AP GOV Required Supreme Court Cases

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Established the principle of judicial review empowering the Supreme Court to nullify an act of the legislative or executive branch that violates the Constitution

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

In striking down Maryland's tax on the National Bank, the holding established supremacy of the U.S. Constitution and federal laws over state laws. Often referenced in regards to strengthening the implied powers of the federal government.

Schenck v. United States (1919)

Speech creating a "clear and present danger" to national security or public safety is not protected by the First Amendment

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Race-based school segregation violates the equal protection clause. Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson

Baker v. Carr (1961)

Decided that redistricting issues present justiciable questions, thus enabling federal courts to intervene and to decide redistricting cases. The defendants unsuccessfully argued that redistricting of legislative districts is a "political question", and hence not a question that may be resolved by federal courts. "One person, one vote."

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

School sponsored prayer and bible readings violates the establishment clause because students feel compelled to participate even if they are not religious or Christian.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Guaranteed the right to an attorney for the poor or indigent (and subsequently everyone) in a state felony case (Incorporation)

Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969)

Preemptively banning students from wearing black armbands in school to protest the Vietnam War was deemed unconstitutional

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

Bolstered the freedom of the press, establishing a "heavy presumption against prior restraint" even in cases involving national security. The ruling made it possible for newspapers to publish the then-classified Pentagon Papers without risk of government censorship or punishment.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

Compelling Amish students to attend school past the eighth grade violates the free exercise clause

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Extended the right of privacy to a woman's decision to have an abortion and established the three trimester standard

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Majority minority districts, created under the Voting Rights Act of 1965, may be constitutionally challenged by voters if race is the only factor used in creating the district. The court ruled in a 5-4 decision that redistricting based on race must be held to a standard of strict scrutiny under the equal protection clause.

United States v. Lopez (1995)

Held that the federal Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990, which forbade possession of firearms in public schools, exceeded Congress's constitutional authority to regulate commerce.

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

In overturning Chicago's city-wide ban on handguns, the Supreme Court held that the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms for self-defense is applicable to the states. (Incorporation)

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)

Holding: Political spending is a form of protected speech under the First Amendment, and the government may not keep corporations or unions from spending money to support or denounce individual candidates in elections.