AP Gov final - Required cases and federalist papers

Make sure to look through 1-5 units of vocab and check your notes! Wish you guys luck!

Declaration of Independence (1774)

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." ; The American colonies declare independence from Britain, citing natural rights (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness) and listing grievances against King George III.

Articles of Confederation

"Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence." ; The first U.S. constitution, creating a weak national government and strong state governments. It failed because it lacked power to tax, regulate trade, or enforce laws effectively.

Costitution of the United States (1787)

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity..."; Establishes a strong federal government with three branches (legislative, executive, judicial), a system of checks and balances, and the ability to amend.

Bill of Rights (1791)

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." (1st Amendment); The first ten amendments to the Constitution, guaranteeing individual freedoms like speech, religion, and protection from government overreach (e.g., unreasonable searches).

Brutus 1 (1787)

"The powers of the federal government, as described in the proposed constitution, are too great and will lead to the destruction of state governments."; An Anti-Federalist argument against the Constitution, claiming that a strong national government will overpower state rights and create tyranny.

Federalist 10 (1787)

"The greatest danger to liberty arises from factions."; James Madison argues that a large republic can control the effects of factions (self-interested groups), as their competing interests will prevent any one group from dominating.

Federalist 51 (1788)

"If men were angels, no government would be necessary."; Madison argues for the need for separation of powers and checks and balances to prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful.

Federalist 70 (1788)

"Energy in the executive is a leading character in the definition of good government."; Hamilton argues for a strong, single executive (president) to ensure energy, decisiveness, and accountability in the government, avoiding the inefficiency of a plural executive.

Federalist 78

"The Judiciary, in short, has no influence over either the sword or the purse;...it may truly be said to have neither FORCE nor WILL, but merely judgment."; Hamilton defends the judicial branch, arguing for judicial review (the power to declare laws unconstitutional) and for life tenure to protect judges from political pressures.

Letter of a Brimingham

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. defends nonviolent civil disobedience against racial segregation, arguing that waiting for justice only perpetuates injustice.

Marbury v Madison

This case arose when William Marbury sued for his commission as a justice of the peace after it was withheld by the new administration under Thomas Jefferson. The case established the principle of judicial review, which allows the courts to review the constitutionality of laws and executive actions. The Supreme Court established the power of judicial review, which gave courts the ability to declare laws and executive actions unconstitutional.

McCulloch v Maryland

Maryland attempted to tax the Second Bank of the United States. The bank’s cashier, James McCulloch, refused to pay the tax, and the case ultimately challenged whether the federal government could create a bank and whether a state could tax it. The Court ruled that Congress has implied powers under the Necessary and Proper Clause, allowing it to create a national bank, and that states cannot tax federal institutions.

Schenck v US

Charles Schenck, a socialist, was convicted under the Espionage Act for distributing leaflets urging men to resist the World War I draft. Schenck argued that this violated his First Amendment right to free speech. The Supreme Court upheld Schenck’s conviction, ruling that speech presenting a "clear and present danger" to national security or public safety is not protected by the First Amendment, especially during wartime.

Brown v Board of Ed.

This landmark case combined five cases challenging the constitutionality of racial segregation in public schools. It overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision, which had established the "separate but equal" doctrine. The Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional, declaring that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. This was a critical step in the civil rights movement.

Baker v Carr

This case arose when Tennessee's legislative districts were malapportioned, leading to unequal representation in the state legislature. The case addressed whether the courts could intervene in redistricting. The Court ruled that redistricting issues present justiciable questions, and that the federal courts could rule on matters of electoral fairness. This led to the "one person, one vote" principle.

Engle v Vitale

A New York public school required students to recite a state-sponsored prayer each day. A group of parents challenged the prayer, arguing it violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits government establishment of religion. The Supreme Court ruled that public schools cannot require students to recite prayers, as it constitutes government endorsement of religion, violating the Establishment Clause.

Gideon v Wainwright

Clarence Gideon was charged with a felony in Florida but was denied a court-appointed attorney because he could not afford one. He defended himself, was convicted, and appealed, arguing that his Sixth Amendment right to counsel had been violated. The Supreme Court ruled that the Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to counsel for all criminal defendants, even if they cannot afford an attorney, and this applies to state courts through the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause.

Tinker v Des Moines

Students were suspended for wearing black armbands to protest the Vietnam War. The case addressed whether students' First Amendment rights were violated by the school's actions. The Court ruled that students do not lose their First Amendment rights to free speech at school, as long as their actions do not disrupt the educational environment.

New York Times v US

The New York Times and Washington Post published the Pentagon Papers, classified documents detailing U.S. government involvement in the Vietnam War. The government sought to block further publication, arguing national security concerns. The Supreme Court ruled that the government could not prevent the publication of the Pentagon Papers, emphasizing the importance of a free press under the First Amendment. The Court held that prior restraint (censorship before publication) is unconstitutional unless there is a direct, immediate threat to national security.

Wisconsin v Yoder

Three Amish parents in Wisconsin were prosecuted for refusing to send their children to public school beyond 8th grade, arguing it violated their religious beliefs. The Court ruled in favor of the Amish, holding that the state's interest in compulsory education did not outweigh the Amish parents' First Amendment right to free exercise of religion.

Shaw v Reno

North Carolina's congressional redistricting plan created an unusually shaped district to increase African American representation. A group of white voters challenged the plan, claiming it was racial gerrymandering. The Court ruled that redistricting based solely on race, even to increase minority representation, must be held to strict scrutiny under the Equal Protection Clause. Racial gerrymandering violates the Constitution if it is not narrowly tailored to meet compelling state interests.

United States v Lopez

Alfonzo Lopez was charged with carrying a concealed weapon on school grounds, violating the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990. The case questioned whether Congress had the authority to regulate guns in school zones under the Commerce Clause. The Court ruled that the Commerce Clause does not grant Congress the power to regulate guns in school zones, thus limiting the scope of federal power and reaffirming the Tenth Amendment’s protection of state powers.

Citizens United v FEC

This case involved a challenge to the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) of 2002, which limited corporate spending on elections. Citizens United, a conservative nonprofit, argued that restrictions on independent political spending by corporations violated the First Amendment. The Court ruled that corporations and unions can spend unlimited money on political campaigns, equating money with speech under the First Amendment and allowing Super PACs.

McDonald v Chicago

Chicago had a handgun ban, and Otis McDonald challenged it, arguing that the Second Amendment's right to bear arms should apply to state and local governments, not just the federal government. The Court ruled that the Second Amendment applies to state and local governments through the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause, thus striking down Chicago's handgun ban.