Foundational Documents
Colonists listed their grievances against the king and explained that changing governments should be rare, but sometimes needed, in this foundational document
What is the Declaration of Independence?
This case overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, ruling that the "separate but equal" principle violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
What is Brown v. Board of Education?
This amendment protects people's right to keep and bear arms.
What is the 2nd Amendment?
Women's right to vote was granted by this amendment.
What is the 19th Amendment?
This is the right to vote.
This document created our modern national government, outlining state and federal government, the three branches, checks and balances, and separation of powers.
What is the Constitution?
This case established judicial review after finding that the plaintiff did not have the right to even bring his case to court.
What is Marbury v. Madison?
The 1st Amendment guarantees the freedoms of speech, press, religion, and this.
What is assembly?
The Equal Protection Clause is found in this amendment.
What is the 14th Amendment?
If no presidential candidate has a majority of electoral votes, the President will be decided by this group.
What is the House of Representatives?
What is Letter from a Birmingham Jail?
In the ruling of this case, the court determined that corporations were "people," whose election spending is protected under the First Amendment right to free speech. This opened the door for SuperPACs.
What is Citizens United v. FEC?
This amendment protects against unreasonable search and seizure.
What is the 4th Amendment?
These are the three Reconstruction amendments.
What are the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments?
This type of legislation awards projects and grants to one member's district/state. When legislators pass this legislation, they are "bringing home the bacon."
What is pork barrel?
Alexander Hamilton, in this essay, argues that the executive branch should be "unitary and energetic"
What is Federalist 70?
After a North Carolina voting district was drawn to pack in many African Americans, residents brought this case to the court system, which ultimately ruled racial gerrymandering unconstitutional based on the 14th Amendment.
What is Shaw v. Reno?
This amendment prohibits excessive bail and fines, as well as cruel and unusual punishment.
What is the 8th Amendment?
The 24th Amendment abolished this voting restriction.
What are poll taxes?
This clause in the Constitution gives Congress the power to make all laws deemed necessary and proper to exercies its other powers.
What is the Elastic Clause?
Founding Father James Madison argues in this document that factions are dangerous and threaten government, but they can be prevented by the separation of powers
What is Federalist 10?
After the plaintiff in this case was denied a lawyer in his non-capital case, the Supreme Court ruled this unconstitutional, selectively incorporating the 6th Amendment right to an attorney to the states.
What is Gideon v. Wainwright?
This amendment guarantees the right to a jury trial.
What is the 7th Amendment?
The 12th Amendment restructured this system, changing how the President and Vice President are chosen.
What is the Electoral College?
This is what is granted when the Supreme Court agrees to hear a case.
What is a Writ of Certiorari?