AP Government Cases 26

Marbury vs. Madison(1803)

A landmark Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review, allowing the Court to invalidate laws conflicting with the Constitution.

McCulloch vs. Maryland(1819)

A significant Supreme Court case that upheld the power of Congress to create a national bank and emphasized the supremacy of federal laws over state laws.

Engel vs. Vitale(1962)

A landmark Supreme Court case that ruled against mandated prayer in public schools, citing a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

Wisconsin vs. Yoder(1972)

A Supreme Court case that ruled the state's interest in compulsory education was secondary to the religious rights of the Amish community to educate their children at home.

Tinker vs. Des Moines(1969)

A Supreme Court case that upheld students' rights to free speech in public schools, ruling that wearing armbands in protest was protected under the First Amendment.

McDonald vs. Chicago(2010)

A Supreme Court case that incorporated the Second Amendment right to bear arms against state laws, affirming that individuals have the right to possess firearms for self-defense.

United States vs. Lopez(1995)

A Supreme Court case that limited Congress's power under the Commerce Clause by ruling that the Gun-Free School Zones Act was unconstitutional, stating that possession of a gun in a school zone did not have a substantial effect on interstate commerce.

Brown vs. Board of Education(1954)

A landmark Supreme Court case that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, overturning the "separate but equal" doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson.

Federalist 51(1788)

An essay written by James Madison that argues for the necessity of checks and balances in government to prevent tyranny and protect individual liberties.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program(SNAP)(1964)

A federal assistance program that provides food-purchasing benefits to low-income individuals and families, helping to alleviate hunger and improve nutrition.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families(TANF)(1996)

A federal assistance program that provides financial support to low-income families with children, helping them achieve self-sufficiency through temporary cash benefits.

National Voter Registration Act(Motor Voter ACT)(1993)

A law designed to increase voter registration by allowing individuals to register to vote while applying for or renewing their driver's licenses and certain social services.

Clean Air Act(1970)

A comprehensive federal law that regulates air emissions from stationary and mobile sources to protect air quality and public health.

Americans with Disabilities Act(1990)

A landmark civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places open to the general public.

Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act(1994)

A law that mandates background checks for individuals purchasing firearms from licensed dealers, aimed at reducing gun violence.

No Child Left Behind Act(2002)

A federal law aimed at improving educational outcomes for all American students by increasing accountability, standards, and funding for schools.

Baker vs. Carr(1962)

A Supreme Court case that addressed issues of legislative redistricting and established the principle of "one person, one vote," ensuring equal representation in voting districts.

Shaw vs. Reno(1993)

A landmark Supreme Court case that ruled against racial gerrymandering, emphasizing that redistricting must ensure that race does not dominate the map-making process and must comply with the Voting Rights Act.

Federalist 70(1788)

An essay by Alexander Hamilton that advocates for a strong executive leader, arguing that a single president is essential for effective governance, accountability, and decision-making.

Federalist 78(1788)

An essay by Alexander Hamilton that discusses the power of the judiciary, arguing for an independent judicial branch and the importance of judicial review to protect against legislative overreach.

Schenck vs. United States(1919)

A landmark Supreme Court case that upheld the conviction of Charles Schenck for distributing anti-draft pamphlets, ruling that speech creating a "clear and present danger" during wartime is not protected by the First Amendment.

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

A significant Supreme Court case that affirmed the right of the press to publish without prior restraint, ruling that the government could not prevent the publication of the Pentagon Papers under the First Amendment.

Mapp vs. Ohio(1961)

A landmark Supreme Court case that ruled evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures, cannot be used in state courts.

Gideon vs. Wainwright(1963)

A pivotal Supreme Court case that established the right to counsel for defendants in state courts, ruling that the Sixth Amendment's guarantee of counsel is applicable to state courts through the Fourteenth Amendment.

Miranda vs. Arizona(1966)

A landmark Supreme Court case that established the Miranda rights, requiring police to inform suspects of their rights to silence and legal counsel during interrogations, ensuring protection under the Fifth Amendment.

Barron vs. Baltimore(1833)

A significant Supreme Court case that held the Bill of Rights restrained only the federal government and not the states, reinforcing federalism in the United States.

Gitlow vs. New York(1925)

A landmark Supreme Court case that ruled the First Amendment's free speech protection applies to state governments through the Fourteenth Amendment, marking the beginning of selective incorporation.

Roe vs. Wade(1973)

Letter from a Birmingham Jail(1963)

A letter written by Martin Luther King Jr. while imprisoned, outlining the moral imperative for civil disobedience against unjust laws and advocating for nonviolent protest during the civil rights movement.

Title IX of the Civil Rights Act Amendments(1972)

A federal law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance, greatly impacting women's sports and educational opportunities.

Voting Rights Act(1965)

A landmark piece of federal legislation that prohibits racial discrimination in voting, aimed at ensuring equal access to the ballot for all citizens, particularly African Americans in the South.

Bakke vs. California(1978)

A Supreme Court case that upheld affirmative action, ruling that race could be one of several factors in college admissions but rejecting the use of set-aside quotas.

Buckley vs. Valeo(1976)

A landmark Supreme Court case that ruled on campaign finance, stating that spending money to influence elections is a form of protected free speech under the First Amendment, while also allowing restrictions on individual contributions to candidates.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act(2002)

A federal law designed to regulate campaign financing and limit the effects of soft money in elections, aiming to diminish the influence of special interests and promote transparency in political funding.

Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission(2010)