supreme court cases

Marbury v. Madison

Established the principle of judicial review based on Article III of the Constitution.

McCulloch v. Maryland

Involved the state of Maryland trying to tax the national bank; established Congress's power to create a bank and reinforced the Supremacy Clause.

United States v. Lopez

Ruled that Congress exceeded its authority under the Commerce Clause when a student brought a gun to school, marking a limit on federal power.

Engel v. Vitale

Ruled that a public school leading students in prayer violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

Wisconsin v. Yoder

Concerned Amish families refusing to send children to high school; the Court sided with them citing rights under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.

Tinker v. Des Moines

Ruled that students wearing black armbands to protest the Vietnam War was protected under the Freedom of Speech Clause in the First Amendment.

New York Times v. United States

Ruled that the government could not prevent newspapers from publishing classified materials unless it posed a real threat to national security, protecting freedom of the press.

Schenck v. United States

Held that speech creating a clear and present danger, such as distributing leaflets against the draft, is not protected during wartime.

Gideon v. Wainwright

Ruled that states must provide lawyers to defendants who cannot afford them, applying the Sixth Amendment’s right to counsel through the 14th Amendment.

Roe v. Wade

Determined that the right to privacy implied through the 14th Amendment protects a woman's right to choose abortion.

McDonald v. Chicago

Ruled that the Second Amendment right to bear arms applies to the states via selective incorporation through the 14th Amendment.

Brown v. Board of Education

Struck down school segregation, ruling that 'separate but equal' was inherently unequal, based on the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.