AP USGOV Required Docs

Federalist 10

a strong, united republic would be more effective than the individual states at controlling “factions”

Federalist 10

a large republic will help control factions because when more representatives are elected, there will be a greater number of opinions. Therefore, it is far less likely that there will be one majority oppressing the rest of the people.

Brutus I

an Antifederalist series of essays designed to encourage New Yorkers to reject the proposed Constitution

Brutus I

 the immense power of the federal government requires the people to sacrifice their liberties

Brutus I

a bill of rights was necessary to protect the people from the government

Brutus I

Congress possesses far too much power: taxation, standing army, taxes, Elastic Clause

Brutus I

a free republic cannot exist in such a large territory as the United States

Brutus I

Judicial authority will broaden federal gov’t’s power (thus, tyranny)

Declaration of Independence

All people created equal (Natural Rights of Life, Liberty, Property)

Declaration of Independence

Governments are created to protect these rights

Declaration of Independence

Imperfect gov’ts should not be destroyed, only ones that seek to subject the People to Tyranny (destruction of Natural Rights)

Declaration of Independence

If Gov’t does not protect these rights, then the People have the duty to change/destroy

Articles of Confederation

Confederation of states, with an extremely limited central government.

Articles of Confederation

limitations placed upon the central government rendered it ineffective at governing the continually growing American states

Articles of Confederation

Each state remains sovereign

Articles of Confederation

Unicameral legislature, each state one vote

Articles of Confederation

No President, No Judiciary

Articles of Confederation

Could not force taxation; No standing Army

5 Constitution (+ Bill of Rights & Other Amendments)

Outline of federal gov’t structure, powers, and limits to those powers

5 Constitution (+ Bill of Rights & Other Amendments)

 Three branches (L, E, J) [Sep. of P’s] that can limit each other [Ch & B’s]

5 Constitution (+ Bill of Rights & Other Amendments)

Outlines Federal system of government

5 Constitution (+ Bill of Rights & Other Amendments)

Constitution as Supreme Law

1st Amendment

Guarantees the right to the freedoms of speech, press, and religion. Protects the right to petition the government.

2nd Amendment

Guarantees the people's right to own and bear arms for their defense.

3rd Amendment

Citizens cannot be forced to quarter soldiers during times of peace.

4th Amendment

Citizens cannot be forced to subject themselves to seizure and search without a search warrant and probable cause.

5th Amendment

Prohibits abuse of governmental authority in legal procedures. Establishes rules for indictment by eminent domain and grand jury. Guarantees the due process rights. Protects citizens from self-incrimination and double jeopardy.

6th Amendment

Guarantees fair and speedy jury trial and the rights to know the accusation, the accuser, and to find counsel and witnesses.

7th Amendment

Reserves individuals' rights to jury trial depending on the civil case, and cases already examined by not be re-opened by another court.

8th Amendment

Forbids exorbitant bails and fines and punishment that is unusual or cruel.

9th Amendment

Reserves the rights of citizens which are not specifically mentioned by the U.S. Constitution.

10th Amendment

Reserves powers that are not given to the U.S. government under the Constitution, nor prohibited to a State of the U.S., to the people and the States.

13th Amendment

Except as punishment for criminal offense, forbids forced-slavery and involuntary servitude.

14th Amendment

Details Equal Protection Clause, Due Process Clause, Citizenship Clause, and clauses dealing with the Confederacy and its officials.

15th Amendment

Reserves citizens the suffrage rights regardless of their race, color, or previous slave status.

17th Amendment

Establishes popular voting as the process under which senators are elected.

19th Amendment

Reserves women's suffrage rights.

22th Amendment

Limit the terms that an individual can be elected as president (at most two terms). Individuals who have served over two years of someone else's term may not be elected more than once.

24th Amendment

Citizens cannot be denied the suffrage rights for not paying a poll tax or any other taxes.

26th Amendment

Reserves the right for citizens 18 and older to vote.

Federalist 51

Proposes a government broken into three branches: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial.

Federalist 51

Each branch should be self-sufficient, but each should have some kind of power over the other in order for them to keep each other from taking over the government.

Federalist 51

The Legislative branch needs to be split further into the House of Representatives and the Senate because it's the most powerful branch, and members of the Judicial branch need to be chosen by the President with the Senate's approval because they want qualified candidates for a position that lasts for life.

Federalist 51

This style of government also helps keep down the power of factions, a recurring theme from Federalist 10.

Federalist 70

Argues that unity in the executive branch is a main ingredient for both energy and safety. Energy arises from the proceedings of a single person, characterized by, "decision, activity, secrecy, and dispatch," while safety arises from the unitary executive's unconcealed accountability to the people.

Federalist 70

Justifies executive strength by claiming that the slow-moving Congress, a body designed for deliberation, will be best-balanced by a quick and decisive executive.

Federalist 70

Also maintains that governmental balance can only be achieved if each branch of government (including the executive branch) has enough autonomous power such that tyranny of one branch over the others cannot occur.

Federalist 70

Makes the case for duration, meaning a presidential term long enough to promote stability in the government.

Federalist 70

Support can be defined as a presidential salary, which insulates government officials from corruption by attracting capable, honest men to office.

Federalist 70

Support can be defined as a presidential salary, which insulates government officials from corruption by attracting capable, honest men to office.

Federalist 78

As “the weakest of the three departments of power,” the Judiciary needs strengthening.

Federalist 78

Without an independent judiciary, any rights reserved to the people by the Constitution “would amount to nothing,” since the legislature cannot be relied upon to police itself.

Federalist 78

lifetime appointments, guaranteed “during good behavior” to insure that judges can resist encroachments from the legislature (to which presumably they would be vulnerable by means of bribes or threats)

Letter from a Birmingham Jail

King argues that he and his fellow demonstrations have a duty to fight for justice.

Letter from a Birmingham Jail

It is up to the oppressed to take charge and demand equality.

Letter from a Birmingham Jail

Segregation is used to debase one population (blacks) while uplifting another (whites), which makes it immoral in the eyes of God. According to St. Augustine's logic, unjust laws aren't actually laws, so they don't have to be followed.

Letter from a Birmingham Jail

King believes people are under a moral obligation to oppose segregation by refusing to abide by the so-called laws that govern the practice.

Letter from a Birmingham Jail

White Americans who say they agree with the notion of desegregation but criticize the manner in which civil rights activists go about achieving it are the biggest obstacle standing in the way of racial equality.

Letter from a Birmingham Jail

The demeaning and "paternalistic" attitude of white moderates shows a lack of real understanding about the realities of segregation. It is this group that perpetuates the notion that time, not human intervention, will be the great equalizer—which discourages others to join the campaign for civil rights.

Letter from a Birmingham Jail

The civil rights movement will ultimately be successful because "the goal of America is freedom."