Required Foundational Documents
Foundational documents are necessary for students to understand the philosophical underpinnings and political values of the U.S. political system and may serve as the focus of AP Exam questions. Source analysis of these documents helps students gain an understanding of how philosophical discussions and debates shaped the architecture of the government. Teachers are encouraged to also use both classic and contemporary scholarly writings in political science to promote the comparison of political ideas and their application to recent events.
The following is a list of required Foundational Documents.
ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
SMAN-107-pg935.pdfBRUTUS NO.1
To the Citizens of the State of New-Yorkbrutus.pdfTHE CONSTITUTION OF THE U.S.
constitution.pdfDECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
DOI2.pdfFEDERALIST NO.10
The Same Subject Continued: The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and InsurrectionFederalist_No_10_Excerpts_Annotated_proof_3__1_.pdfFEDERALIST NO.51
The Structure of the Government Must Furnish the Proper Checks and Balances Between the Different DepartmentsDOI2.pdfFEDERALIST NO.70
The Executive Department Further Consideredfed70.pdfFEDERALIST NO.78
The Judiciary Departmentfed78.pdfLETTER FROM A BIRMINGHAM JAIL
BY MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.lfbjail.pdfFoundational documents are named in specific topics within the Course Framework; however, the concepts within these documents are also present in other topics and units. The table below indicates both where the foundational document is named in the Course Framework (bold Learning Objectives), and where the documents are also relevant to other Learning Objectives.Â
Please note: While the Constitution is a required foundational document, it is not listed explicitly below because it is applicable to nearly all course learning objectives.
