Ap Gov required documents and cases

review for may 5th 2026

constitutional clause: brown v. board of education

equal protection clause of the 14th amendment

constitutional clause: citizens united v. fec

freedom of speech/ first amendment

constitutional clause: engel v. vitale

establishment clause/ first amendment

constitutional clause: Gideon v. wainwright

right to a lawyer/ 6th amendment

constitutional clauses: McCulloch v. Maryland

the supremacy clause/ necessary and proper clause

Constitutional clause: Mcdonald v. Chicago

2nd amendment

constitutional clause: New York Times v. US

freedom of press/ first amendment

constitutional clause: Schenck v US

freedom of speech/ first amendment

constitutional clause: Shaw v Reno

equal protection clause of 14th

constitutional clause: Tinker v Des Moines

freedom of speech/ first amendment

constitutional clause: Wisconsin v Yoder

free exercise clause/ first

constitutional clause: US v Lopez

commerce clause

what power of the US federal courts did Marbury v Madison establish?

judicial review

Baker v Carr (background)

federal court involvement in deciding state voting districts

students wore black armbands to school to protest vietnam war

Tinker v Des moines

an ind. was arrested for breaking into a pool hall and was denied an attorney

Gideon v Wainwright

POTUS Adams appointed judges whos commissions were not honored by Jefferson

Marbury V Madison

the Amish challenged a law that made school attendance compulsory until 16 yo.

Wisconsin v Yoder

Tennessee had not redistricted in over 50 years leading to inequities in “CD” size

Baker v Carr

city-wide handgun ban challenged as a violation of constitutional rights

McDonald v Chicago

The Baltimore branch of the bank of the U.S. refused to pay a state tax on the bank

McCulloch V Maryland

Plantiff challenged racial segregation in public schools

Brown V board of education

org. sues over campaign speech regulations for corporations

citizens united v FEC

POTUS tried to stop a paper from printing negative info. about involvement in a war

New York times v US

A man handed out draft-dodging pamphlets and got arrested for violating a federal law

schenck vs US

a student is arrested for bringing a gun to school and is charged under a federal law

US v Lopez

voluntary prayer led by teachers in public school is challenged

Engel v Vitale

white voters challenge the creation of a majority-minority “CD” ordered by the DOJ

Shaw vs Reno

“separate but equal” educational facilities and segregation itself is unconstitutional.

Brown Vs Board

6th amendments “assistance of council” applies to the states

gideon vs wainwright

SCOTUS found parts of judiciary act unconstitutional and est. power of judicial review

Marbury V Madison

US federal govt cannot use prior restraint to limit the press

New York Times vs US

Limited the national govts use of commerce clause to control states powers

United States v. Lopez

corp. can have the same speech rights in elections as ind. and can make “express ads”

Citizens United v. FEC

federal courts can evaluate state “CD” that are in violation of equal protection

Baker V Carr

fed. govt can create banks via the necessary and proper clause

McCulloch v maryland

states cant tax a national bank because of the supremacy clause

McCulloch v Maryland

teacher led voluntary prayer in public schools violates the establishment clause

engel v vitale

state govt can’t ban hand guns because it violates the due process clause of the 14th and 2nd amendment

Mcdonald v Chicago

speech that creates a dangerous situation can be limited and punished by govt

Schenck v US

Racially gerrymandered “CD” violate the “equal protection clause” of the 14th amendment

Shaw v Reno

student speech is protected as long it does not interfere with educational process

Tinker v Des Moines

laws mandating school attendance for the Amish violate the “free exercise clause”

Wisconsin v Yoder

created “clear and present danger” test=no protections for speech causing danger

Schenck v United States

limited the govts ability to limit press and speech under the guise of nat’l security

New York times v US

…later leads to “1 person 1 vote” doctrine for single-member voting districts

Baker v carr

corp CANT directly donate to candid. but they can make/pay for express campaign ads

citizens united vs FEC

gave more power to the fed govt. under “necessary and proper clause”

McCulloch v. Maryland

majority-minority “CD” are allowed but they cant be racially gerrymandered

shaw vs reno

which landmark case did brown v board over turn?

plessy v Ferguson

this landmark SCOTUS case created the public defender system in state courts

Gideon v. Wainwright