AP Gov required cases and documents

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Established judicial review, allowing the Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of acts of Congress.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

the Supreme Court upheld the power of the national government and denied the right of a state to tax the federal bank using the Constitution's supremacy clause. The Court's broad interpretation of the necessary and proper clause paved the way for later rulings upholding expansive federal powers

Schenck v. US (1919)

Allows limits to First Amendment freedom of speech based on the "clear and present danger" principle

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Racial segregation of children in public schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. Overruled Plessy v. Ferguson's "separate but equal" doctrine.

Baker v. Carr (1961)

Court-enforced redistricting based on the principle of "one-person-one-vote" ensured that urban constituencies were represented proportionally equal to rural area constituents. Malapportionment violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Prohibited state-sponsored recitation of prayer in public schools by virtue of 1st Amendment's establishment clause and the 14th Amendment's due process clause.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Extends to the defendant the right of counsel in all state and federal criminal trials regardless of their ability to pay.

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

Public school students may wear armbands to class protesting against America's war in Vietnam when such display does not disrupt classes. The case established that students do not shed their constitutional First Amendment rights of freedom of expression.

New York Times v. US (1971)

The U.S. President Richard Nixon had claimed executive authority to force the Times to suspend publication of classified information in its possession - prior restraint. The Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment did protect the New York Times' right to print said materials.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

The Court ruled that Wisconsin could not require Amish parents to send their children to public school beyond the eighth grade because it would violate the First Amendment Free Exercise Clause

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Legislative redistricting based on race violated the 14th amendment’s equal protection clause and racial gerrymandering is subject to strict scrutiny.

United States v. Lopez (1995)

Commerce clause of Constitution does not give Congress the power to regulate guns near state-operated schools

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

Right to keep and bear arms (Second Amendment) is incorporated to the states through the 14th Amendment Due Process Clause

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

Freedom of Speech (First Amendment) applies to corporations and unions, and therefore, the government cannot ban corporate/union independent political expenditures. Corporate funding of independent political broadcasts cannot be limited, leading to the creation of Super PACs.

The Declaration of Independence

the document recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the colonies from Great Britain

The Articles of Confederation

1st Constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788 (weaknesses-no executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade)

Federalist No. 10

An essay written by James Madison that warned against factions due to their tyrannical structure and said a larger United States is better for the diversity of politics.

Brutus No. 1

This work by a prominent Anti-Federalist argued that that the new federal government would be too powerful. In particular, he pointed to the necessary-and-proper clause and the supremacy clause. In addition, he objected to Congress's power to tax and raise a standing army and to the vast size of the proposed republic. He felt this powerful new government would supplant the states.

Federalist No. 51

Argues that separation of powers within the national government is the best way to prevent the concentration of power in the hands of one person or a single group.

The U.S. Constitution

The document written in 1787 and ratified in 1788 that sets forth the institutional structure of the U.S. government and the tasks these institutions perform. It replaced the Articles of Confederation.

Federalist No. 70

Hamilton argues for the necessity of an “energetic” single president (rather than an executive committee). Hamilton states that Americans should not fear the president becoming a tyrant because a single person would be easier to control and hold accountable. Additionally, a single president could act with more energy, efficiency, and secrecy than a committee.

Federalist No. 78

Talks about the importance of an independent judiciary, life tenure for judges, and the power of judicial review. This is the least dangerous branch because it needs the other two branches to uphold its decisions.

"Letter from Birmingham Jail"

Letters written by MLK; In it, he argues that he and his fellow demonstrations have a duty to fight for justice. Explains the four steps of nonviolent protest: fact finding, negotiation, self-purification, and direct action.