U1: Foundations of American Government and Democracy Foundational Docs

Declaration of Independence

Articles of Confederation

Brutus #1

Strong central government = bad

Federalist #10

A paper written by James Madison arguing that a large republic is the best form of government to control factions and protect individual rights.

-Factions = BAD

Federalist #51

A paper written by James Madison that discusses the necessity of checks and balances in government to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power.

US Constitution

The supreme law of the land, establishing the framework of the government of the United States, including its three branches and the rights of the citizens.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the US Constitution that guarantee individual liberties and protections against government overreach.

McCulloch v. Maryland

A landmark Supreme Court case that established the principle of federal supremacy over state laws and affirmed the implied powers of Congress.

Supremacy Clause

US v Lopez

A significant Supreme Court case that limited the scope of Congress' power under the Commerce Clause by ruling that gun possession in school zones was not an economic activity that affected interstate commerce.

Commerce Clause

CONTEXT: federal Gun-Free School Zones Act was unconstitutional, exceeding Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce under the Commerce Clause.