AP GOV SCOTUS CASES

McDonald v Chicago constitutional principle

14th due process clause + 2nd amendment

McDonald v Chicago facts

McDonald wanted to buy gun for protection but was denied → Chicago had ban on gun licenses

McDonald v Chicago holding

Incorporation of right to bear arms to states

Shaw v Reno constitutional principle

equal protection clause

Shaw v Reno facts

North Carolina was required to add an additional black district

Shaw v Reno holding

no racial gerrymandering

Brown v Board of Education constitutional principle

equal protection clause

Brown v Board of Education facts

black students were denied from admission to public schools based on race

Brown v Board of Education holding

racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional

Citizens United v FEC constitutional principle

free speech clause (1st amendment)

Citizens United v FEC facts

FEC prevented Citizens United (conservative organization) from showing an anti-Hillary movie

Citizens United v FEC holding

Corporations count as people, so their political spending can’t be limited (expression) → leads to the explosion of SUPERPACS

Tinker v Des Moines constitutional principle

1st amendment free speech

Tinker v Des Moines facts

students were suspended for wearing armbands in protest of Vietnam War because it caused a “distraction”

Tinker v Des Moines holding

established symbolic speech in public schools as long as it doesn’t disrupt the educational environment

Gideon v Wainwright constitutional principle

6th amendment right to an attorney + 14th due process clause

Gideon v Wainwright facts

Wainwright committed a crime and was arrested. During his trial he could not afford an attorney and wasn’t appointed one

Gideon v Wainwright holding

incorporated that states must provide attorneys for those who can’t afford one

Baker v Carr constitutional principle

equal protection clause

Baker v Carr facts

Dealt with redistricting and reapportionment of states. A citizen from Tennessee claimed that their state lines were outdated and the redistricting was unfair

Baker v Carr holding

political cases can be heard in federal court → one person one vote

New York Times v US constitutional principle

1st amendment freedom of press

New York Times v US facts

the federal government tried to prevent the publication of the Pentagon Papers on New York Times, which explained the actions of the US in the Vietnam War

New York Times v US holding

federal government can’t block publication of Pentagon Papers → heavy presumption against prior restraint

Schenck v US constitutional principle

1st amendment free speech

Schenck v US facts

Schenck was handing out anti-draft flyers to convince people not to join the draft

Schenck v US holding

court ruled against Schenck due to it being a national issue (limited free speech) → clear and present danger

Wisconsin v Yoder constitutional principle

free exercise clause

Wisconsin v Yoder facts

Wisconsin’s law made school mandatory until age 16. Amish families refused for religious reasons to send their students to school after 8th grade

Wisconsin v Yoder holding

the government can’t prohibit religious practices, even for school

Engel v Vitale constitutional principle

establishment clause

Engel v Vitale facts

public schools held voluntary prayer during school hours

Engel v Vitale holding

no school sponsored prayer

US v Lopez constitutional principle

commerce clause

US v Lopez facts

Lopez brought a gun to school and was charged violating federal gun-free school zones act

US v Lopez holding

law is unconstitutional because a gun in school zone doesn’t affect interstate commerce → limited federal power