Supreme court

Baker v. Carr (1962)

• Unequal voting districts in Tennessee.

• Courts can hear cases about unfair district lines (“one person, one vote”).

• Forced states to redraw districts fairly.

United States v. Lopez (1995)

• Student brought a gun to school → federal “Gun-Free School Zones Act.”

• Congress went too far using the Commerce Clause.

• Limited federal power; strengthened states’ rights.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

• Issue: North Carolina created weird-shaped districts based mainly on race.

• Ruling: Racial gerrymandering is unconstitutional.

• Impact: Districts cannot be drawn only based on race.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

• Issue: Marbury didn’t receive his judicial appointment.

• Ruling: Supreme Court created judicial review.

• Impact: Court can strike down laws as unconstitutional.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

• Issue: Can Maryland tax the national bank?

• Ruling: No — federal government is supreme.

• Impact: Strengthened federal power; confirmed implied powers.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

• Issue: Gideon was denied a lawyer because he couldn’t pay.

• Ruling: Everyone has the right to an attorney in criminal cases.

• Impact: Public defender system expanded nationwide.

Schenck v. United States (1919)

• Issue: Man protested WWI draft; charged under Espionage Act.

• Ruling: Free speech is limited during wartime if it creates “clear and present danger.”

• Impact: Gave government more power to restrict speech temporarily.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

• Issue: Segregated public schools.

• Ruling: “Separate but equal” is unconstitutional.

• Impact: Ended school segregation; civil rights movement boost.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

• Issue: School-led prayer in public schools.

• Ruling: Unconstitutional under the Establishment Clause.

• Impact: No government-written or required school prayer.

Roe v. Wade (1973)

• Issue: Texas law banning most abortions.

• Ruling: Women have a right to privacy → protected abortion access.

• Impact: Legalized abortion nationwide (until overturned in 2022).

McDonald v. City of Chicago (2010)

• Issue: Chicago banned handguns.

• Ruling: Second Amendment applies to states (via 14th Amendment).

• Impact: People have a right to own guns for self-defense nationwide.