Top “Ten” Reviews
I. Top “ten” landmark cases
The first 11 are, more or less, in order of frequency of appearance on AP exams! Explain the significance of the decision and its precedent. For a real challenge, do this with all of the cases in the packet.
1. Marbury v. Madison 1803
2. McCulloch v. MD 1819
3. Plessy v. Ferguson 1896
4. Brown v. BOE of Topeka 1954
5. Gitlow v. NY 1925
6. Mapp v. OH 1961
7. Gideon v. Wainwright 1963
8. Miranda v. AZ 1966
9. Regents of UC v. Bakke 1978
10. Roe v. Wade 1973
11. Tinker v. Des Moines 1969
12. Baker v. Carr 1962
13. Miller v. CA 1973
14. Buckley v. Valeo 1976
15. NY Times v. Sullivan 1964
16. Dred Scott v. Sanford 1857
17. US v. Lopez 1997
18. Engel v. Vitale 1962
19. Santa Fe Board v. Doe 2000
20. Gibbons v. Ogden 1824
21. US v. Nixon 1974
22. Swann v. Mecklenburg BOE 1971
23. Texas v. Johnson 1989
24. Heart of Atlanta Motel v. US 1965
II. Top “ten” Terms: These are in absolutely no order. Explain the term. Use examples if possible. You want to develop the big picture with each term!
1. Realigning elections
2. Filibuster
3. Habeas corpus
4. Plurality
5. Rule of four
6. Social capital
7. pocket veto
8. senatorial courtesy
9. Concurrent powers
10. logrolling
11. Rider
12. standing committee
13. Expressed powers
14. trustee
15. Judicial review
16. delegate
17. Necessary & proper clause
18. political agenda
19. Commerce clause
20. deficit
21. issue network
22. national debt
23. Iron triangle
24. divided government
25. Due process
26. executive privilege
27. Eminent domain
28. Take care clause
29. central clearance
30. stare decisis
31. PACs
32. Block grant
33. Coattail effect
34. Selective perception
35. Cloture
36. Incorporation
37. political efficacy
38. devolution
39. nullification
40. political ideologies
41. gender gap
42. silent majority
43. superdelegates
44. Bully pulpit
45. trial balloon
46. red tape
47. laissez-faire
48. judicial restraint
49. judicial activism
50. sovereign immunity
III. List of Important Laws, etc. that You SHOULD Know
Northwest Ordinance / National Environmental Policy Act (1969)Virginia Plan /
Civil Rights Act of 1957
New Jersey Plan / Equal Pay Act of 1963The Great Compromise / Civil Rights Act of 1964
Necessary and Proper Clause / Voting Rights Act of 1965
Supremacy Clause / Open Housing Act of 1968 (Title VIII)
Commerce Clause / Higher Education Act of 1972 (Title IX)
Fugitive Slave Clause / Education of All Handicapped Children Act (1975)
Fourteenth Amendment / Voting Rights Act of 1982
Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act (1974) / Civil Rights Act of 1988
Americans with Disabilities Act (1990)
/ Civil Rights and Women’s Equity in Employment Act (1991)National Registration Act (1993) (Motor Voter) / Family and Medical Leave Act (1993)
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (1995) / North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
Freedom of Information Act (1966)
/ Tax Reform Act of 1986Pendleton Act (1883)
/ Welfare Reform Act (1996)Hatch Act (1939)
/Medicare (1965)
Federal Election Campaign Act (1974)
/ Gramm-Rudman-Hollings (1985)Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (2002) / The USA PATRIOT Act (2001)
Ethics in Government Act (1978) / Social Security Act (1935)
Lobbyist Disclosure Act (1995) / Medicaid
Rule 22
/ No Child Left BehindCongressional Budget and Impoundment Act (1974)
/ National Security Act (1947)War Powers Act (1973)
/ Goldwater-Nichols Act (1986)Independent Counsel Law
/ Clean Air Act (1963)(1970)(1977)(1990)Presidential Succession Act of 1947
/ Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (1970)Civil Service Reform Act of 1978
/ Water Quality Improvement Act (1970)Whistle Blower Protection Act (1989)
/ Endangered Species Act (1973)