Supreme Court Cases
Ruled on the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment
What is Engel v. Vitale?
Explains why the colonies broke from Britain; emphasizes natural rights and government by consent
Declaration of independence
a constitutional system dividing power between a national government and state governments
What is federalism?
Congress's ability to check the bureaucracy.
What is Congressional Oversight?
the main role of the executive branch
to enforce and carry out laws
Ruled on racial segregation, overturned a previous Supreme Court case
What is Brown v. Board of Education?
Argues that a large republic controls factions better than a small one
Federalist 10
Each branch of government (legislative, executive, judicial) can limit the powers of the others.
What is checks and balances?
What is Confirmation Power?
3 examples of checks and balances
senate approves presidential appointments, Congress oversees bureaucratic agencies, Supreme Court can use judicial review, president can veto bills, etc
The situation was over an Amish family wanting to take their children out of school before the required state law.
What is Wisconsin v. Yoder?
Explains checks and balances—“ambition must counteract ambition.”
Federalist 51
A representative model that listens to and supports the will of the constituents, no matter the representative's personal beliefs.
What is the delegate model?
The powers explicitly given to Congress in Article I of the Constitution (ex: raise revenue and coin money).
What is Enumerated Powers?
specific powers that differentiate the Senate and the House of Representatives
The Senate can ratify treaties, confirm presidential appointments, etc and the House can initiate revenue bills, impeach federal officials, etc
Established one person, one vote for redistricting
What is Baker v. Carr?
Argues the Constitution creates a government that’s too powerful and threatens liberty
Brutus 1
The power of courts to declare laws or government actions unconstitutional
What is judicial review?
What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?
a reason that a president might use an executive agreement instead of a treaty
it does not require Senate ratification
Ruled on the Supremacy clause and it was a case over taxing the bank
What is McCulloch v. Maryland?
Martin Luther King Jr. defends civil disobedience and argues unjust laws should not be followed
Letter from a Birmingham Jail
The process by which the Supreme Court has applied specific rights from the Bill of Rights to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause
What is selective incorporation?
The part of Congress that initiates all revenue bills.
What is The House of Representatives?
ways that Congress can limit the power of the Supreme Court (name at least 2)
Congress can set the number of justices, establish lower courts, impeach and remove judges, control the judiciary's budget, change the court's decisions through amendments