Essential Supreme Court Cases US History

Supreme Court Cases for the NYS Regents Exam

Marbury v. Madison

Year : 1803

Constitutional Principle : Separation of Powers, The Judiciary

Why is Marbury v. Madison important?

• Established Judicial Review

• Strengthened Judicial Branch

McCullough v. Maryland

Year : 1819

Constitutional Principle : Federalism, National Power (Supremacy)

Why is McCullough v. Maryland important?

• Supports the “elastic clause” to expand Federal Power

• Establish “National Supremacy”

Gibbons v. Ogden

Year : 1824

Constitutional Principle : Federalism, Property Rights

Why is Gibbons v. Ogden important?

• Strengthens Congress’ power to regulate interstate commerce

• National Supremacy

Worcester v. Georgia

Year : 1832

Constitutional Principle : Federalism, National Power, Separation of Power

Why is Worcester v. Georgia important?

• US Government treaties are the supreme law

• US government has jurisdiction over Cherokees

• Jackson did not enforce (Trail of Tears)

Scott v. Sanford

Year : 1857

Constitutional Principle : Equality

Why is Scott v. Sanford important?

• Slaves were not citizens but property, and slaves could be taken anywhere

• Declared Missouri Compromise unconstitutional

Plessy v. Ferguson

Year : 1896

Constitutional Principle : Equality, Rights of Minorities, 14th Amendment

Why is Plessy v. Ferguson important?

• Justified segregation; separate facilities were legal if they were equal

• Overturned by Brown v. Board of Education

Munn v. Illinois

Year : 1877

Constitutional Principle : Property Rights

Why is Munn v. Illinois important?

* Allowed states to regulate businesses in the public interest (in this case states could regulate what RR’s charged farmers to haul crops because crops were necessary to the people)

Schenck v. United States

Year : 1919

Constitutional Principle : Civil Liberties

Why is Schenck v. United States important?

• Limits freedom of speech

• “Clear and present danger” standard to limit speech

Korematsu v. United States

Year : 1944

Constitutional Principle : Civil Liberties, Minority Rights

Why is Korematsu v. United States important?

* Ruled that forced relocation of Japanese Americans to camps during WWII was legal

Brown v. Board of Education

Year : 1954

Constitutional Principle : Equality, Minority Rights, 14th Amendment

Why is Brown v. Board of Education important?

• Segregation creates inequality and is illegal

• Overturn Plessy v. Ferguson

Engle v. Vitale

Year : 1962

Constitutional Principle : School Prayer, 1st Amendment establishment

Why is Engle v. Vitale important?

* Court ruled that prayer in school, even voluntary, is unconstitutional

Gideon v. Wainwright

Year : 1963

Constitutional Principle : Civil Liberties, 6th and 14th amendments

Why is Gideon v. Wainwright important?

* It is a constitutional right to provide legal representation to those who cannot afford it

Miranda v. Arizona

Year : 1966

Constitutional Principle : Criminal Procedures, Civil Liberties, 5th and 14th amendments

Why is Miranda v. Arizona important?

* Established the right to remain silent and recieve legal representation before they said something that could be used in court

Loving v. Virginia

Year : 1967

Constitutional Principle : 14th amendment equal protection

Why is Loving v. Virginia important?

* Supreme court struck down state restriction on inter-racial marriages

Tinker v. Des Moines School District

Year : 1969

Constitutional Principle : Civil Liberties, 1st Amendment

Why is Tinker v. Des Moines important?

• Non-verbal communication (symbols) is protected under the 1st amendment

• The “school-house gate” cannot limit freedom

Roe v. Wade

Year : 1973

Constitutional Principle : Civil Liberties

Why is Roe v. Wade important?

* Ruled that state laws that criminalized abortion were unconstitutional

New Jersey v. TLO

Year : 1985

Constitutional Principle : Search and seizure, 4th amendment

Why is New Jersey v. TLO important?

* Court ruled that schools need only reasonable suspicion to search a student’s belongings