Important SCOTUS Cases

Important SCOTUS Cases Flashcards

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Established the principle of judicial review, giving the Supreme Court the power to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Ruled that states could not tax the federal government, establishing the supremacy of federal law over state law; affirmed the constitutionality of the Bank of the United States.

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

Clarified Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce under the Commerce Clause, affirming federal authority over state regulations on commerce.

Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)

Ruled that African Americans were not American citizens and could not sue in federal court, intensifying the sectional conflict over slavery.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Upheld racial segregation under the 'separate but equal' doctrine.

Schenck v. United States (1919)

Established the 'clear and present danger' test for limiting speech under the First Amendment.

Korematsu v. United States (1944)

Upheld the constitutionality of Japanese internment during World War II as a military necessity.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional, overturning Plessy v. Ferguson.

Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

Established the exclusionary rule, preventing illegally obtained evidence from being used in court.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Ruled that state-sponsored prayer in public schools violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Established the right to counsel for indigent defendants charged with serious crimes.

New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964)

Established the 'actual malice' standard for libel cases involving public figures.

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

Established the Miranda rights, requiring police to inform suspects of their constitutional rights before questioning.

Loving v. Virginia (1967)

Struck down state laws prohibiting interracial marriage.

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Recognized a woman's constitutional right to abortion.

United States v. Nixon (1974)

Held that the President is not above the law and must comply with judicial orders.

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978)

Addressed affirmative action, ruling against racial quotas but affirming race as one factor in admissions.

Texas v. Johnson (1989)

Held that burning the American flag in protest is protected symbolic speech.

Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992)

Reaffirmed Roe v. Wade but allowed states to impose restrictions on abortion that did not place an 'undue burden'.

Bush v. Gore (2000)

Effectively decided the 2000 presidential election by halting the recount of disputed ballots in Florida.