AP GOV (GIBBS VERSION)

essential content from Mr. Gibb's, Hanford Class of 2026

Equal Protection Clause

Prevents states from denying equal legal protection under law

Due Process Clause

Protects against government deprivation of life, liberty, property

Executive Power Clause

Grants president authority to enforce and execute laws

Vesting Clause

Assigns constitutional powers to each branch of government

Necessary and Proper Clause

Allows implied powers to carry out enumerated powers

Supremacy Clause

Federal law overrides conflicting state laws

Commerce Clause

Regulates interstate commerce granting broad federal power

Establishment Clause

Prohibits government establishment of religion

Free Exercise Clause

Protects individuals’ right to practice religion freely

Full Faith and Credit Clause

States must honor other states’ public acts and records

Free Speech Clause

Protects expression from government interference

Natural Rights

Inherent rights to life, liberty, and property

Popular Sovereignty / Social Contract

Government derives power from consent of governed

Limited Government

Government restricted by Constitution and individual rights

Separation of Powers

Divides power among legislative, executive, judicial branches

Checks and Balances

Each branch limits powers of other branches

Federalism

Division of power between national and state governments

Rule of Law

Laws apply equally to all including government officials

Republicanism

Representative government based on elected officials

Judicial Review

Courts can declare laws unconstitutional

Judiciary Act of 1789

Established federal court system and Supreme Court structure

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Eliminated racial discrimination in voting practices

USA PATRIOT Act

Expanded federal surveillance to combat terrorism

Gun-Free School Zones Act

Restricted firearms near schools under federal authority

Federal Election Campaign Act

Regulated campaign finance and disclosure requirements

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act

Limited soft money and campaign advertising

Pendleton Civil Service Act

Established merit-based federal employment system

Griswold v. Connecticut

Established right to privacy through penumbras of Constitution

Mapp v. Ohio

Applied exclusionary rule to states under Fourth Amendment

Miranda v. Arizona

Required Miranda warnings protecting Fifth Amendment rights

Lemon v. Kurtzman

Established Lemon test for establishment clause cases

Korematsu v. United States

Upheld internment under national security justification

New Jersey v. T.L.O.

Allowed reasonable searches in schools under Fourth Amendment

Furman v. Georgia

Temporarily halted death penalty as unconstitutional application

Gregg v. Georgia

Reinstated death penalty under guided discretion standards

Roe v. Wade

Recognized constitutional right to abortion under privacy

Planned Parenthood v. Casey

Upheld Roe with undue burden standard

Dobbs v. Jackson

Overturned Roe returning abortion regulation to states

Texas v. Johnson

Protected flag burning as symbolic speech

Plessy v. Ferguson

Upheld segregation under separate but equal doctrine

Declaration of Independence

Social contract theory justifying popular sovereignty and right to revolution

Articles of Confederation

Weak confederation emphasizing state sovereignty over national authority

U.S. Constitution

Federalism with separation of powers and checks and balances

Federalist No. 10

Pluralism controls factions through large republic structure

Brutus No. 1

Anti-federalist argument warning against strong centralized government power

Federalist No. 51

Checks and balances protect against tyranny through separation of powers

Federalist No. 70

Unitary executive ensures energy, accountability, and effective leadership

Federalist No. 78

Judicial review and independent judiciary protect Constitution

Letter from Birmingham Jail

Civil disobedience against unjust laws to achieve equality

Marbury v. Madison

Established judicial review and Supreme Court authority

McCulloch v. Maryland

Implied powers and federal supremacy over states

Schenck v. United States

Limited free speech under clear and present danger test

Brown v. Board of Education

Overturned segregation under equal protection clause

Baker v. Carr

Established one person one vote through judicial intervention

Engel v. Vitale

Prohibited school-sponsored prayer under establishment clause

Gideon v. Wainwright

Right to counsel under Sixth Amendment incorporated to states

Tinker v. Des Moines

Protected symbolic speech in schools under First Amendment

New York Times v. United States

Prior restraint unconstitutional under free press protection

Wisconsin v. Yoder

Protected free exercise of religion over compulsory education laws

Shaw v. Reno

Racial gerrymandering violates equal protection clause

United States v. Lopez

Limited commerce clause reducing federal power

McDonald v. Chicago

Incorporated Second Amendment right to bear arms to states

Citizens United v. FEC

Political spending protected as free speech under First Amendment