COURT CASES FOR AP GOV EXAM

marbury v. madison

in deciding this case about judicial appointments, the court established judicial review , empowering the supreme court to declare an act of the legislative or executive branch unconstitiutional

mcculloch v. maryland

in deciding this case about a national bank and state taxes, the court established supremacy of the u.s constitiution and federal laws over state laws (also created implied powers)

scheneck v. united states

speech creating “clear and present danger” was not protected by the first amendment and could be limited

brown v board of education

race-based school segregation violates the equal protection clause of the 14 amendment

baker v. carr

established that federal courts can review and intervene in state legislative redistricting cases, enforcing the principle of equal representation under the Fourteenth Amendment

engel v. vitale

school sponsorship of religious activities violates the establishment clause of the 1st amendment

gideon v. wainwright

the 6th amendments right to a attorney extends procedural due process protections to felony defendants in state courts

tinker v. des moines

a prohibitation against public school students wearing black armbands in school to protest the vietnam war violated the students’ freedom of speech protections in the 1st amendment

new york times v. united states

this case bolstered the freedom of the press protections of the 1st amendment, establishing a “heavy presumption againsted prior restraint” even in cases involving national security

wisconsin v. yoder

compelling amish students to attend school past 8th grade violates the free exercise clause of the 1st amendment

shaw v. reno

under the 14th amendments equal protection clause, majority-minority districts , created under the voting rights act of 1965, may be constitutionally challenge by voters if race is the only factor used in creating a distict

united states v. lopez

congress exceeded its power under the commerce clause when it made possession of a gun in a school zone a federal crime

mcdonald v. chicago

the 2nd amendment right to keep and bear arms for self-defense is applicable to the states

citizens united v. federal election commission

political spending by corporations , associations, and labor unions is a form of protected speech under the first amendment

roe v. wade

womens right to privacy

gitlow v. new york

applied first amendment protections to states through incorporation doctrine

plessy v. ferguson

upheld “separate but equal”, legalizing segregation

brown v. board of education 2

ordered desegregation to proceed with deliberate speed

Buckley v Valeo

upheld limits on campaign contributions but allowed unlimited personal spending

Lemon v Kurtzman

created the Lemon test, used to decide if a government action involving religion is constitutional

Texas v Johnson

burning the American flag is a protected symbolic speech

Near v Minnesota

prior restraint is unconstitutional- the government cannot censor a newspaper before it publishes

Mapp v Ohio

evidence found illegally cannot be used in court

brandenburg v. ohio

the government cannot criminally punish speech advocating violence unless it is intended to incite imminent lawless action and is likely to produce such action