AP Gov SCOTUS Cases

Citizens United v. FEC

The controversial 2010 case in which the Supreme Court determined that the government cannot restrict independent political expenditures by corporations and unions, as these entities were entitled to the same free speech protections as people.

McCulloch v. Maryland

The 1819 case regarding Maryland's taxation of the National Bank of the US that set the precedent for implied powers of Congress using the Elastic Clause, and reinforced federal SUPREMACY per the Supremacy Clause.

United States v. Lopez

In this 1995 case, the Supreme Court narrowed the scope of Congress's power under the Commerce Clause by striking down the Gun Free School Zones Act as unconstitutional.

Engel v. Vitale

The 1962 landmark case that held that state officials violated the 1st Amendment when they wrote a prayer to be recited by New York City's public schoolchildren

Schenck v. United States

A 1919 decision that upheld the conviction of a young socialist who had urged other young men to resist the WWI draft. The Supreme Court declared that government can limit speech if the speech provokes a "clear and present danger" of substantive evils.

Gideon v. Wainwright

The 1963 case that held that anyone accused of a felony had the right to an attorney, whether or not he or she is too poor to afford it.

Roe v. Wade

The controversial 1973 Supreme Court ruling that held that a state ban on all abortions was unconstitutional. The ruling did allow for limits in the second and banning in the third trimester.

Marbury v. Madison

The 1803 case in which the Supreme Court asserted the power of judicial review.

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas

"The 1954 case in which the Supreme Court declared racial segregation in public education to be unconstitutional. Overturned the precedent in Plessy v. Ferguson, and is an example of judicial activism.

McDonald v. Chicago

The 2010 Second Amendment case in which the Supreme Court extended the individual right to bear arms for self defense to the states , with regulations.

Tinker v. Des Moines

The 1969 case that held that students have the right to symbolic speech in schools, as long as it is not disruptive (Vietnam era, armbands).

New York Times v. United States

The 1971 case in which the Supreme Court said that the government must show there is a real danger or imminent threat to the United States in order to use PRIOR RESTRAINT (Pentagon Papers).

Baker v. Carr

(1962) Courts can intervene with redistricting to ensure 14th Amendment equal protection in representation. "One man, one vote" standard affirmed.

Shaw v. Reno

(1993) No racial gerrymandering- race cannot be the sole factor in redrawing congressional districts.

Wisconsin v. Yoder

(1972) Compelling Amish students to attend school past the eighth grade violates the Free Exercise clause of the First Amendment.