AP GoPo Basics Test

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

The court established its role as the arbiter of the constitutionality of federal laws (judicial review)

Baker v. Carr (1961)

SC reformulated how districts could be reapportioned; "one man, one vote" (cannot give some districts more power than others)

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

Ruled that the First amendment prohibits the government from limiting independent political expenditures by corporations and unions; corporations are people

Schneck v. US (1918)

Ruled that due to "clear and present danger", Schneck's actions were not protected under free speech

Tinker v. Des Moines (1968)

Ruled that students could wear the armbands as "a legitimate form of symbolic speech" as students' rights are "not shed at the schoolhouse gates."

New York Times v. US (1971)

Ruled the government did not have the right to prevent publication as it was a violation of the First Amendment; prohibited prior restraint

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Ruled that prayer in public schools could not be mandated because of the First Amendment's Establishment Clause

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

Rule that a state could not force Amish students to attend school past the eighth grade because it was against their religion and violated the Free Exercise Clause

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

Due Process Clause ensures the Second amendment right of an individual to keep and bear arms is applied to the states as well

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Upheld the Sixth amendment right to an attorney and overturned Betts v. Brady

Roe v. Wade (1973) *not really required anymore

Ruled that women have an absolute right to abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy based on a constitutionally protected right to privacy, though a state can pose restrictions on the second and third trimesters

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, stating that "separate but equal" is inherently unequal and race-based segregation violated the Equal Protection Clause. Schools were ordered to integrate.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Reversed the lower-court decision, stating that the "bizarre" shape of the new district "bears an uncomfortable resemblance to political apartheid."; The court also ruled that race could be used to make districts that were racially balanced

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Ruled that a state does not have the right to tax a federal institution, finding that "the power to tax is the power to destroy."; Confirmed the Supremacy Clause and the power to create a national bank under the Elastic Clause

U.S. v. Lopez (1995)

Gun Free School Zones Act exceeded Congress's authority to regulate interstate commerce. The first case to begin reigning in Congress's authority under the Commerce Clause.

Federalist 10

Argued that the formation of several factions (political parties) provides the country with diversity and protects minority rights by forcing compromise; The more groups there are, the less likely tyranny is to happen

Federalist 51

Argued that the federal govt. is limited in power through the system of check and balances embedded within the three branches.

Federalist 70

US requires a singular, strong, energetic executive; necessary in times of crisis for decisiveness; will be watched more closely than a group of executives

Federalist 78

Defined the purpose and need of an independent judiciary and established it as the weakest branch in the Constitution's proposed three-branch system; Explained why judges should get office for life—to protect them from political pressures of Congress and/or the president.

Brutus 1

Argued that the Constitution gave the federal govt. too much power and that the power of state govts. would become nullified; Claimed that the legislative branch's power was unlimited, and this was a threat to our newfound individual liberty.

Declaration of Independence

Official document that separated the American colonies from the British Empire under King George III

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)

U.S. Constitution

A document that embodies the fundamental laws and principles by which the United States is governed.

Letter from Birmingham Jail

Explained the importance and value of nonviolent direct action to resist racism and injustice

First Amendment

Freedom of speech, press, petition, religion, assembly

Second Amendment

Right to keep and bear arms

Third Amendment

No peacetime quartering of troops

Fourth Amendment

Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures

Fifth Amendment

Rights of the accused, including due process of law, grand jury indictment, protection from double jeopardy, and protection from self-incrimination

Sixth Amendment

Rights of the accused, including a speedy trial, impartial peer jury, witnesses on your behalf, right to an attorney, right to know who accused you and for what

Seventh Amendment

Right to a speedy trial by jury in civil cases

Eighth Amendment

No excessive bail/fines and no cruel and unusual punishment

Ninth Amendment

Rights not mentioned in the Constitution are retained by the people

Tenth Amendment

All powers not given to the national govt./denied to the states are reserved for the states/people (reaffirmation of Framers' plan for limited govt.)

11th Amendment

Judicial limits—you can't sue a state through the federal court system, you have to go through that state's court system (including foreign countries)

12th Amendment

Result of the Election of 1800—electors vote separately for President and VP

13th Amendment

Freed all slaves without owner compensation; legally forbade slavery in the US

14th Amendment

Declared all citizens entitled to equal rights regardless of race at both state and national levels; reaffirmed 5th amendment

15th Amendment

African American males given the right to vote— "right not denied or abridged by race"

16th Amendment

Congress can levy an income tax without apportioning it among the states or basing it on census data

17th Amendment

US Senators' elections shifted from state legislatures to the popular vote

18th Amendment

Prohibition

19th Amendment

Women's suffrage— "right to vote not denied or abridged by sex"

20th Amendment

Presidential terms set to begin January 20th, Congress January 3rd; shortened gap between changes

21 Amendment

Ended prohibition

22nd Amendment

Presidential term limit (2)

23 Amendment

Washington DC residents can vote; electoral count 538

24 Amendment

Eliminated poll tax for federal elections

25th Amendment

Clarifies Presidential line of succession and establishes rules for VP takeover in times of Presidential disability

26th Amendment

Voting age lowered from 21 to 18

27th Amendment

Congressional pay changes don't take effect until the next term (basically, people can't give themselves more money just like that) (1992)

Articles of the Constitution

Legislative, Executive, Judicial, States, Amendments, Supremacy, Ratification

House of Representatives Requirements

minimum age 25; citizenship: native born or naturalized; Residency: 7 years in state; Term in office: 2 years; Maximum terms: none

Senate Requirements

30 years old, U.S. citizen for 9 years, and resident of state; Term in office: 6 years

Maximum terms: none

Congress's Powers

Tax, coin money, declare war, regulate commerce, implied power comes from "Necessary and Proper" or "Elastic" clause, override veto with 2/3 vote in both chambers

House of Representatives

Begins all revenue bills, selects pres if not EC majority, initiated impeachment proceedings

Senate

Approves presidential appointments, tries impeachment proceedings, unlimited debate

Presidential Requirements

Must be at least 35 years old, a natural-born citizen of the US, and a resident for at least 14 years; Term: 4 years

Maximum terms: 2 (10 years max if 2 years was from vice presidency)

Presidential Powers

Formal: grant pardons, make treaties, sign/veto bills, appoint ambassadors + justices + other officials

Informal: issue executive orders, executive privilege, signing statements, creating executive agencies

Judicial Power

the power to interpret laws, to determine their meaning, and to settle disputes that arise within the society