AP Gov Required Docs and Supreme court cases

U.S. Constitution

a document that sets out the fundamental principles of governance and establishes the institutions of government

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

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 10

an essay in which Madison argues that the dangers of faction can be mitigated by a large republic and republican government

Brutus 1

- Argument against the Constitution

- Examples of History

- The U.S. is too big

- Too many different interests

- Government will be too far away

- Government is too powerful

- Supremacy/Necessary and Proper Clause

Federalist 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.

McColloch v Maryland

An 1819 Supreme Court decision that established the supremacy of the national government over state governments.

United States v Lopez

1995 - The Commerce Clause of the Constitution does not give Congress the power to prohibit mere possession of a gun near a school, because gun possession by itself is not an economic activity that affects interstate commerce even indirectly.

Articles I

Legislative Branch

Article II

Executive Branch

Article III

Judicial Branch

The 22nd Amendment

Limits the president to two terms.

Federalist 70

Alexander Hamilton 1788; small states want plural executive. He thought there should be a single Executive because it would be more stable and easier for the people to keep up with. Energy and executive, duration of term, unity

Federalist 78

written by Alexander Hamilton; talks about the federal judiciary; judiciary must depend on other two branches to uphold its decisions

Baker v Carr

case that est. one man one vote. this decision created guidelines for drawing up congressional districts and guaranteed a more equitable system of representation to the citizens of each state

Shaw v Reno

NO racial gerrymandering; race cannot be the sole or predominant factor in redrawing legislative boundaries; majority-minority districts.

Marbury v Madison

This case establishes the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review

Bill of Rights

A list of rights and liberties that governments cannot take away

1st Amendment

Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition

2nd Amendment

Right to bear arms

4th Amendment

Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures

5th amendment

The Right to Remain Silent/Double Jeopardy, right to due process

6th amendment

The right to a Speedy Trial by jury, representation by an attorney for an accused person

8th Amendment

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

14th Amendment

Declares that all persons born in the U.S. are citizens and are guaranteed equal protection of the laws

Letter from Birmingham Jail

A letter written by Martin Luther King Jr. after he had been arrested when he took part in a nonviolent march against segregation. He was disappointed more Christians didn't speak out against racism.

Engel v. Vitale

The 1962 Supreme Court decision holding that state officials violated the First Amendment when they wrote a prayer to be recited by New York's schoolchildren.

Wisconsin v. Yoder

Amish children do not have to go to school until they are 16---they may stop after the 8th grade

Tinker v. Des Moines

U.S. Supreme Court case that upheld a student's First Amendment right to engage in symbolic speech in school

Schenck v United States

A 1919 decision upholding the conviction of a socialist who had urged young men to resist the draft during World War I. Justice Holmes declared that government can limit speech if the speech provokes a "clear and present danger" of substantive evils.

New York Times v. United States

If the government wishes to censor information before it is printed or published, it must be proven in court that the information will endanger national security.

McDonald v Chicago

The right of an individual to "keep and bear arms" protected by the 2nd Amendment is incorporated by the due process clause of the 14th Amendment and applies to the states.

Gideon v Wainwright

A person who cannot afford an attorney may have one appointed by the government

Roe v Wade

The 1973 Supreme Court decision holding that a state ban on all abortions was unconstitutional

Brown v Board of Education

1954 - The Supreme Court overruled Plessy v. Ferguson, declared that racially segregated facilities are inherently unequal and ordered all public schools desegregated.

15th amendment

Citizens cannot be denied the right to vote because of race, color , or precious condition of servitude

17th Amendment

Established the direct election of senators (instead of being chosen by state legislatures)

19th Amendment

Gave women the right to vote

24th Amendment

Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (1964) eliminated the poll tax as a prerequisite to vote in national elections.

26th Amendment

Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18

Citizens United v Federal Election Commission (FEC)

In Citizens United v. FEC, the Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment prohibits limits on independent expenditures by corporations and unions in political campaigns, overturning parts of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA).