AP Gov foundational documents

Declaration of Independence

“certain unalienable rights” = natural rights

“to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men” = social contract

“deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed” = popular sovereignty

Articles of Confederation

States were sovereign, each state had 1 vote in Congress; No executive or judicial branch; states could impose tariffs on other states, create their own currencies, and ignore federal treaties; Congress couldn’t tax. Intentionally created a very weak national government.

Constitution

Established a limited government with key features such as republicanism, federalism, separation of powers, and checks and balances

Federalist No. 10

A large republic is the best way to control factions and protect minority rights while maintaing majority rule. Multiple groups (factions) compete for power and in a large republic there will be so many groups that no single group will dominate policymaking

Brutus No.1

Argues against ratifying the Constitution and wishes for power to be held by the people in smaller, more local governments, more democratic, and allow citizens to more directly influence public policy

Federalist No.51

Argues for checks and balances and separation of powers. We need a government because people aren’t perfect and we need to limit government because people in government aren’t perfect either

Federalist No.70

A single executive can act more decisively and quickly; will also be held more accountable by the public and be more responsive to public opinion since public will know who to assign blame or credit to unlike if the executive powers are shared among a council, each would blame the other and the public wouldn’t know who to blame.

Federalist No.78

Life terms for federal judges establishes an independent judiciary that can engage in judicial review. Judiciary is the least dangerous branch, lacking budget or war powers, rely on others to enforce their decisions.

Letter from a Birmingham Jail

MLK demands fulfillment of Declaration of Independence and 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause for African Americans