ap gov important docs

Marbury v. Madison

Established judicial review

McCulloch v. Maryland

Dealt with the necessary and proper clause, and other Supremacy clauses

Schenck v. United States

Put limits on free speech (1st Amendment). Established the "clear and present danger" principle.

Brown v. Board of Education

Overturned Separate but Equal was not the constiutional on public schools.

Baker v. Carr

One man, one vote

Engel v. Vitale

Prayer in public schools is unconstitutional

Gideon v. Wainwright

Anyone accused of a felony, has a right to a lawyer.

Tinker v. Des Moines

Freedom of speech for students as long as it does not interfere with the learning environment.

New York Times co. V. United States

New York Times can publish classified information without censorship.

Roe v. Wade

Legalized abortion on the basis of a woman's right to privacy

Shaw v. Reno

No racial gerrymandering

United States v. Lopez

Congress had exceeded its commerce clause power by prohibiting guns in a school zone.

McDonald v. Chicago

The Court held that the right of an individual to "keep and bear arms" protected by the 2nd amendment

Citizen United v. Federal Election Commission

Corporations have a 1st Amendment right to expressly support, with soft money, political candidates for Congress and the White House

Wisconsin v. Yoder

Amish do not have to attend school after 8th grade, based on right to freedom of religion

Declaration of Independence

Natural rights(all men are created equal), popular sovereignty, and social contract- foundation of governmental power.

Atricles of Confederation

Each state had authority, all states were equal, congress could not tax. Congress had control over forign policy. States were soverign.

Constitution

Established a limited government. Seperatiion of powers, checks and balances, and federalism were all outlined.

Federalist Paper No. 10

Written by James Madision. Stated that factions are the biggest threat to socity; groups that are against rights of other people are the biggest threat to he nation. Factions cannot be removed, or destroyed w/o destroying liberty. Instead of destroying we ust control the neg. effects. Solution: A large republic can control factions and protect minority rights while maintaining majority rule.

Federalist Paper No. 51

Writted by James Madision. Argues for speration of powers, and checks and balances. Men are imperfect so we need government, but people in government are also imperfect so systems must be in place to control their power. Division of power into three branches.

Brutus No. 1

Anti-federalist, argues againist ratifying the constitution, wants power to be held in smaller groups of people in more local governments. Warnings: once people give up power to the fed. government they will never get it back, claimed the nessacary & proper clause gave gov't "absolute and uncontrollable power", the power to tax can lead to tyrannical gov't, fed. governments will destroy state governments.

Federalist Paper No. 70

Written by Alexander Hamilton, argues in favor of a unitary executive. A single president would be more effective than a group having to wor together. It is good for Congress to move slow, however the executive needs to be able to react quickly. It is easier to assign blame and hold the executive accountable when there is one president.

Federalist No. 78

Written by Alexander Hamilton; argues life terms for federal judges. Claims that this is the least dangrous branch "Neither FORCE not WILL, merely judgment". The purpose of the judicial branch is to protect the constitution, so Congress or the president can not have th eauthorty to fire them.

Letter from Birmingham Jail

Written by Martin Luther King in 1963, demands fulfillment of the Declaration & Constitution. parallels to other documents.