AP Government Required Cases, Documents, and Constitutional Principles

A complete set of 53 flashcards covering the required Supreme Court cases, foundational documents, constitutional clauses, amendments, and structural articles as specified in the lecture notes.

Marbury v. Madison ($1803$)

Established judicial review; Supreme Court can strike down unconstitutional laws.

McCulloch v. Maryland ($1819$)

Federal law supreme over state law; implied powers via Necessary & Proper Clause; Congress can create a national bank.

United States v. Lopez ($1995$)

Commerce Clause doesn't give Congress unlimited power; can't ban guns near schools.

Baker v. Carr ($1962$)

Courts can hear redistricting cases; opened door to "one person, one vote".

Shaw v. Reno ($1993$)

Race cannot be the sole factor in drawing districts; no racial gerrymandering.

Citizens United v. FEC ($2010$)

Political spending by corporations = protected free speech under $1 ext{st}$ Amendment.

Engel v. Vitale ($1962$)

School-sponsored prayer violates the Establishment Clause.

Wisconsin v. Yoder ($1972$)

Forcing Amish kids to attend school past $8 ext{th}$ grade violates Free Exercise Clause.

Tinker v. Des Moines ($1969$)

Students wearing black armbands = protected symbolic speech; schools can't ban it.

New York Times v. United States ($1971$)

Heavy presumption against prior restraint; government can't block press from publishing.

Schenck v. United States ($1919$)

Speech creating a "clear and present danger" is NOT protected.

Brown v. Board of Education ($1954$)

Racial segregation in schools unconstitutional; "separate but equal" violates Equal Protection Clause.

Gideon v. Wainwright ($1963$)

Right to an attorney applies to states; government must provide one if you can't afford it.

Roe v. Wade ($1973$)

Right to privacy (via $14 ext{th}$ Amendment due process) extends to abortion decisions.

McDonald v. Chicago ($2010$)

$2 ext{nd}$ Amendment right to bear arms applies to states via $14 ext{th}$ Amendment.

Declaration of Independence

Natural rights (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness); social contract; right to revolution if government fails.

Articles of Confederation

First U.S. government framework; weak central government, strong states; replaced by Constitution.

U.S. Constitution

Supreme law; separation of powers; checks and balances; federalism.

Federalist No. $10$ (Madison)

Large republic better controls factions; representative government over pure democracy.

Federalist No. $51$ (Madison)

Separation of powers + checks and balances prevent tyranny; "ambition must counteract ambition".

Federalist No. $70$ (Hamilton)

Strong, single executive is essential for energy and accountability.

Federalist No. $78$ (Hamilton)

Judicial branch is weakest; lifetime tenure protects judicial independence; established basis for judicial review.

Brutus No. $1$

Anti-Federalist; federal government too powerful; Necessary & Proper and Supremacy Clauses dangerous; need a Bill of Rights.

Letter from Birmingham Jail (MLK)

Justifies civil disobedience against unjust laws; connects to $14 ext{th}$ Amendment equal protection.

Necessary & Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)

Art. I §$8$; Congress can make laws needed to carry out its enumerated powers (implied powers).

Commerce Clause

Art. I §$8$; Congress regulates interstate commerce (key in Lopez).

Supremacy Clause

Art. VI; Constitution and federal law are supreme over state law (key in McCulloch).

Establishment Clause

$1 ext{st}$ Amendment; government can't establish or favor a religion (Engel v. Vitale).

Free Exercise Clause

$1 ext{st}$ Amendment; government can't prohibit religious practice (Yoder).

Due Process Clause

$14 ext{th}$ Amendment; states can't deprive people of life/liberty/property without due process (used in Roe, McDonald, Gideon).

Equal Protection Clause

$14 ext{th}$ Amendment; states must treat citizens equally under law (Brown, Baker, Shaw).

Full Faith & Credit Clause

Art. IV; states must respect other states' laws and court decisions.

Privileges & Immunities Clause

Art. IV; states can't discriminate against citizens of other states.

$1 ext{st}$ Amendment

Speech, press, religion, assembly, petition.

$2 ext{nd}$ Amendment

Right to bear arms.

$4 ext{th}$ Amendment

No unreasonable searches/seizures.

$5 ext{th}$ Amendment

Due process; no self-incrimination; no double jeopardy.

$6 ext{th}$ Amendment

Right to counsel; speedy and public trial.

$10 ext{th}$ Amendment

Reserved powers to states.

$13 ext{th}$ Amendment

Abolished slavery.

$14 ext{th}$ Amendment

Citizenship; equal protection; due process (most important for incorporation).

$15 ext{th}$ Amendment

Black male suffrage.

$17 ext{th}$ Amendment

Direct election of senators.

$19 ext{th}$ Amendment

Women's suffrage.

$22 ext{nd}$ Amendment

Two-term presidential limit.

$24 ext{th}$ Amendment

Banned poll taxes.

$25 ext{th}$ Amendment

Presidential succession/disability.

$26 ext{th}$ Amendment

Voting age lowered to $18$.

Article I §$8$

Enumerated powers of Congress (includes Necessary & Proper Clause).

Article II

Executive powers (vague intentionally; drives FRQ debates).

Article III

Judicial power (no mention of judicial review — that came from Marbury).

Article IV

Full Faith & Credit; Privileges & Immunities; admission of new states.

Article VI

Supremacy Clause.