Gov required cases

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

William Marbury sued Secretary of State James Madison for failing to deliver his commission as a justice of the peace.

Claim in Marbury v. Madison

Marbury argued that he had a right to the commission under the Judiciary Act of 1789.

Constitutional Clause in Marbury v. Madison

Judicial Review

Holding in Marbury v. Madison

The Supreme Court ruled that Marbury had a right to his commission, but the law granting the Court authority to enforce it was unconstitutional.

SCOTUS Reasoning in Marbury v. Madison

The case established judicial review, giving the courts the power to declare laws unconstitutional.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Maryland tried to impose a tax on the Second Bank of the United States, and McCulloch, an official, refused to pay it.

Claim in McCulloch v. Maryland

McCulloch argued that Congress had the power to create the bank under the Necessary and Proper Clause, and that Maryland couldn't tax a federal institution.

Constitutional Clause in McCulloch v. Maryland

Necessary and Proper Clause

Holding in McCulloch v. Maryland

The Court ruled in favor of McCulloch, stating that Congress had the power to create the bank, and that Maryland could not tax it.

SCOTUS Reasoning in McCulloch v. Maryland

The Court emphasized the use of implied powers under the Necessary and Proper Clause.

Schenck v. United States (1919)

Schenck was arrested for distributing anti-draft pamphlets during World War I.

Claim in Schenck v. United States

Schenck argued that his actions were protected under the First Amendment as free speech.

Constitutional Clause in Schenck v. United States

First Amendment (Freedom of Speech)

Holding in Schenck v. United States

The Supreme Court upheld Schenck's conviction for violating the Espionage Act.

SCOTUS Reasoning in Schenck v. United States

The Court ruled that speech creating a 'clear and present danger' is not protected by the First Amendment, especially in wartime.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

African-American children challenged the constitutionality of racial segregation in public schools under the 'separate but equal' doctrine.

Claim in Brown v. Board of Education

Brown argued that segregation in public schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

Constitutional Clause in Brown v. Board of Education

Equal Protection Clause (14th Amendment)

Holding in Brown v. Board of Education

The Court ruled unanimously that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.

SCOTUS Reasoning in Brown v. Board of Education

The Court overturned the 'separate but equal' doctrine from Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), ruling that separate educational facilities were inherently unequal.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

New York State authorized a daily prayer in public schools, which led to a challenge by a student's family.

Claim in Engel v. Vitale

Engel argued that the state-sponsored prayer violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

Constitutional Clause in Engel v. Vitale

Establishment Clause (First Amendment)

Holding in Engel v. Vitale

The Supreme Court ruled that public school prayer was unconstitutional.

Establishment Clause

The clause in the First Amendment that prohibits the government from establishing an official religion or unduly favoring one religion over another.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

A Supreme Court case where the Court ruled that states must provide counsel to defendants in criminal cases who cannot afford one.

Sixth Amendment

The amendment that guarantees the right to counsel and a fair trial.

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

A Supreme Court case where the Court ruled that students do not lose their First Amendment rights at the schoolhouse gate.

First Amendment

The amendment that protects freedoms concerning religion, expression, assembly, and the right to petition.

New York Times v. United States (1971)

A Supreme Court case where the Court ruled that the government could not prevent the publication of the Pentagon Papers.

Freedom of the Press

The right of journalists to publish news and opinions without government interference.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

A Supreme Court case where the Court ruled in favor of Yoder, exempting Amish children from compulsory schooling beyond 8th grade.

Free Exercise Clause

The clause in the First Amendment that protects individuals' rights to practice their religion freely.

Roe v. Wade (1973)

A Supreme Court case where the Court ruled that women have a constitutional right to choose an abortion under the right to privacy.

Right to Privacy

An implied right under the 14th Amendment that protects personal privacy from government interference.

Symbolic Speech

An act that conveys a political message, protected under the First Amendment as free speech.

Prior Restraint

Government action that prohibits speech or other expression before it can take place.

Compulsory Education

Laws requiring children to attend school until a certain age.

Imminent Danger

A legal standard that requires a clear and present threat to justify government restrictions on speech.

