COURT CASES - SIMPLIFIED

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

• Facts: Chicago banned handguns; McDonald sued, saying this violated his right to own a gun for self-defense.

• Holding: The 2nd Amendment applies to the states through the 14th Amendment.

• Principle: 2nd Amendment (right to bear arms); 14th Amendment Due Process Clause (selective incorporation).

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

• Facts: Gideon was arrested in Florida and couldn’t afford a lawyer; the court didn’t give him one.

• Holding: States must provide lawyers to poor defendants in criminal cases.

• Principle: 6th Amendment (right to counsel); 14th Amendment (selective incorporation).

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

• Facts: Black students were forced into segregated schools that were supposedly “equal.”

• Holding: School segregation is inherently unequal and unconstitutional.

• Principle: 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause

Schenck v. United States (1919)

• Facts: Schenck handed out anti-draft pamphlets during WWI and was arrested under the Espionage Act.

• Holding: The government can limit speech if it presents a "clear and present danger."

• Principle: 1st Amendment Free Speech Clause (limited during wartime)

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

• Facts: Students wore black armbands to school to protest the Vietnam War and got suspended.

• Holding: Students have free speech rights at school as long as it doesn't cause major disruption.

• Principle: 1st Amendment Free Speech Clause

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

• Facts: Amish families refused to send their children to school past 8th grade for religious reasons.

• Holding: The state can’t force kids to attend school if it violates their religion.

• Principle: 1st Amendment Free Exercise Clause
  Religious freedom (1st Amendment) can outweigh state laws like mandatory school attendance.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

• Facts: A New York school led students in a voluntary prayer every morning.

• Holding: School-led prayer in public schools is unconstitutional.

• Principle: School-led prayer is unconstitutional under the Establishment Clause of the 1st Amendment.

New York Times v. United States (1971)

• Facts: The government tried to stop the NYT from publishing the classified “Pentagon Papers.”

• Holding: The press cannot be censored unless there's a direct threat to national security.

• Principle: The 1st Amendment protects the press from government censorship, even if it's embarrassing to the government (no “prior restraint”).

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

• Facts: Citizens United wanted to air a political film, but it was banned by campaign finance laws.

• Holding: Corporations and unions can spend unlimited money on political ads (as long as they’re independent).

• Principle: Corporations and unions can spend unlimited money on independent political ads under the 1st Amendment (free speech).

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

• Facts: North Carolina drew a bizarrely shaped district to elect a Black representative.

• Holding: Racial gerrymandering can violate the Constitution and must be reviewed carefully.

• Principle: Racial gerrymandering can violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

Baker v. Carr (1962)

• Facts: Tennessee hadn’t updated its voting districts in decades, making some votes count more.

• Holding: Courts can rule on redistricting and force fair representation.

• Principle: Federal courts can hear redistricting cases, and the “one person, one vote” rule comes from the 14th Amendment.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

• Facts: Marbury didn’t receive his judicial appointment, and he sued under a law Congress passed.

• Holding: The law Marbury used was unconstitutional, and the Court struck it down.

• Principle: Established judicial review — the Supreme Court can declare laws unconstitutional.

United States v. Lopez (1995)

• Facts: A student was arrested for bringing a gun to school; the federal government charged him using the Commerce Clause.

• Holding: Congress overreached — gun possession in a school zone isn’t "interstate commerce."

• Principle: Congress overstepped its power under the Commerce Clause — not everything can be linked to "commerce."

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

• Facts: Maryland tried to tax a federal bank, and McCulloch (bank worker) refused to pay.

• Holding: Congress can create a national bank, and states can’t tax federal institutions.

• Principle: Congress can create a national bank (Necessary & Proper Clause), and states can't tax the federal government (Supremacy Clause).