Foundations of American Democracy: Key Documents, Federalism, and Supreme Court Cases

A.P Level

Declaration of Independence

Introduces natural (unalienable) rights.

Social Contract

Government exists to protect these rights.

Popular Sovereignty

People are the source of power and can abolish unjust governments.

U.S. Constitution

Establishes limited government and republicanism.

Representative Democracy

Sets up a representative democracy (not a pure democracy).

Participatory Democracy

Broad citizen involvement (e.g., protests, town halls).

Pluralist Democracy

Power through group competition (e.g., interest groups, parties).

Elite Democracy

Power held by a small, influential group (e.g., elected reps over direct votes).

Federalist No. 10

Warns against factions, especially majority factions.

Brutus No. 1

Anti-Federalist view favoring local control.

Articles of Confederation

Emphasized state sovereignty.

Shay's Rebellion

Exposed weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and led to Constitution.

Great Compromise

Bicameral legislature (House by population, Senate equal).

Electoral College

Compromise between Congress and popular vote.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Slaves counted as 3/5 for representation.

Amendment Process (Article V)

Proposal: 2/3 of both houses; Ratification: 3/4 of states.

Federalist No. 51

Solution to balancing power: Separation of Powers + Checks and Balances.

Separation of Powers

Legislative → makes laws, Executive → enforces laws, Judiciary → interprets laws.

Checks and Balances

Interaction between branches (e.g., impeachment).

Delegated Powers

Federal only (e.g., coin money, declare war).

Reserved Powers

State only (e.g., education, health).

Concurrent Powers

Shared (e.g., taxation, borrowing).

Categorical Grants

Specific purpose, strict conditions.

Block Grants

Broad purpose, more state discretion.

Supremacy Clause (Art. VI)

Federal law > state law.