ap gov foundational docs

declaration of indepedence

reflects democratic ideals (Enlightenment principles of government). You can use natural rights, social contract, popular sovereignty, limited government, etc to argue for or against developments like federal actions, need for recall voting, restriction/upholding of rights

articles of confederation

failure of these support a more balanced federalism/state power over federal power. avoided potential tyranny of a powerful federal government, demonstrates a participatory style of government

federalist 10

supports pluralist or elite models of democracy because a large republic will prevent factions from forming. how competing factions are required to compromise and work together to make policy- interest groups, political parties, iron triangles, etc.

brutus 1

support state sovereignty and a participatory model of democracy, argues against federal overreach and the ratification of the Constitution. federal government can’t be close enough to their citizens and the Supremacy Clause is dangerous

Constitution

can be applied to everything- established limited government, separation of powers, and a republican-style government

federalist 51

checks and balances, separation of powers among the three branches will preserve liberty, and each branch should operate independently (marbury v madison, since it established judicial review and can check the other branches). the vietnam war didn’t have a declaration of war granted by Congress, or you could use it to support a specific check like veto or impeachment

federalist 70

strong, single executive can act quickly. answer: presidential power, like how some stayed within the bounds and how some (Andrew Jackson, FDR, etc) expanded power.

federalist 78

judicial branch- most important function is judicial review, support debates about Court’s legitimacy or the ideological makeup of the judges

letter from a birmingham jail

supports Civil Rights arguments/the effectiveness of social movements