AP U.S. Government: Foundational Documents Quick Reference Guide

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering the key authors, concepts, and amendments found in the AP U.S. Government foundational documents guide.

Declaration of Independence

Authored primarily by Thomas Jefferson and authorized by the Second Continental Congress, this document declared independence from Britain, identified Natural Rights (Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness), and was influenced by John Locke's ideas on Social Contract Theory and Popular Sovereignty.

Natural Rights

Fundamental rights identified in the Declaration of Independence as Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, which the government is tasked with protecting.

Articles of Confederation

Authored by John Dickinson and authorized by the Second Continental Congress, it created a weak confederal government with a unicameral legislature where each state had 1 vote and $rac{9}{13}$ votes were needed to pass laws.

Preamble of the U.S. Constitution

Outlines the job of government through themes of popular sovereignty and consent of the governed, seeking 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'.

Article V of the U.S. Constitution

The section of the Constitution that outlines the amendment process, where amendments are proposed by Congress or a Convention and ratified by $rac{3}{4}$ state legislatures.

1st Amendment

Protects five core liberties: freedom of religion (establishment and free exercise clauses), speech, press, assembly, and petition for redress.

4th Amendment

Provides protection from unwarranted search & seizure and includes the exclusionary rule.

10th Amendment

The reserved powers/states rights clause which specifies that powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution are reserved to the States or the people.

14th Amendment

Includes the Due process and Equal protection clauses and is the basis for Incorporation of the Bill of Rights to the states.

22nd Amendment

Limits the President to 2 terms or a maximum of 2 additional years if serving as VP after a succession.

Federalist #10

An essay by James Madison arguing that factions are inevitable and that a Large Republic is the best form of government to manage them and prevent the tyranny of the majority through pluralism.

Brutus #1

An Anti-Federalist paper by Robert Yates arguing that the Constitution gives too much power to the central government via the Necessary and Proper Clause and Supremacy Clause, making state governments obsolete.

Federalist #51

James Madison's argument for separation of powers and checks and balances, stating that government must be powerful enough to control the people but also to control itself.

Federalist #70

An essay by Alexander Hamilton arguing for a single 'energetic' executive, asserting that a single president is more accountable and can act more decisively than a committee or dual executive.

Federalist #78

Alexander Hamilton's description of the Judiciary as the 'least dangerous branch' having no influence over 'sword or purse', and advocating for life terms and the power of judicial review.

Letter from a Birmingham Jail

Written by MLK, Jr., it argues that 'Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere' and advocates for nonviolent direct action to create urgency for legislative action and equal protection under the 14th Amendment.