AP Gov Foundational Docs

Federalist No. 10

• warns of the danger of factions (groups united by a particular interest, could be majority or minority). argues that no plan for government can eliminate the danger perfectly, but that the federal system in the U.S. Constitution could control factions; rather than a national participatory system, they had created a representative and pluralist republic which would have to consider the interests of varied people across a wide geographical area, thus limiting the possibility that one faction could take complete control.
• addresses the separation of powers in the new U.S. Constitution, arguing that they will guard against tyranny. also argues that the diversity of interests in American society is the best protection of minority rights because it would be difficult for one group to always have power.
• defends the decision to create a single executive (president) in the U.S. Constitution. argues that the failures of the Articles of Confederation show that an executive is necessary, and a single person would be better than a council because there is the potential for conflict and in-fighting in a council, and there is more accountability (if one person is responsible for the decision, we know who to blame).
• commentary on the dangers of too large and too consolidated a government (attempt to dissuade readers from supporting the new U.S. Constitution). argues that the necessary and proper clause and the supremacy clause give the government unlimited power, risking personal liberty. argues that the new federal government would be too far removed from the people.

Federalist No. 51

• addresses the separation of powers in the new U.S. Constitution, arguing that they will guard against tyranny. also argues that the diversity of interests in American society is the best protection of minority rights because it would be difficult for one group to always have power.
• warns of the danger of factions (groups united by a particular interest, could be majority or minority). argues that no plan for government can eliminate the danger perfectly, but that the federal system in the U.S. Constitution could control factions; rather than a national participatory system, they had created a representative and pluralist republic which would have to consider the interests of varied people across a wide geographical area, thus limiting the possibility that one faction could take complete control.
• defends the decision to create a single executive (president) in the U.S. Constitution. argues that the failures of the Articles of Confederation show that an executive is necessary, and a single person would be better than a council because there is the potential for conflict and in-fighting in a council, and there is more accountability (if one person is responsible for the decision, we know who to blame).
• commentary on the dangers of too large and too consolidated a government (attempt to dissuade readers from supporting the new U.S. Constitution). argues that the necessary and proper clause and the supremacy clause give the government unlimited power, risking personal liberty. argues that the new federal government would be too far removed from the people.

Federalist No. 70

• defends the decision to create a single executive (president) in the U.S. Constitution. argues that the failures of the Articles of Confederation show that an executive is necessary, and a single person would be better than a council because there is the potential for conflict and in-fighting in a council, and there is more accountability (if one person is responsible for the decision, we know who to blame).
• addresses the separation of powers in the new U.S. Constitution, arguing that they will guard against tyranny. also argues that the diversity of interests in American society is the best protection of minority rights because it would be difficult for one group to always have power.
• warns of the danger of factions (groups united by a particular interest, could be majority or minority). argues that no plan for government can eliminate the danger perfectly, but that the federal system in the U.S. Constitution could control factions; rather than a national participatory system, they had created a representative and pluralist republic which would have to consider the interests of varied people across a wide geographical area, thus limiting the possibility that one faction could take complete control.
• commentary on the dangers of too large and too consolidated a government (attempt to dissuade readers from supporting the new U.S. Constitution). argues that the necessary and proper clause and the supremacy clause give the government unlimited power, risking personal liberty. argues that the new federal government would be too far removed from the people.

Federalist No. 78

• addresses the judicial branch created in the new U.S. Constitution. anti-federalists had critiqued the independence of the judiciary (they are not elected by the people and they serve life terms), arguing that it would cause these men to take advantage of their power with no checks against them. responds that the judiciary is the least powerful branch because they have "neither sword, nor purse" and that independence is critical because they may need to make unpopular decisions when interpreting the Constitution.
• addresses the separation of powers in the new U.S. Constitution, arguing that they will guard against tyranny. also argues that the diversity of interests in American society is the best protection of minority rights because it would be difficult for one group to always have power.
• defends the decision to create a single executive (president) in the U.S. Constitution. argues that the failures of the Articles of Confederation show that an executive is necessary, and a single person would be better than a council because there is the potential for conflict and in-fighting in a council, and there is more accountability (if one person is responsible for the decision, we know who to blame).
• commentary on the dangers of too large and too consolidated a government (attempt to dissuade readers from supporting the new U.S. Constitution). argues that the necessary and proper clause and the supremacy clause give the government unlimited power, risking personal liberty. argues that the new federal government would be too far removed from the people.

