AP Gov Foundational Documents

Federalist 10

“Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an ailment without which it instantly expires. But

it could not be less folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life, because it

nourishes faction, than it would be to wish the annihilation of air, which is essential to

animal life, because it impacts to fire its destructive agency.”

Declaration of Independence

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are

endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life,

Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Federalist 51

“If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men,

neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.”

Constitution

“The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State,

chosen by the Legislature thereof,3 for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.”

Brutus 1

“The territory of the United States is of vast extent; it now contains near three millions

of souls, and is capable of containing much more than ten times that number. Is it

practicable for a country, so large and so numerous as they will soon become, to elect a

representation, that will speak their sentiments, without their becoming so numerous as

to be incapable of transacting public business? It certainly is not.”

Letter from a Birmingham Jail

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Federalist 78

“The Judiciary . . . has no influence over either the sword or the purse; no direction

either of the strength or of the wealth of the society, and can take no active resolution

whatever. It may truly be said to have neither FORCE nor WILL, but merely judgment.”

Declaration of Independence

“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just

powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government

becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it,

and to institute new Government.”

Brutus 1

“It is insisted that this constitution must be received, be it ever so imperfect. If it has its

defects, it is said, they can be best amended when they are experienced.”

Federalist 78

“According to the plan of the convention, all judges who may be appointed by the

United States are to hold their offices during good behavior; which is conformable to the

most approved of the State constitutions and among the rest, to that of this State. Its

propriety having been drawn into question by the adversaries of that plan, is no light

symptom of the rage for objection, which disorders their imaginations and judgments.

The standard of good behavior for the continuance in office of the judicial magistracy, is

certainly one of the most valuable of the modern improvements in the practice of

government.”

Declaration of Independence

“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve

the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the

powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of

Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that

they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”

Federalist 51

“Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.”

Articles of Confederation

“The said States hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other,

for their common defense, the security of their liberties, and their mutual and general

welfare, binding themselves to assist each other, against all force offered to, or attacks

made upon them, or any of them, on account of religion, sovereignty, trade, or any

other pretense whatever.”

Brutus 1

“This government is to possess absolute and uncontroulable power, legislative,

executive and judicial, with respect to every object to which it extends.”

Constitution

“The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall

propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of

two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments,

which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this

Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or

by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification

may be proposed by the Congress.”

Federalist 10

“By a faction, I understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a

minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of

passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and

aggregate interests of the community.”

Articles of Confederation

“The United States in Congress assembled shall also be the last resort on appeal in all

disputes and differences now subsisting or that hereafter may arise between two or

more States concerning boundary, jurisdiction or any other causes whatever.”

Federalist 51

“In republican government the legislative authority, necessarily, predominates. The

remedy for this inconvenience is, to divide the legislative into different branches.”

Federalist 78

“We proceed now to an examination of the judiciary department of the proposed

government.”

Constitution

“(Congress shall have the power) To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper

for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this

Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer

thereof.”

Federalist 70

“Energy in the Executive is a leading character in the definition of good government. It is

essential to the protection of the community against foreign attacks; it is not less

essential to the steady administration of the laws; to the protection of property against

those irregular and high-handed combinations which sometimes interrupt the ordinary

course of justice; to the security of liberty against the enterprises and assaults of

ambition, of faction, and of anarchy.”

Federalist 10

“… the smaller the number of individuals composing a majority, and the smaller the

compass within which they are placed, the more easily will they concert and execute

their plans of oppression. Extend the sphere, and you take in a greater variety of parties

and interests; you make it less probable that a majority of the whole will have a

common motive to invade the rights of other citizens.”

Federalist 70

“A feeble Executive implies a feeble execution of the government. A feeble execution is

but another phrase for a bad execution; and a government ill executed, whatever it may

be in theory, must be, in practice, a bad government.”

Federalist 51

…the constant aim is to divide and arrange the several offices in such a manner as that

each may be a check on the other”

Letter from a Birmingham Jail

“Justice too long delayed is justice denied.”

Declaration of Independence

“In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most

humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A

Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit

to be the ruler of a free people.”

Brutus 1

“ It is true this government is limited to certain objects, or to speak more properly, some

small degree of power is still left to the states, but a little attention to the powers vested

in the general government, will convince every candid man, that if it is capable of being

executed, all that is reserved for the individual states must very soon be annihilated,

except so far as they are barely necessary to the organization of the general

government.”

Federalist 10

“But the most common and durable source of factions has been the various and

unequal distribution of property. Those who hold and those who are without property

have ever formed distinct interests in society.”

Constitution

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish

Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the

general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do

ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

Brutus 1

“A power to make all laws, which shall be necessary and proper… is a power very

comprehensive and definite… and may be exercised in a such manner as entirely to

abolish the state legislatures.”

Articles of Confederation

“The United States in Congress assembled shall never engage in a war, nor grant letters

of marque or reprisal in time of peace, nor enter into any treaties or alliances, nor coin

money, nor regulate the value thereof, nor ascertain the sums and expenses necessary

for the defense and welfare of the United States, or any of them, nor emit bills, nor

borrow money on the credit of the United States, nor appropriate money, nor agree

upon the number of vessels of war, to be built or purchased, or the number of land or

sea forces to be raised, nor appoint a commander in chief of the army or navy, unless

nine States assent to the same.”

Letter from a Birmingham Jail

“Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.”

Constitution

“The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He

shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice

President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows.”

Federalist 78

“There is no position which depends on clearer principles than that every act of a

delegated authority, contrary to the tenor of the commission under which it is

exercised, is void. No legislative act, therefore, contrary to the Constitution, can be

valid. To deny this would be to affirm that the deputy is greater than his principal; that

the servant is above his master; that the representatives of the people are superior to

the people themselves.”

Letter from a Birmingham Jail

“Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the

oppressed.”

Federalist 70

“The ingredients which constitute energy in the Executive are, first, unity; secondly,

duration; thirdly, an adequate provision for its support; fourthly, competent powers.”

Letter from a Birmingham Jail

“It is just as wrong to use moral means to preserve immoral ends.”