Required Foundational Documents

The Articles of Confederation: Weak central gov, States have more power than federal

Brutus No. 1: Smaller gov = good, constitution will destroy state authority & popular sovereignty

The Constitution of The United States: Outlines structure of gov, 3 branches of gov, Bill of Rights, 7 Articles

Article I: Legislative

Article II: Executive

Article III: Judicial

Article IV: Relations Among States

Article V: Amending the Constitution

Article VI: National Supremacy

Article VII: Ratification

The Declaration of Independence: Independence from Britain, natural rights, gov’s job to secure and protect these rights

Federalist No. 10: Factions are inevitable and are important, majority always suppresses minority

Federalist No. 51: Proper Checks and Balances must be established

Federalist No. 70: About the Executive

Federalist No. 78: About the Judiciary

Required SCOTUS Cases

Marbury V. Madison (1803): About judicial appointments; Established principle of judicial review (SCOTUS can declare legislative/executive acts unconstitutional); Sep. Of Powers

McCulloch V. Maryland (1818) About a national bank and state taxes; Established supremacy of U.S. Constitution/Federal laws over state laws; Necessary and Proper Clause

Schenk V. United States (1919): About speech creating a “clear and present danger”; Established that Free Speech is restricted during wartime

Baker V. Carr (1962): About redistricting state borders in Tennessee; Established that federal courts had to make sure redistricting didn’t conflict with Equal Protection Clause; 14th Amendment

Engel V. Vitale (1962): About school sponsorship of religious activities; Established that this violates Establishment Clause of 1st Amendment (Religion)

Tinker V. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969): About a prohibition against students wearing black armbands to protest against Vietnamese War; Established school could limit speech but still had rights; 1st Amendment Free Speech (NOT SYMBOLIC)

New York Times Co. V. United States (1971): About the freedom of the press under first amendment; Established US could not use prior restraint in certain cases; 1st Amendment Freedom of the Press

Wisconsin V. Yoder (1972): About Amish children having to stay in school past 8th grade; Established that states couldn’t require families to set aside religious beliefs to attend school; 1st Amendment Religion, Free Exercise

Shaw V. Reno (1993): About racial gerrymandering in North Carolina; Established that racial factors cannot be used when creating district lines; 1st Amendment (Equal Protection Clause)

United States V. Lopez (1995): About Congress exceeding power under Commerce Clause when it possessed a gun in a school zone; Established federal acts have to have relevance to the clause; 10th Amendment (Reserved Powers of States)

McDonald V. Chicago (2010): About states being applicable to second amendment; Established that states cannot violate the constitution and individual rights about gun ownership; 2nd Amendment (Selective Incorporation)