Foundational Documents
The document that states the principles on which the American government is based and provided reasoning behind a separation from Britain. It establishes that all people are created equal.
What is the Declaration of Independence?
The document that addresses means by which appropriate checks and balances can be created in government and advocates a separation of powers within the national government.
What is Federalist (No.) 5?
Maryland was trying to tax the national bank and Supreme Court ruled that federal law was stronger than the state law. Congress has IMPLIED powers to create a necessary and proper bank.
What is McCulloch v. Maryland?
The Supreme Court case in 1963 which the Court ruled that a defendant in a felony trial must be provided a lawyer free of charge if the defendant cannot afford one.
What is Gideon v. Wainwright?
The Supreme Court case in 1993 that outlawed racial gerrymandering; race cannot be the sole or predominant factor in redrawing legislative boundaries; majority-minority districts.
What is Shaw v. Reno?
The document first written to establish a form of government, which only consisted of one branch and gave the government no power to levy taxes.
What are the Articles of Confederation?
A document that argues the purpose of having a single executive (president) in government and states that an executive brings the government both the energy of one person & the safety of an accountability to the people.
What is Federalist (No.) 70?
Oliver Wendell Holmes; 1919; clear and present danger test; shouting "fire" in a crowded theater; limits on speech, esp. in wartime.
What is Schenk v. United States?
The Supreme Court case in 1969 that guaranteed a student's FIRST AMENDMENT right to protest (wearing armbands).
What is Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District?
The Supreme court case in 1995 that stated Congress may NOT use the commerce clause to make possession of a gun in a school zone a federal crime
What is United States v. Lopez?
The Supreme law of the US which contains seven articles & twenty-seven amendments and created the framework of the US government.
What is the United States Constitution?
A document that defends the strategy of nonviolent resistance to racism and states that people have a moral responsibility to break unjust laws. Message: take direct action rather than waiting potentially forever for justice to come through the courts.
What is the Letter from a Birmingham Jail?
The Supreme Court case in 1954 that overruled Plessy v. Ferguson, declared that racially segregated facilities are inherently unequal and ordered all public schools desegregated.
What is Brown v. Board of Education?
The Supreme Court case in 1971 protecting the FREEDOM OF THE PRESS by allowing the New York Times to publish the "Pentagon Papers" despite the Justice Department's order to restrict it
What is New York Times Company v. United States?
The Supreme Court case in 2010 that established right of an individual to "keep and bear arms" protected by the 2nd Amendment is incorporated by the due process clause of the 14th Amendment and applies to the states.
What is McDonald v. Chicago?
The document that argued that the establishment of a representative democracy is effective against partisanship and factionalism. It also shows why founding fathers rejected direct democracy and factionalism, also known as party politics.
What is Federalist 10?
A document that discusses the power of judicial review and argues that the federal courts have the duty to determine whether acts of Congress are constitutional. It also justifies the structure/function of the Judicial Branch.
What is Federalist (No.) 78?
The Supreme Court case in 1961 that establishes the principle of "one person, one vote" and made such patterns of representation illegal. The Court asserted that the federal courts had the right to tell states to reapportion their districts for more equal representation.
What is Baker v. Carr?
The Supreme Court case in 1972 where Amish people refused to send their children to school past the 8th grade when the state required public schooling for all children until age 16. This law is in conflict with the FREE EXERCISE CLAUSE. The statute is in direct conflict with Amish beliefs. The Amish may teach themselves.
What is Wisconsin v. Yoder?
The Supreme Court case in 2010 that established that corporations have a 1st Amendment right to expressly support political candidates for Congress and the White House.
What is Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission?
A document argued that a free republic cannot govern over a country as large as the United States. It sets up the states that the government officers would control the people and abuse their power.
What is Brutus (No.) 1?
The Supreme Court case in 1962 that struck down state-sponsored prayer in public schools. Ruled that the Regents' prayer was an unconstitutional violation of the ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSE.
What is Engel v. Vitale?
The court legalized abortion in 1973 by ruling that state laws could not restrict it during the first three months of pregnancy. Based on 4th Amendment rights of a person to be secure in their persons.
What is Roe v. Wade?
The court case in 1803 that establishes judicial review; "midnight judges;" John Marshall; power of the Supreme Court.
What is Marbury v. Madison?