15 Required SCOTUS Cases (APGOV)

What year was Marbury v. Madison?

1803

What constitutional clause was at issue in Marbury v. Madison?

Article III, Judicial Review

What were the facts of Marbury v. Madison?

Marbury sued for his commission as justice of the peace.

What was the decision in Marbury v. Madison?

Court lacked power to issue writ; established judicial review.

What was the impact of Marbury v. Madison?

Established judicial review, strengthening Supreme Court authority.

What year was McCulloch v. Maryland?

1819

What constitutional clause was at issue in McCulloch v. Maryland?

Necessary & Proper Clause; Supremacy Clause

What were the facts of McCulloch v. Maryland?

Maryland taxed the national bank; McCulloch refused to pay.

What was the decision in McCulloch v. Maryland?

Congress has implied powers; states cannot tax federal government.

What was the impact of McCulloch v. Maryland?

Strengthened federal supremacy over states.

What year was Schenck v. United States?

1919

What constitutional clause was at issue in Schenck v. United States?

1st Amendment (Free Speech)

What were the facts of Schenck v. United States?

Schenck distributed anti-draft leaflets during WWI.

What was the decision in Schenck v. United States?

Speech not protected if it creates “clear and present danger.”

What was the impact of Schenck v. United States?

Limited free speech during wartime.

What year was Brown v. Board of Education?

1954

What constitutional clause was at issue in Brown v. Board of Education?

14th Amendment (Equal Protection)

What were the facts of Brown v. Board of Education?

Black students denied admission to white public schools.

What was the decision in Brown v. Board of Education?

Segregation in schools unconstitutional; overturned Plessy v. Ferguson.

What was the impact of Brown v. Board of Education?

Began process of school desegregation.

What year was Baker v. Carr?

1962

What constitutional clause was at issue in Baker v. Carr?

14th Amendment (Equal Protection)

What were the facts of Baker v. Carr?

Tennessee districts had unequal populations.

What was the decision in Baker v. Carr?

Redistricting is justiciable; “one person, one vote.”

What was the impact of Baker v. Carr?

Federal courts can rule on redistricting.

What year was Engel v. Vitale?

1962

What constitutional clause was at issue in Engel v. Vitale?

1st Amendment (Establishment Clause)

What were the facts of Engel v. Vitale?

New York schools held voluntary daily prayer.

What was the decision in Engel v. Vitale?

School-sponsored prayer unconstitutional.

What was the impact of Engel v. Vitale?

Strengthened separation of church and state.

What year was Gideon v. Wainwright?

1963

What constitutional clause was at issue in Gideon v. Wainwright?

6th Amendment (Right to Counsel)

What were the facts of Gideon v. Wainwright?

Gideon denied lawyer in Florida court.

What was the decision in Gideon v. Wainwright?

Right to attorney applies to state courts.

What was the impact of Gideon v. Wainwright?

Expanded rights of the accused.

What year was Tinker v. Des Moines?

1969

What constitutional clause was at issue in Tinker v. Des Moines?

1st Amendment (Free Speech)

What were the facts of Tinker v. Des Moines?

Students wore armbands to protest Vietnam War.

What was the decision in Tinker v. Des Moines?

Symbolic speech is protected in schools if not disruptive.

What was the impact of Tinker v. Des Moines?

Affirmed student free speech rights.

What year was New York Times v. United States?

1971

What constitutional clause was at issue in New York Times v. United States?

1st Amendment (Freedom of Press)

What were the facts of New York Times v. United States?

Government tried to block Pentagon Papers publication.

What was the decision in New York Times v. United States?

Prior restraint unconstitutional unless immediate national security threat.

What was the impact of New York Times v. United States?

Strengthened press freedom.

What year was Wisconsin v. Yoder?

1972

What constitutional clause was at issue in Wisconsin v. Yoder?

1st Amendment (Free Exercise Clause)

What were the facts of Wisconsin v. Yoder?

Amish parents challenged law requiring school until age 16.

What was the decision in Wisconsin v. Yoder?

Amish students can stop school after 8th grade.

What was the impact of Wisconsin v. Yoder?

Expanded religious freedom in education.

What year was Roe v. Wade?

1973

What constitutional clause was at issue in Roe v. Wade?

14th Amendment (Due Process, Right to Privacy)

What were the facts of Roe v. Wade?

Texas law banned abortions except to save mother’s life.

What was the decision in Roe v. Wade?

Abortion protected under right to privacy.

What was the impact of Roe v. Wade?

Legalized abortion nationwide.

What year was Shaw v. Reno?

1993

What constitutional clause was at issue in Shaw v. Reno?

14th Amendment (Equal Protection)

What were the facts of Shaw v. Reno?

NC created majority-minority districts.

What was the decision in Shaw v. Reno?

Racial gerrymandering unconstitutional.

What was the impact of Shaw v. Reno?

Race cannot be dominant factor in districting.

What year was United States v. Lopez?

1995

What constitutional clause was at issue in United States v. Lopez?

Commerce Clause

What were the facts of United States v. Lopez?

Student brought gun to school; Congress had passed Gun-Free School Zones Act.

What was the decision in United States v. Lopez?

Congress exceeded commerce power.

What was the impact of United States v. Lopez?

Limited federal power; strengthened state sovereignty.

What year was McDonald v. Chicago?

2010

What constitutional clause was at issue in McDonald v. Chicago?

2nd Amendment; 14th Amendment Incorporation

What were the facts of McDonald v. Chicago?

Chicago banned handguns; citizens challenged.

What was the decision in McDonald v. Chicago?

2nd Amendment applies to states via incorporation.

What was the impact of McDonald v. Chicago?

Expanded gun rights.

What year was Citizens United v. FEC?

2010

What constitutional clause was at issue in Citizens United v. FEC?

1st Amendment (Free Speech)

What were the facts of Citizens United v. FEC?

Law restricted corporate funding of political ads.

What was the decision in Citizens United v. FEC?

Political spending is protected free speech.

What was the impact of Citizens United v. FEC?

Allowed unlimited independent political spending by corporations and unions.