BIG IDEAS-FOUNDING DOCS
“Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness…”
“All men are created equal…”
Declaration of Independence 1776
THOMAS JEFFERSON
GRIEVANCES AGAINST ENGLAND
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
School-endorsed voluntary prayer violates the Establishment Clause of the 1st Amendment.
Engel v. Vitale (1962)
Wisconsin’s compulsory attendance law violated the Amish’s free exercise of religion.
Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)
CITIZENS UNITED V. FEC
THIS CASE SAID A CANDIDATE CAN SPEND AS MUCH OF THEIR OWN MONEY ON THEIR OWN CAMPAIGN.
BUCKLEY V. VALEO
“All legislative power is vested in a Congress”
“The President shall be Commander in Chief…”
“Federal laws….supreme law of the land...:”
The US Constitution 1788
ANTI-FEDERALISTS
A REPUBLIC WON'T WORK UNLESS IN A SMALL PLACE
BRUTUS I
Congress CAN create a bank
A state CANNOT tax a federal bank-- the “power to tax is the power to destroy”
McCulloch v. Maryland (181
Wearing armbands was protected symbolic speech and caused no disruption to education.
Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)
ROE V. WADE
A CONNECTICUT LAW THAT MADE CONTRACEPTION ILLEGAL WAS AGAINST A PERSON'S RIGHT TO PRIVACY.
GRISWOLD V. CONNECTICUT
“A pure democracy...can admit of no cure for the mischiefs of faction…”
Federalist No 10 1787
55 DELEGATES FROM 13 STATES
US CONSTITUTION
speech created a ‘clear and present’ danger which the government could limit.
Shenck v. U.S. (1919)
A woman’s right to privacy extends to the right to have an abortion-- and is protected by the 14th Amendment against the states.
Roe v. Wade (1973)
BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION
ALL SCHOOLS MUST END SEGREGATED BUSSING TO SCHOOL.
SWANN V. CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG
“If men were angels, no government would be necessary”
“You must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself”
Federalist No 51 1788
JAMES MADISON
CONTROL OF FACTIONS
FEDERALIST #10
Political spending by GROUPS is a form of protected speech under the First Amendment as long as that political spending is not coordinated with the campaign directly.
Citizens United v. FEC (2010)
The principle of “one-person-one-vote” ensured that urban districts were represented proportionally equal to rural districts
Baker v. Carr (1961)
GIDEON V. WAINWRIGHT
IT IS NOW A REQUIREMENT THAT ANY DEFENDANT FACING IMPRISONMENT, EVEN FOR A MISDEMEANOR MUST BE PROVIDED COUNSEL
ARGERSINGER V. HAMLIN
“I must say to you that we have not made a single gain in civil rights without determined legal and nonviolent pressure.”
“For years now I have heard the word, “wait”,...i guess it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say “wait””
Letter From a Birmingham Jail by MLK 1963
ALEXANDER HAMILTON
ONLY ONE PRESIDENT IS BEST
FEDERALIST #70
The Supreme Court has the power to declare laws unconstitutional-- “ to say what the law is.”
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
The Chicago handgun ban is unconstitutional. The Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment protects individuals right to bear arms from state and local government interference.
McDonald v. Chicago (2010)
U.S. V. LOPEZ
THE COURT RULED THAT THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT IS TOO MUCH OF A STRETCH FOR THE COMMERCE CLAUSE. STATES NEED NOT COMPLY.
U.S. V. MORRISON
"the judiciary is beyond comparison the weakest of the three departments of power; that it can never attack with success either of the other two; and that all possible care is requisite to enable it to defend itself against their attacks.”
Federalist No 78 1788
PUBLIUS
CHECKS & BALANCES AND SEPARATION OF POWERS
FEDERALIST #51
The Court ruled that the 14th Amendment requires that all states must provide counsel.
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
It was unconstitutional for the U.S. to stop publication of embarrassing materials about a war.
New York Times v. U.S. (1971)
SCHENK V. U.S.
WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH PROTESTS AT MILITARY FUNERALS WAS FOUND TO BE PROTECTED FREEDOM OF SPEECH BECAUSE THEY ARE ON PUBLIC LAND.
SNYDER V. PHELPS
“Each state maintains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence” “A firm league of friendship and a common defense”
The Articles of Confederation 1781-1788
ALEXANDER HAMILTON
INDEPENDENT JUDICIAL BRANCH
POWER OF JUDICIAL REVIEW
FEDERALIST #78
Congress’ Gun Free School Zones Act was unconstitutional. Congress failed to show that the act was justified by the commerce clause
U.S. v. Lopez (1995)
Legislative redistricting must not be drawn ‘solely based on race’.
Shaw v. Reno (1993)
ENGEL V. VITALE
BIBLE READINGS IN SCHOOL IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL
ABINGTON TOWNSHIP V. SHEMPP