Brutus 1

• commentary on the dangers of too large and too consolidated a government (attempt to dissuade readers from supporting the new U.S. Constitution). argues that the necessary and proper clause and the supremacy clause give the government unlimited power, risking personal liberty. argues that the new federal government would be too far removed from the people.
• addresses the separation of powers in the new U.S. Constitution, arguing that they will guard against tyranny. also argues that the diversity of interests in American society is the best protection of minority rights because it would be difficult for one group to always have power.
• defends the decision to create a single executive (president) in the U.S. Constitution. argues that the failures of the Articles of Confederation show that an executive is necessary, and a single person would be better than a council because there is the potential for conflict and in-fighting in a council, and there is more accountability (if one person is responsible for the decision, we know who to blame).
• warns of the danger of factions (groups united by a particular interest, could be majority or minority). argues that no plan for government can eliminate the danger perfectly, but that the federal system in the U.S. Constitution could control factions; rather than a national participatory system, they had created a representative and pluralist republic which would have to consider the interests of varied people across a wide geographical area, thus limiting the possibility that one faction could take complete control.

Declaration of Independence

• drew on the ideas of John Locke and other Enlightenment philosophers. used ideas of popular sovereignty, natural rights, republicanism, and social contract to justify the colonists' separation from Great Britain.
• first government of the United States; created a weak central government loosely tying together independent states. for this reason, it failed as a governing structure and American leaders wrote the U.S. Constitution to create a stronger central government. The Constitution of the United States drafted in response to the failures of the Articles of Confederation in 1787, ratified in 1789; the second (and current) government of the United States. separates the power of government into three branches and provides checks and balances between the branches. establishes the supremacy of the federal government over the states and the relationship of the states to each other. allows for an amendment process. required ratification by three-fourths of the states.
• introduction to the U.S. Constitution; provides the reasons for the creation of the new government. form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity
• defines the basic setup and operation of Congress (legislative branch). Great Compromise: bicameral legislature with House (based on population) and Senate (two per state). enumerates certain powers of Congress, including the necessary and proper clause; also lists powers that Congress and states do NOT have

The Articles of Confederation

• first government of the United States; created a weak central government loosely tying together independent states. for this reason, it failed as a governing structure and American leaders wrote the U.S. Constitution to create a stronger central government. The Constitution of the United States drafted in response to the failures of the Articles of Confederation in 1787, ratified in 1789; the second (and current) government of the United States. separates the power of government into three branches and provides checks and balances between the branches. establishes the supremacy of the federal government over the states and the relationship of the states to each other. allows for an amendment process. required ratification by three-fourths of the states.
• introduction to the U.S. Constitution; provides the reasons for the creation of the new government. form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity
• drew on the ideas of John Locke and other Enlightenment philosophers. used ideas of popular sovereignty, natural rights, republicanism, and social contract to justify the colonists' separation from Great Britain.
• commentary on the dangers of too large and too consolidated a government (attempt to dissuade readers from supporting the new U.S. Constitution). argues that the necessary and proper clause and the supremacy clause give the government unlimited power, risking personal liberty. argues that the new federal government would be too far removed from the people.

Preamble to the U.S. Constitution

• introduction to the U.S. Constitution; provides the reasons for the creation of the new government. form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity
• first government of the United States; created a weak central government loosely tying together independent states. for this reason, it failed as a governing structure and American leaders wrote the U.S. Constitution to create a stronger central government. The Constitution of the United States drafted in response to the failures of the Articles of Confederation in 1787, ratified in 1789; the second (and current) government of the United States. separates the power of government into three branches and provides checks and balances between the branches. establishes the supremacy of the federal government over the states and the relationship of the states to each other. allows for an amendment process. required ratification by three-fourths of the states.
• drew on the ideas of John Locke and other Enlightenment philosophers. used ideas of popular sovereignty, natural rights, republicanism, and social contract to justify the colonists' separation from Great Britain.
• First ten amendments to the Constitution; major source of civil liberties; applies to states via selective incorporation doctrine; promised to Anti-Federalists to secure ratification of Constitution

Article I of the U.S. Constitution

• defines the basic setup and operation of Congress (legislative branch). Great Compromise: bicameral legislature with House (based on population) and Senate (two per state). enumerates certain powers of Congress, including the necessary and proper clause; also lists powers that Congress and states do NOT have
• defines the basic setup and operation of the executive branch. lists the powers of the president. provides for the impeachment of public officials.
• defines the basic operation of the judiciary branch. establishes a Supreme Court and defines its jurisdiction. gives Congress the authority to establish federal courts.
• includes the supremacy clause, which establishes the Constitution and federal laws/treaties as supreme over the states

Article II of the U.S. Constitution

• defines the basic setup and operation of the executive branch. lists the powers of the president. provides for the impeachment of public officials.
• defines the basic setup and operation of Congress (legislative branch). Great Compromise: bicameral legislature with House (based on population) and Senate (two per state). enumerates certain powers of Congress, including the necessary and proper clause; also lists powers that Congress and states do NOT have
• defines the basic operation of the judiciary branch. establishes a Supreme Court and defines its jurisdiction. gives Congress the authority to establish federal courts.
• includes the supremacy clause, which establishes the Constitution and federal laws/treaties as supreme over the states