AP Gov Court Cases

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Background: Marbury appointed justice of the peace; commission not delivered. Outcome: Denied commission; established judicial review.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Background: Maryland taxed Second Bank of US; cashier refused to pay. Outcome: Tax invalid; strengthened federal authority; confirmed implied powers of Congress.

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

Background: NY granted steamboat monopoly; Gibbons had federal license. Outcome: Federal government regulates interstate commerce; state monopoly invalidated.

Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857)

Background: Slave sued for freedom after living in free state. Outcome: Slaves not citizens; Missouri Compromise unconstitutional; slaves are property.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Background: Plessy, 1/8 Black, challenged segregated train cars. Outcome: “Separate but equal” upheld; legalized racial segregation.

Schenck v. United States (1919)

Background: Distributed anti-draft pamphlets during WWI. Outcome: Free speech limited if there is a “clear and present danger.”

Gitlow v. New York (1925)

Background: Published socialist pamphlets advocating revolution; convicted under NY law. Outcome: Incorporated free speech protections to states; dangerous speech can be regulated.

Korematsu v. United States (1944)

Background: Defied Japanese-American internment orders in WWII. Outcome: Upheld internment; national security can override civil liberties in emergencies.

Brown v. Board of Education I (1954)

Background: African American children denied access to segregated public schools. Outcome: Segregation unconstitutional; “separate but equal” rejected; overturned Plessy.

Brown v. Board of Education II (1955)

Background: Addressed implementation of Brown I. Outcome: Schools must desegregate with all deliberate speed.

Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

Background: Police illegally searched home; obscene materials found. Outcome: Evidence from illegal searches inadmissible; applied exclusionary rule to states.

Baker v. Carr (1961)

Background: Tennessee districts unequal in population; residents claimed unequal representation. Outcome: Established “one person, one vote”; courts can review redistricting.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Background: NY public school mandated daily prayer. Outcome: School-sponsored prayer unconstitutional; violates Establishment Clause.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Background: Denied lawyer in felony trial. Outcome: States must provide legal counsel in criminal cases.

New York Times v. Sullivan (1964)

Background: NYT ad criticized Alabama officials; sued for libel. Outcome: Public officials must prove actual malice; protects press.

Griswold v. Connecticut (1965)

Background: CT banned contraceptives; challenged marital privacy. Outcome: Established right to privacy for married couples.

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

Background: Interrogated without being informed of rights. Outcome: Established Miranda rights; suspects must be informed of rights.

Loving v. Virginia (1967)

Background: Interracial couple challenged ban on interracial marriage. Outcome: Anti-interracial marriage laws unconstitutional; legalized interracial marriage nationwide.

United States v. O’Brien (1968)

Background: Burned draft card in protest. Outcome: Symbolic speech can be limited if substantial government interest exists.

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

Background: Students wore black armbands protesting Vietnam War. Outcome: Students retain free speech unless materially disruptive.

Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971)

Background: State funds given to religious schools in PA and RI. Outcome: Established Lemon Test; aid must have secular purpose, not advance/inhibit religion, avoid excessive entanglement.

New York Times Co. v. United States (1971)

Background: Nixon tried to block Pentagon Papers publication. Outcome: Prior restraint unconstitutional; press protected unless imminent danger exists.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

Background: Amish parents refused to send children past 8th grade for religious reasons. Outcome: Free exercise of religion protects Amish education practices.

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Background: Jane Roe challenged Texas abortion ban. Outcome: Right to privacy under 14th Amendment; legalized abortion; trimester framework established.

United States v. Nixon (1974)

Background: Nixon refused to deliver White House tapes. Outcome: Executive privilege limited; no person above law; led to Nixon resignation.

Gregg v. Georgia (1976)

Background: Death penalty challenged as cruel/unusual. Outcome: Death penalty constitutional if procedures ensure fairness.

Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

Background: Campaign finance limits challenged. Outcome: Candidates can spend own money; contribution limits constitutional.

Regents of University of California v. Bakke (1978)

Background: Bakke denied med school admission due to racial quotas. Outcome: Quotas unconstitutional; race may be considered as one factor.

Texas v. Johnson (1989)

Background: Burned US flag in protest. Outcome: Flag burning is protected symbolic speech.

Lee v. Weisman (1992)

Background: Rabbi gave prayer at public school graduation. Outcome: Schools cannot sponsor religious ceremonies; violates Establishment Clause.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Background: NC redistricted to create majority-minority districts; challenged as racial gerrymandering. Outcome: Racial gerrymandering unconstitutional; race cannot dominate redistricting.

United States v. Lopez (1995)

Background: Student brought gun to school; challenged Gun-Free School Zones Act. Outcome: Congress cannot regulate non-economic, intrastate activity; limits Commerce Clause power.

Bush v. Gore (2000)

Background: Disputed Florida recount in presidential election. Outcome: Equal protection concerns stopped recount; Bush won.

Grutter v. Bollinger (2003)

Background: White student denied admission due to law school affirmative action. Outcome: Affirmative action constitutional if diversity is compelling interest.

Roper v. Simmons (2005)

Background: Juvenile sentenced to death. Outcome: Executing juveniles violates 8th Amendment; minors cannot be executed.

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

Background: Limits on corporate spending challenged. Outcome: Corporate spending is free speech; cannot be limited.

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

Background: Chicago handgun ban challenged. Outcome: 2nd Amendment incorporated to states; individual right to bear arms protected.

Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)

Background: Same-sex couples sued for marriage recognition. Outcome: States must recognize same-sex marriages; legalized nationwide.