Equal Protection

The principle that laws and enforcement must apply equally to all individuals.

Fair Trial

A legal proceeding that is conducted fairly and impartially, ensuring the rights of the defendant.

Amish Religious Beliefs

Deeply held beliefs that influence the Amish community's practices, including education.

Nixon Administration

The executive branch of the U.S. government under President Richard Nixon, involved in the Pentagon Papers case.

Felony Case

A serious criminal case that typically involves severe penalties, including imprisonment.

Voluntary Religious Practices

Religious activities that individuals choose to engage in without coercion.

SCOTUS Reasoning (Privacy)

The Court found that the right to privacy was implied by the 14th Amendment's due process clause and that the state's interest in protecting health and potential life was only compelling in the later stages of pregnancy.

Shaw v. Reno (1993) Issue

North Carolina created a bizarrely shaped district designed to elect an African-American representative to Congress.

Shaw v. Reno (1993) Claim

Shaw argued that the district's design was based on race, violating the Equal Protection Clause.

Shaw v. Reno (1993) Constitutional Clause

Equal Protection Clause (14th Amendment)

Shaw v. Reno (1993) Holding

The Court ruled that racial gerrymandering must be subject to strict scrutiny.

Shaw v. Reno (1993) SCOTUS Reasoning

The Court found that race-based redistricting violated the Equal Protection Clause because it was an unconstitutional use of race as the primary factor in districting decisions.

United States v. Lopez (1995) Issue

Alfonso Lopez, a student, was charged for carrying a gun in a school zone under the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990.

United States v. Lopez (1995) Claim

Lopez argued that the Act exceeded Congress's power under the Commerce Clause.

United States v. Lopez (1995) Constitutional Clause

Commerce Clause

United States v. Lopez (1995) Holding

The Court ruled in favor of Lopez, finding the Gun-Free School Zones Act unconstitutional.

United States v. Lopez (1995) SCOTUS Reasoning

The Court ruled that possessing a gun in a school zone does not substantially affect interstate commerce, thus the law exceeded Congress's power under the Commerce Clause.

McDonald v. Chicago (2010) Issue

McDonald challenged Chicago's handgun ban, arguing that it violated the Second Amendment right to bear arms.

McDonald v. Chicago (2010) Claim

McDonald argued that the Second Amendment applied to the states through the 14th Amendment.

McDonald v. Chicago (2010) Constitutional Clause

Second Amendment (Right to Bear Arms)

McDonald v. Chicago (2010) Holding

The Court ruled that the Second Amendment applies to the states through the 14th Amendment.

McDonald v. Chicago (2010) SCOTUS Reasoning

The Court held that the right to bear arms is fundamental to the nation's scheme of ordered liberty and therefore applies to the states through incorporation.

Citizens United v. FEC (2010) Issue

Citizens United, a nonprofit corporation, challenged restrictions on independent political spending by corporations and unions under the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA).

Citizens United v. FEC (2010) Claim

Citizens United argued that restrictions on independent political expenditures violated the First Amendment right to free speech.

Citizens United v. FEC (2010) Constitutional Clause

First Amendment (Freedom of Speech)

Citizens United v. FEC (2010) Holding

The Court ruled that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts in candidate elections cannot be limited under the First Amendment.

Citizens United v. FEC (2010) SCOTUS Reasoning

The Court held that political spending is a form of protected speech, and that corporations and unions have the same First Amendment rights as individuals. It ruled that limiting this type of spending is unconstitutional because it violates free speech protections.

Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) Issue

Same-sex couples challenged state bans on same-sex marriage, claiming they violated the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses.

Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) Claim

Obergefell argued that the state bans on same-sex marriage and refusal to recognize legal marriages performed in other states violated the constitutional rights of same-sex couples.

Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) Constitutional Clause

14th Amendment (Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses)

Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) Holding

The Court ruled that the 14th Amendment requires all states to grant same-sex marriages and recognize those marriages performed in other states.

Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) SCOTUS Reasoning

The Court concluded that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry, as the right to marry is fundamental to personal liberty. The state bans on same-sex marriage violated both the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses by denying same-sex couples the same legal rights and benefits as opposite-sex couples.