supreme court cases

mcculloch v maryland

established that federal law is supreme over state law & confirmed Congress’s power to create a national bank

unitied states v Lopez (1995)

limited the scope of the commerce clause, ruling that Congress exceeded its authority by banning guns in school zones

baker v carr (1962)

established the principle of “one person, one vote”, requiring legislative districts to be roughly equal in population to ensure fair participation

shaw v reno (1993)

ruled racial gerrymandering, even if done to ensure minority representaion, could violate the equal protection clause if it leads to bizzarely shaped districts

marbury v madison (1803)

established the principle of judicial review, giving courts the power to strike down laws and government actions that violate the consititution

schneck v united stats (1919)

upheld the conviction of a man who had distributed anti-draft pamphlets, ruling that speech could be restricted if it posed a “clear and present danger” to national security

tinker v Des moines (1969)

ruled students do not lose their first amendments rights to free speech, as long as their expression does not disrupt the educational environment, such as wearing black armbands to protest the vietnam war

new york time v unitied states’ (1971)

“pentagon papers” case — supreme court decision that protected the freedom of the press, ruling the government could not prevent the publication of classified documents unless it could prove immediate harm to national security

engel v vitale (1962)

ruled it unconsitituional for public schools to lead students in prayer, as it violated the establishment clause of the first amendment

wisconsin v Yoder (1972)

ruled Amish children could not be forced to attend school beyond eighth grade, as it violated their first amendment right to free exercise of religion

mcdonald v chicago (2010)

ruled the second amendment right to keep and bear arm applies to state and local governments, incorporating it through the fourteenth amendment’s due process clause

gideon v wainwright (1963)

ruled the sixth amendment guarantees the right to legal consel for all defendants in criminal cases

mapp v ohio

ruled evidence obtained through illegal searches and seizures cannot be used in state courts, establishing the “exclusionary rule”

brown v board of education of Topeka, kansas (1954)

declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, ruling that “seperate educational facilities are inherently unequal” and overturning the plessy v Ferguson decision

citizens unitied v FEC (2010)

ruled political spending by corporations and unions is a form of protected free speech under the first amendment, allowing them to spend unlimited amounts on independent political campaigns