ap gov required cases

McCulloch v Maryland category

Federalism

U.S. v Lopez category

Federalism

Engel v Vitale category

Gov. Power vs Individual Liberty

Wisconsin v Yoder category

Gov. Power vs Individual Liberty

Tinker v Des Moines category

Gov. Power vs Individual Liberty

NYT v United States category

Gov. Power vs Individual Liberty

Schenck v United States category

Gov. Power vs Individual Liberty

Gideon v Wainwright category

Selective Incorporation

McDonald v Chicago category

Selective Incorporation

Brown v. Board category

Civil Rights

Citizens United v FEC category

Campaign Finance

Baker v Carr category

Equality- Voting

Shaw v Reno category

Equality- Voting

Marbury v Madison category

Judicial

McCulloch v. Maryland clause

Necessary and Proper Clause (Article I, Section 8)
Supremacy Clause (Article VI)

United States v. Lopez clause

Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8)

Engel v. Vitale clause

First Amendment- Freedom of Religion / Free Exercise and Establishment Clause

Wisconsin v. Yoder clause

First Amendment- Freedom of Religion / Free Exercise and Establishment Clause

Tinker v. Des Moines clause

First Amendment- Freedom of Speech / Symbolic Speech

New York Times Co. v. United States clause

First Amendment- Freedom of Speech + Press

Schenck v. United States clause

First Amendment- Freedom of Speech

Gideon v. Wainwright clause

Sixth Amendment – Right to Counsel
Fourteenth Amendment – Due Process Clause (incorporation)

McDonald v. Chicago clause

Second Amendment – Right to Bear Arms
Fourteenth Amendment – Due Process Clause (selective incorporation)

Brown v. Board of Education clause

Fourteenth Amendment – Equal Protection Clause

Citizens United v. FEC clause

First Amendment- Freedom of Speech

Baker v Carr clause

Fourteenth Amendment- Equal Protection Clause

Shaw v. Reno clause

Fourteenth Amendment- Equal Protection Clause

Fifteenth Amendment- Voting rights for African Americans

Marbury v. Madison clause

Article 3, Section 2, Clause 2- Original Jurisdiction

Article VI, Clause 2- Supremacy Clause

McCulloch v. Maryland issue and ruling

• Issue: Can a state tax the federal bank?

• Ruling: States cannot tax federal institutions; established implied powers (Necessary and Proper Clause)

United States v. Lopez issue and ruling

• Issue: Does Congress have power under the Commerce Clause to ban guns near schools?

• Ruling: No — limited federal power; reserved powers to the states.

Baker v. Carr issue and ruling

• Issue: Can courts decide redistricting disputes?

• Ruling: Yes — established “one person, one vote.”

Shaw v. Reno issue and ruling

• Issue: Can racial gerrymandering be used to create districts?

• Ruling: No — race cannot be the only factor in drawing districts.

Marbury v. Madison issue and ruling

• Issue: Can courts strike down unconstitutional laws?

• Ruling: Yes — established judicial review.

Engel v. Vitale issue and ruling

• Issue: Can public schools lead prayer?

• Ruling: No — violates Establishment Clause.

Wisconsin v. Yoder issue and ruling

• Issue: Can Amish families pull children from school for religious reasons?

• Ruling: Yes — Free Exercise Clause protects them.

Tinker v. Des Moines issue and ruling

• Issue: Do students have free speech in schools?

• Ruling: Yes — symbolic speech is protected if not disruptive.

New York Times v. United States issue and ruling

• Issue: Can the government censor publication of classified papers?

• Ruling: No — prior restraint violates freedom of press.

Schenck v. United States issue and ruling

• Issue: Can free speech be restricted during wartime?

• Ruling: Yes — speech creating a “clear and present danger” is not protected.

Gideon v. Wainwright issue and ruling

• Issue: Do defendants have the right to an attorney?

• Ruling: Yes — states must provide lawyers in felony cases.

McDonald v. Chicago issue and ruling

• Issue: Does the 2nd Amendment apply to states?

• Ruling: Yes — incorporated via 14th Amendment.

Brown v. Board of Education issue and ruling

• Issue: Is segregation in schools constitutional?

• Ruling: No — “separate but equal” is inherently unequal.

Citizens United v. FEC issue and ruling

• Issue: Can corporations fund political campaigns?

• Ruling: Yes — political spending is free speech.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Maryland tried to tax a branch of the national bank, and James McCulloch refused to pay the tax. The Court ruled that Congress had the power to create the bank and that states cannot interfere with federal institutions.

United States v. Lopez (1995)

A high school student brought a gun to school and was charged under a federal law banning guns in school zones. The Court ruled the law unconstitutional because carrying a gun in a local school was not interstate commerce.

Baker v. Carr (1962)

A Tennessee voter argued that unequal voting districts gave more power to rural voters than urban voters. The Court ruled that federal courts can hear redistricting cases, leading to fairer representation.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

North Carolina created oddly shaped voting districts to increase minority representation. The Court ruled that districts drawn mainly based on race can violate the Constitution.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

William Marbury was supposed to receive a judicial appointment, but Secretary of State James Madison refused to deliver his commission. The Court ruled that Marbury deserved the position but, more importantly, established judicial review, giving the Supreme Court the power to declare laws unconstitutional.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

A New York public school required students to recite a short, voluntary prayer at the start of the day. The Court ruled this was unconstitutional because public schools cannot sponsor religious activity.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

Amish parents refused to send their children to school after eighth grade for religious reasons and were fined by the state. The Court ruled in favor of the Amish, saying their religious freedom outweighed the state’s education requirement.

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

Students wore black armbands to school to protest the Vietnam War and were suspended. The Court ruled that students can express their opinions in school as long as it does not disrupt learning.

New York Times v. United States (1971)

The government tried to stop newspapers from publishing the Pentagon Papers, which revealed information about the Vietnam War. The Court ruled the press could publish them because the government had not shown a serious enough threat.

Schenck v. United States (1919)

Charles Schenck distributed leaflets encouraging people to resist the military draft during World War I. The Court ruled his speech was not protected because it posed a “clear and present danger.”

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Clarence Gideon was charged with a crime but could not afford a lawyer and was forced to represent himself. The Court ruled that the state must provide a lawyer to defendants who cannot afford one.

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

Chicago had strict gun control laws that effectively banned handguns. The Court ruled that the right to bear arms applies to state and local governments, not just the federal government.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

African American students were forced to attend segregated schools that were separate from white students. The Court ruled that segregation in public schools is unconstitutional because it is inherently unequal.

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)

A nonprofit group wanted to air a political film critical of Hillary Clinton but was blocked by campaign finance laws. The Court ruled that corporations and unions can spend unlimited money on political communications as protected free speech.