Amendment.

Civil Rights Act

Legislation aimed at ending discrimination based on several protected characteristics.

Voting Rights Act

Eliminated racial discrimination in voting practices.

Lincoln Dred Scott Speech

Emphasized the standard of equality for society.

Hughes-Ryan Amendments of 1974

Required the president to report CIA covert actions to Congress.

Ethics in Government Act of 1978

Mandates disclosure of financial information for public officials.