AP GOV, required cases and documents

STUDY TO KNOW THE REQUIRED CASES AND DOCUMENTS

Marbury v Madison (1803)

Marbury sued for his judge appointment. Created Judicial Review so courts can strike down unconstitutional laws. Article 3

Mcculloch v Maryland (1819)

Maryland tried to tax national bank. McCulloch, a bank employee, refused to pay. This upheld implied power, under Necessary and Proper Clause; states cannot tax federal government (supremacy clause). Article 1, Section 8.

Shenck v U.S. (1919)

Shenck distributed leaflets urging resistance of WW1 draft. Established “clear and present danger” that limited free speech under 1st amendment.

Brown v Board of Education (1954)

Black students were denied access to white public schools. Thus, overturning Plessy v Ferguson; segregation in public schools unconstitutional. 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause.

Baker v Carr (1962)

Tennessee had not redrawn legislative districts in decades, leading to unequal representation. Established “one person, one vote” and federal courts can review redistricting cases. 14th Amendments Equal Protection Clause.

Engle v Vitale (1962)

Public school in NY had students recite prayer. Prohibited state-sponsored prayer under 1st Amendments Establishment Clause.

Gideon v Wainwright (1963)

Gideon was denied a lawyer in Florida criminal case because it wasn’t capital offense. Established guaranteed right to an attorney under 6th Amendments right to counsel and 14th Amendments Due process.

Tinker v Des Moines (1969)

Students wore black armbands to protest Vietnam war, and were suspended. Violated 1st Amendments free speech.

NYT v U.S. (1971)

Nixon Administration tried to prevent NYT from publishing Pentagon papers. Limited prior restraint including 1st Amendments Freedom of Press

Wisconsin v Yoder (1972)

Amish families refused to send kids past 8th grade due to religion. Rules that religious freedom outweighed education. 1st Amendments Free Exercise Clause.

Roe v Wade (1973)

Jane Roe challenged a Texas law that banned abortion. This, legalized abortion; based on right to privacy under 14th Amendments Due Process Clause (implied right to privacy)

Shaw v Reno (1993)

North Carolina created a racially gerrymandered district to ensure Black representation. Ruled racial gerrymandering as unconstitutional. 14th Amendments Equal Protection Clause.

U.S. v Lopez (1995)

Student brought gun to school violating Gun-Free School Zone Act. Limited Congress’s power under Commerce clause in Article 1, Section 8.

McDonald v Chicago (2010)

Chicago’s handgun ban was challenged by McDonald. Incorporated 2nd amendment to apply to states. 2nd amendment right to bear arms and 14th amendments due process clause

Citizens United v FEC (2010)

Citizens United wanted to air a film of Hilary Clinton during a blackout period. Corporations and unions could spend unlimited money on independent political expenditures. 1st amendment Free speech.

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Purpose was to justify breaking away from Britain; declare independence. Ideas like natural rights, popular sovereignty, and right to revolt against tyrannical government. Matters because it was the foundation for American political philosophy and justification for democracy.

Articles of Confederation (1781)

Purpose was America’s first national government framework. Key ideas like weak central government, no power to tax, raise army, or regulate commerce. Each state = 1 vote. This showed the need for stronger national government. Led to Constitution.

U.S. Constitution (1787)

Purpose was a framework for stronger national government. Key ideas included separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, and bill of rights. Matters: still supreme law of land; core of U.S. gov structure.

Federalist No. 10 (1787)

Argued the ratification of Constitution. Key ideas include Factions being inevitable but controllable. Large republics are better than small at controlling. This supports pluralism and benefits of large, diverse republic.

Brutus No. 1 (1787)

Argued against ratifying Constitution. That too much power to central government (Necessary and Proper Clause). Fear of tyranny, standing army, and loss of state power. This document sparked demand for bill of rights. Reflected Anti-federalist concerns.

Federalist No. 51 (1788)

Defended structure of Constitution. Included separation of powers and checks and balances so that no branch dominates. This was theoretical basis for U.S. system of power sharing.

Federalist No. 70 (1788)

Argued for a single strong executive (pres.). Said that one executive ensures accountability and decisive action while multiple leads to confusion and weakness. This justifies strong presidency outlined in Article 2.

Federalist No. 78 (1788)

Was to justify Judicial Branch under the Constitution. Mainly talked about Judicial Branch is the weakest (no sword or purse), Judges should have life terms to ensure independence, and Judicial Review is implied. This document was a foundation for understanding role of courts legitimacy of judicial review (Marbury v Madison).

Letter from a Birmingham Jail (1963)

Defended civil disobedience against unjust laws. Talked about moral obligation to break unjust laws, appeals to natural law, 14th amendment, and that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Mattered for civil rights movement, text-advocating equality and justice under the Constitution.