Foundational Documents
: Written in 1776 by Thomas Jefferson, this document declared independence from Britain and justified rebellion.
What is the Declaration of Independence?
Federalists like Madison and Hamilton wanted this type of government.
What is a strong central government?
This clause makes federal law supreme over state law.
What is the Supremacy Clause?
In this case, the Court ruled that Congress had the power to establish a national bank under implied powers.
What is McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)?
This type of grant comes with strict conditions for states.
What is a categorical grant?
This first U.S. Constitution created a weak government where states held most of the power.
What are the Articles of Confederation?
Anti-Federalists like Patrick Henry feared this outcome under the Constitution.
What is tyranny or loss of liberty?
Article I of the Constitution establishes this branch of government.
What is the Legislative Branch?
In McCulloch v. Maryland, the Court ruled that a state cannot do this to a federal institution.
What is tax it?
This amendment reserves powers not given to the federal government to the states.
What is the 10th Amendment?
This essay by James Madison argued that a large republic best controls the effects of factions.
What is Federalist No. 10?
This compromise counted enslaved people as part of a state’s population for representation.
What is the Three-Fifths Compromise?
This clause gives Congress implied powers to carry out its enumerated powers.
What is the Necessary and Proper (Elastic) Clause?
In this 1995 case, the Court struck down a federal law banning guns near schools, limiting Congress’s commerce power.
What is United States v. Lopez?
This type of grant gives states broad discretion in how to spend federal money.
What is a block grant?
This Anti-Federalist paper warned that the Constitution gave too much power to the federal government.
What is Brutus No. 1?
This set of ten amendments was added to the Constitution to appease Anti-Federalists.
What is the Bill of Rights?
Federalist No. 51 argues for these two systems to prevent tyranny.
What are separation of powers and checks and balances?
This case expanded federal commerce power in 1824, dealing with steamboat monopolies.
What is Gibbons v. Ogden?
This act required environmental impact statements before federal projects could proceed.
What is the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)?
This 1787 document replaced the Articles of Confederation and established a stronger federal system with three branches.
What is the U.S. Constitution?
This compromise created a bicameral legislature with equal representation in one house and population-based representation in the other.
What is the Great Compromise?
Article V explains this process, requiring 2/3 of Congress and 3/4 of states.
What is the amendment process?
Together, McCulloch v. Maryland and U.S. v. Lopez show the balance between these two types of government power.
What is federal vs. state power?
This conflict shows federalism in action: states legalizing marijuana while it remains illegal under federal law.
What is marijuana legalization?