Studied by 2 people
Looks like no one added any tags here yet for you.
engel v. vitale
The New York Board of Regents had authorized that at the beginning of each day, a short but voluntary prayer would be recited. Several organizations filed suit against the Board of Regents, claiming that the prayer violated the Constitution. The New York Court of Appeals dismissed their arguments.
first amendment: establishment clause
The court held that states could not hold prayers in public school EVEN IF it was voluntary and EVEN IF the prayer did not adhere to a specific religion.
wisconsin v. yoder
Jonas Yoder refused to send their children to school after the 8th grade. In accordance with their religion, they did not agree with high school attendance. They were later charged under a Wisconsin law that required students to attend school until age 16.
first amendment : free exercise clause
court held that the requirement to send children to school beyond the eighth grade was unconstitutional. It stated that an individual’s interest in the free exercise of religion was more powerful than a federal interest in sending children to school beyond the eighth grade.
tinker v. des moines
group of students decided to wear black armbands in order to protest the Vietnam War - decided that they would wear their armbands to school despite warnings from school administration. After wearing the armbands to school, they were sent home. The students decided to sue their school district for violating the freedom of expression.
first amendment: freedom of speech (symbolic speech)
court held that students still have free speech rights at school, and in order to justify the suppression of speech, the speech must substantially interfere with school operations
new york times co. v. u.s.
Nixon Administration tried to prevent the New York Times from publishing material that belonged to a Defense Department study about US intervention in Vietnam (pentagon papers). President Nixon stated that it was necessary to national security to prohibit it before publication, also known as prior restraint
1st amendment - freedom of press
court supported freedom of the press guaranteed by the First Amendment - established that there was a “heavy presumption against prior restraint” even for national security purposes
schenck v. u.s.
During World War I, Charles Schenck distributed leaflets that stated the draft violated the 13th Amendment - which prohibits involuntary servitude. The leaflet wanted people to disobey the draft. Schenck was charged with violating the Espionage Act of 1917.
first amendment: freedom of speech
court held that the Espionage Act did not violate the First Amendment and it was an appropriate exercise of Congress’ wartime authority. This was a key limitation on the First Amendment as the free speech clause does not allow for advocacy of unlawful behavior
gideon v. wainwright
Gideon was charged in Florida w/ felony. During his trial, Gideon requested that he receive a court-appointed lawyer; however, in accordance with Florida State law, an indigent defendant could only have an attorney be appointed in capital crimes/cases. Gideon then filed a habeas corpus suit, stating that the court’s decision violated his rights to be represented.
sixth amendment - right to council (selective incorporation)
holding was that the Sixth Amendment’s right to counsel applies to state court defendants via the Fourteenth Amendment. The Court stated that because the right of counsel is fundamental, it should be incorporated into the states.
roe v. wade
Jane Roe wanted an abortion but could not legally have one in the state of Texas, because of a state law that prohibited abortions except in cases where the mother’s life was in danger. She questioned the legality of this law.
9th amendment - right to privacy
court held that a woman’s right to an abortion fell within the right of privacy that was clarified in Griswold v. Connecticut, and therefore was protected by the Fourteenth Amendment. Laws in 46 states were affected by this ruling.
mcdonald v. chicago
Chicago passed a handgun ban law, and several suits were filed against the city challenging the ban after another case (District of Columbia v. Heller). In that case, the Court had held that a DC handgun ban violated the Second Amendment. There, since the law was enacted by the federal government, the Second Amendment was applicable.
second amendment - right to bear arms (selective incorporation)
court stated that the handgun ban was unconstitutional - because the right to self-defense was fundamental, the 2nd Amendment was incorporated to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment’s due process clause
brown v. board of education
14th amendment: equal protection clause
court held that “separate but equal is inherently unequal,” and therefore racial segregation of public schools is unconstitutional - segregated schools allowed by the previous Plessy case were declared unconstitutional. This had a MAJOR IMPACT on the US and required desegregation of all public scho
citizens united v. federal election commission
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 had previously banned corporations from independent political spending and direct contributions to campaigns or political parties. In 2008, Citizens United was not allowed to show an anti-Hillary Clinton movie
first amendment: freedom of speech
holding in this case was that corporations should be considered people and therefore their funding of “independent political expenditures cannot be limited.” This is considered a form of political speech, which is protected by the free speech portion of the First Amendment
