AP GOV Foundational Documents

Part of the Federalist Papers (made to convince the public to ratify the Constitution)

Explained how the government would protect its citizens against factions

Being a large country, there are many interests and thus factions have to compromise and cannot overpower and overtake others’ rights

First of the Anti-Federalist Papers

Confederacy is better than a republic

The Necessary and Proper clause (Congress can make any law necessary and proper to fulfilling its enumerated powers) was too vague and powerful

Supremacy clause is too powerful, renders state laws powerless (b/c federal laws are supreme)

By allowing the federal government to tax through the Supremacy Clause, the people grow weary of taxes and will not pay state taxes, leading to the state governments to become underfunded and powerless

According to Montesqiueu, a republic is successful in small nations. A country as large as the United States is incapable of representing every person’s opinion

Created in response to British tyranny

Popular sovereignty & Social contract: Government derives its power from consent of the governed, people can remove a government that does not serve them

First Constitution

Created a central yet weak government so the U.S. could conduct business with other nations

One branch of federal government: Legislative

Each state had 1 vote (even small states!)

9/13 states must agree to go to war

Amendments to the Articles required 13/13 states’ approval

Weak, led to the drafting of the new Constitution

Necessary and Proper clause: Congress can create any law necessary and proper for its enumerated powers (made anti-Federalists afraid)

Article 1: Legislative

Article 2: President/Executive

Article 3: Judicial

Article 4: Federalism/The States

Article 5: Process of Amending the Constitution

Article 6: Supremacy Clause

Separation of Powers/Checks and Balances

Branches need to have minimum say in the appointment of other branches (b/c otherwise that would threaten the integrity of the branches)

Divided Congress into a bicameral legislature w/ the House and Senate to check its power (b/c legislative is the most powerful)

Humanity is inherently evil, so set their ambitions against each other and force them to compromise

Equal Protection Clause of 14th Amendment supported the Civil Rights Movement

State governments failed to protect black Americans’ due process clause of the 14th amendment

Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere

A social movement that led to LEGISLATIVE change

The government needs one “energetic” executive

The executive, unlike the other branches, can act quickly as one entity

Multiple executives would allow those in power to conceal faults and hide irresponsibility, plus it’s impractical

Provided the foundation for judicial review (judges determine whether things are in line with the constitution, can call laws null and void)

The judicial branch needs to be impartial and thus the most independent branch

Judges serve for life due to the immense knowledge and experience a capable judge needs