Documents 1
What is Federalist 10?
Federalist 10 is an essay written by James Madison is part of The Federalist Papers. It defended the form of republican government proposed by the Constitution because he wanted a republic that broke up national and state government through representatives.
What is the Declaration of Independence?
The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. It summarized the reasons why the colonists were seeking independence from Great Britain.
What is Marbury v. Madison (1803)?
Marbury v. Madison established the principle of judicial review for both the SCOTUS and lower level courts, which was the power of federal courts to declare legislative and executive acts as unconstitutional.
What is Engel v. Vitale (1962)?
Engel v. Vitale ruled that it is unconstitutional for state officials to compose an official school prayer and encourage its recitation in public schools. It held that official recitation of prayers in public schools violated the First Amendment's Establishment Clause.
What is Roe v. Wade (1973)?
Roe v. Wade established a woman's legal right to an abortion, legalizing the procedure across the United States. Woman's right to choose an abortion was protected by the privacy rights guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment.
What is Federalist 70?
Federalist 10 was written by Alexander Hamilton and he argues for a strong executive leader under the Constitution. He believes a single executive is better than multiple because it is easier to remove a corrupt leader rather than an entire group.
What are the Bill of Rights?
The Bill of Rights is the first 10 Amendments of the Constitution. They were designed to protect the basic rights and civil liberties of the United States citizens.
What is McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)?
McCulloch v. Maryland defined the scope of the US Congress's legislative power and how it relates to the power of state legislatures. It established supremacy of the national government in matter affecting interstate commerce.
What is Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)?
Gideon v. Wainwright established that the Fourteenth Amendment creates a right for criminal defendants who cannot pay for their own lawyers to have the state appoint attorneys on their behalf.
What is Shaw v. Reno (1993)?
Shaw v. Reno ruled that electoral districts whose boundaries cannot be explained except on the basis of race can be challenged as potential violations. Claims of racial redistricting must be held to a standard of strict scrutiny.
What is Federalist 51?
Federalist 10 was written by James Madison and it advocates for a separation of powers within the national government. He believes that appropriate checks and balances can be created to prevent corruption.
What is the United States Constitution?
The United States Constitution is one of the founding documents of the United States. It is the framework for the federal government and is the highest form of fundamental law. It also creates branches of government and protects citizens.
What is Schenck v. the United States (1919)?
Schenck v. the United States invented the "clear and present danger" test to determine when a state could constitutionally limit an individual's free speech rights under the First Amendment.
What is Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969)?
Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District ruled that public school officials cannot censor student expression unless they can reasonably forecast that the speech will substantially disrupt school activities or invade the rights of others.
What is United States v. Reno (1993)?
United States v. Reno ruled that redistricting based on race must be held to a standard of strict scrutiny under the equal protection clause. Any law that results in classification by race must have a compelling government interest.
What is Federalist 78?
Federalist 78 was written by Alexander Hamilton, it focuses on the power of judicial review, and it argues that the federal courts have the job of determining whether acts of Congress are constitutional. They also determine what the acts should be if they are faced with something that goes against the Constitution.
What are the Articles of Confederation?
The Articles of Confederation was an agreement among the 13 original states in the United States and was approved on November 15, 1777. It was a structure of their new form of government but did not work out so it was replaced with the US Constitution.
What is Brown v. Board of Education?
Brown v. Board of Education ruled that United States laws establishing racial segregation in public schools are unconstitutional. It overruled the "separate but equal" principle and made equal opportunity possible.
What is New York Times Co. v. United States (1971)?
New York Times Co. v. United States defended the First Amendment right of free press against prior restraint by the government. This made it possible for The New York Times and The Washington Post newspapers to publish without risk of government censorship or punishment.
What is McDonald v. Chicago (2010)?
McDonald v. Chicago ruled that the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms,” applies to state and local governments as well as to the federal government.
What is Brutus 1?
Brutus 1 is antifederalist and it argued that federal power was bad and that the Constitution gives too much power to the federal government. They think that a representative democracy would create an elite group that leads the country due to too much power.
What is the Letter from Birmingham Jail?
The Letter from Birmingham Jail is written by Martin Luther King Jr. on April 16, 1963. He wanted to persuade his audience to break unjust laws in response to a group of white clergy who criticized the use of nonviolent civil disobedience.
What is Baker v. Carr (1962)?
Baker v. Carr forced the Tennessee legislature to reapportion itself on population. The Court held that restricting qualities as justiciable question, thus enabling federal courts to hear redistricting cases.
What is Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)?
Wisconsin v. Yoder found a law requiring that children are required to attend school past eighth grade violates the parents' constitutional right to direct the religious upbringing of their children.
What is Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)?
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission overruled Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce , which had allowed different restrictions on speech-related spending based on corporate identity. Some of McConnell v. FEC was also overruled.