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1215
Magna Carta Signed
This is when limited government began, when King John signed the Magna Carta. This document outlined individual rights which the king could not violate. -
Jamestown's House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was the elected representative element of the Virginia General Assembly, the legislative body of the Colony of Virginia. With the creation of the House of Burgesses in 1642, the General Assembly, which had been established in 1619, became a bicameral institution. -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact, originally titled Agreement Between the Settlers of New Plymouth, was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony. It was written by the male passengers of the Mayflower, consisting of separatist Puritans, adventurers, and tradesmen -
King Charles is required to sign the Petition of Rights
Required monarchs to maintain parliamentary approval before creating new laws and provide legitimate reasons for imprisoning people. This events later causes a civil war in 1642. -
William and Mary Rule
They were chosen and had to govern under the rules of parliament (constitutional monarchy). -
English Bill of Rights passed
Free speech and protection against cruel punishment were guaranteed through this. -
Boston Massacre
British soldiers fired into crowd and killed 5 colonists. -
Boston Tea Party
Colonists dumped British tea into the harbor. -
Intolerable Acts Passed
Britain passed acts/taxes on colonists and they had no say in what or how much was taxed or the laws that got set into place like the quartering act which placed British troops in their houses.These were passed after the Boston Tea Party. -
First National Gov't Ratified
This was delayed argument over control of Western Lands -
Bill of Rights
The first 10 amendments and is a formal statement of the fundamental rights of the people of the United States -
Judiciary Act of 1789
Established a three tiered judicial structure -
Gazette published
Federalist paper Gazette of the United States is published -
Supremacy Clause
The Constitution's Supremacy Clause (Article VI, Section 2) sets the Constitution above all forms of law in the United States. -
11th Amendment
Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another state, or by citizens or subjects of any foreign state. -
12th Amendment
Allows the president to choose VP -
Fletcher v. Peck
In Fletcher v. Peck the Supreme Court first holds a state law unconstitutional. -
McCulloch v. Maryland
Court ruled bank was necessary and proper -
Gibbons v. Ogden
Right of a state legislature to award a monopoly to operate a steamship line N.Y. and N.J.-court said only congress has the right to regulate commerce between states -
Morrill Act
Granted large tracts of land to states; states sold land and used money for colleges -
13th Amendment
Section 1: Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
Section 2: Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. -
14th Amendment
All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. -
15th amendment
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. -
St. Louis & Pacific Railway Co. v. Illinois (Wabash Case)
The court rules that states cannot regulate railroad rates on the parts of interstate journeys that fall within their borders. -
16th Amendment
Gave congress authority to set a federal income tax -
17th Amendment
Made a law that there will always be a direct election of senators -
18th amendment
After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited. -
Radio is used as a media
Radio became first form of electronic media -
19th Amendment
Gave women the right to vote -
Gitlow v. New York
Rules that the protections of the 1st Amendment apply against actions by state governments. -
Number of reps and states
The number of representatives is based on the population of each state (total # of reps. is fixed by law at 435, since 1929) -
20th Amendment
Establishes date of term starts for congress -
Wickard v. Filburn
Court rules that the federal gov't has the power to regulate economic activity under the Constitution's Commerce Clause -
Creation of National Security Council
coordinates national security policy, brings together: the top military, foreign affairs, and intelligence officials in the administration -
Radio is replaced
Television replaced radio as most influential electronic media -
Civil Rights Movement
gives minority interests voice in political process (Example of Interest group) -
Korean War
Cold War conflict between Communist and non-communist forces on Korean Peninsula. -
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico becomes a U.S. commonwealth -
The Great Society
Government Program to eliminate poverty and social inequality -
Wesberry v. Sanders
The court holds that states must draw congressional districts of nearly equal proportions. -
North Vietnam
U.S. Planes begin bombing raids of North Vietnam -
Furman v. Georgia
Court rules that all existing death penalty laws violate the Constitution. The Court cited "arbitrariness" and racial imbalances in the application of death sentences. As a consequence, many states rewrite their death penalty laws. -
War Powers Resolution
President must consult with Congress before sending troops -
Gregg v. Georgia
Death penalty statutes are upheld generally by the Court's decision in Gregg v. Georgia. -
United States v. Lopez
The court strikes down the Gun-Free School Zone Act of 1990 on the grounds that the federal gov't invades reserved powers of the states with this legislation. -
Welfare Systems and Blocking of grants
Congress gave states authority to manage welfare systems with block grants -
Printz v. United States
In Printz v. United States the Court strikes down the provision of the federal Brady Act requiring states to check the background of handgun buyers. -
Reno v. Condon
The Court's unanimous decision in Reno v. Condon approves a federal law preventing states from selling databases of personal information (the Driver's Privacy Protection Act) on the grounds that this is proper federal regulation of interstate commerce. -
Nevada v. Hibbs
In Nevada v. Hibbs the Court holds that a state worker can sue the state for money damages for its failure to obey the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. The decision is a break from the court's recent tendency to expand states' rights. -
Gonzales v. Raich
In Gonzales v. Raich the Court votes 6-3 that under the Constitution's Commerce Clause, Congress can criminalize the production of cannabis and its use even if states have approved its use for medical purposes. -
Gonzales v. Carhart
The Supreme Court rules in favor of upholding the 2003 Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act in Gonzales v. Carhart. The case represents a move toward limiting abortion rights.
