ap gov court cases

1. Marbury v. Madison

Established judicial review, the Supreme Court's power to declare laws unconstitutional.

2. McCulloch v. Maryland

Strengthened federal power by upholding the constitutionality of the national bank and establishing the supremacy of federal law.

3. Schenck v. United States

Defined the limits of free speech, holding that speech creating a "clear and present danger" is not protected.

4. Brown v. Board of Education

Overturned "separate but equal" and mandated school desegregation, a landmark civil rights decision.

5. Baker v. Carr

Opened the door for federal courts to review redistricting challenges, leading to the "one person, one vote" principle.

6. Engel v. Vitale

Established the Establishment Clause, prohibiting state-sponsored prayer in public schools.

7. Gideon v. Wainwright

Guaranteed the right to counsel for indigent defendants in state criminal cases.

8. Tinker v. Des Moines

Protected students' freedom of speech, holding that students retain their rights to express themselves in school, even on controversial issues.

9. New York Times Co. v. United States

Reinforced freedom of the press, holding that the government cannot prevent the press from publishing information.

10. Wisconsin v. Yoder

Protected religious freedom, ruling that parents could withdraw their children from public school to attend to their religious needs.

11. Roe v. Wade

Established a woman's right to choose an abortion based on the right to privacy, according to History Haven.

12. Shaw v. Reno

Limited the drawing of congressional districts based on race, holding that such districts may violate the Equal Protection Clause.

13. United States v. Lopez

Limited Congress's power to regulate under the Commerce Clause.

14. McDonald v. City of Chicago

Incorporated the Second Amendment right to bear arms to the states.

15. Citizens United v. FEC

Defined the limits of campaign finance regulations, holding that independent political expenditures cannot be limited