hiya! I took ap gov last year and the mnemonics i had were super helpful, so i decided to share them with the world! some are really good, and some are kind of a stretch, but whatever works! I hope this helps you all!!
court cases
Dred Scott v Sandford: slaves are not citizens, the federal government can’t prohibit slavery in the territories: Dred Scott sounds like Dred’s not, and Dred’s not a citizen
Engel v Vitale: no more state sponsored prayer in public schools: Engel sounds like angels, angels are not vital(e)
Gitlow v New York: free speech applies to the states: you gotta get low (on the chain of power, so like to the states) to get your rights
Korematsu v USA: essentially ruled that relocating Japanese Americans during wartime (WWII) was constitutional: Korematsu is a Japanese name, and Koremat-sued! (i don’t think he actually sued but you get the point)
Lemon v Kurtzman: struck down state funding for private religious schools, funding had to pass the lemon test: lemons are sour, the opposite of sour is salty, the schools were salty about their funding getting taken away
Mapp v Ohio: established the exclusionary rule: eXclusionary rule, X marks the spot on a map (Mapp)
McCulloch v Maryland: established the supremacy clause: Maryland is not supreme!
Plessy v Ferguson: separate but equal is constitutional: P and F look similar and are on separate sides of the case. they aren’t equal, but neither were the so called ‘equal’ facilities
Schneck v USA: established the clear and present danger test=free speech can be limited when a clear and present danger results: Schneck can’t talk shit
amendments
1st: freedom of RAPPS: RAPPS = religion, assembly, press, petition, speech
9th and 10th: the constitution prioritized the rights of the people, so the rights not listed in the constitution belong to the people amendment (9th) is before the powers not in the constitution go to the states amendment (10th)
13th, 14th, 15th: first slavery is abolished (13), then you can be a citizen (14), then you can vote regardless of race (15)
22nd: presidential term limits: two four year terms, 2+2=4
25th: established presidential line of succession: the 5 in 25 looks like an S
26th: lowered voting age to 18: 2+6=8
