AP Gov Court Cases and Documents Review

Marbury v. Madison

Main topic: Judicial Review (Court can strike laws)

Evidence: Guy was promised a job, didn’t get it, Court says “we can’t force it—but we can declare laws unconstitutional,” creating judicial review

McCulloch v. Maryland

Main topic: federal supremacy + implied powers

Evidence: Maryland tried to tax the national bank; Court said federal gov is stronger and can use implied powers

United States v. Lopez

Main topic: congress can’t regulate everything under commerce clause

Evidence: Student had a weapon at school; Court said Congress went too far regulating under commerce

Engel v. Vitale

Main topic: no school-sponsored prayer

Evidence: Public schools had official prayer; Court said that violates Establishment Clause (separation of church and state)

Wisconsin v. Yoder

Main topic: Free exercise of religion
Evidence: Amish parents refused to send kids to high school; the Court sided with their religious freedom

Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District

Main topic: Student free speech
Evidence: Students wore armbands to protest the Vietnam War; the Court said symbolic speech is protected

New York Times Co. v. United States

Main topic: No prior restraint
Evidence: The government tried to block publication of the Pentagon Papers; the Court ruled the press could publish

Schenck v. United States

Main topic: Limits on free speech
Evidence: Schenck distributed anti-draft pamphlets; the Court said speech can be limited if it poses a clear danger

Gideon v. Wainwright

Main topic: Right to an attorney
Evidence: Gideon was denied a lawyer because he couldn’t afford one; the Court ruled states must provide attorneys

Roe v. Wade

Main topic: Right to privacy
Evidence: Texas banned abortion; the Court ruled the Constitution protects a woman’s right to privacy

McDonald v. Chicago

Main topic: Incorporation of the Second Amendment
Evidence: Chicago restricted gun ownership; the Court ruled the 2nd Amendment applies to the states

Brown v. Board of Education

Main topic: Equal protection (end of segregation)
Evidence: Segregated schools were challenged; the Court ruled “separate is not equal”

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

Main topic: Campaign finance as free speech
Evidence: A corporation wanted to spend money on political ads; the Court ruled spending money is protected speech

Baker v. Carr

Main topic: Redistricting & equal representation (“one person, one vote”)

Evidence: The Court ruled that federal courts can hear redistricting cases, leading to fairer legislative districts based on population.

Shaw v. Reno

Main topic: Racial gerrymandering
Evidence: Districts were oddly shaped based on race; the Court ruled this could violate equal protection

U.S. Constitution

Main topic: Structure of government
Evidence: Created three branches with checks and balances and divided power between federal and state governments

Articles of Confederation

Main topic: Weak national government
Evidence: Government had no power to tax or enforce laws, leading to major weaknesses and eventual replacement

Declaration of Independence

Main topic: Natural rights and popular sovereignty
Evidence: Argued people have rights (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness) and can overthrow an unjust government

Federalist No. 10

Main topic: Controlling factions
Evidence: Madison argued a large republic would limit the effects of factions

Federalist No. 51

Main topic: Checks and balances
Evidence: Madison explained that each branch should have powers to check the others

Brutus No. 1

Main topic: Opposition to strong national government
Evidence: Warned that a powerful central government would threaten individual liberties

Letter from a Birmingham Jail

Main topic: Civil disobedience
Evidence: Martin Luther King Jr. argued unjust laws should be peacefully resisted

Federalist No. 70

Main topic: Strong executive
Evidence: Hamilton argued a single, energetic president is necessary for effective leadership

Federalist No. 78

Main topic: Role of the judiciary
Evidence: Hamilton explained courts interpret laws and protect the Constitution

The Second Treatise of Government

Main topic: Natural rights and social contract
Evidence: John Locke argued people have natural rights and can overthrow governments that violate them