Untitled Flashcards Set

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Facts: William Marbury sued Secretary of State James Madison for failing to deliver his commission as a Justice of the Peace.

Opinion: The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice John Marshall, held that while Marbury was entitled to his commission, the Court did not have the jurisdiction to issue a writ of mandamus under the Judiciary Act of 1789.

Significance: Established the principle of judicial review, affirming the Supreme Court's authority to review and strike down government actions that are incompatible with the Constitution.

Ex Parte McCardle (1869)

Facts: McCardle was arrested for publishing articles critical of Reconstruction. He sought a writ of habeas corpus from the Supreme Court.

Opinion: The Supreme Court held that Congress has the authority to define and limit the appellate jurisdiction of the Court.

Significance: Affirmed that Congress has the power to limit the Supreme Court's appellate jurisdiction.

Barron v. Baltimore (1833)

Facts: John Barron claimed that the city of Baltimore's construction activities deprived him of profit from his wharf.

Opinion: Justice Marshall concluded that the Bill of Rights limited only the federal government, not the states.

Significance: Reinforced the idea that protections in the Bill of Rights do not apply to state governments.

Gitlow v. New York (1925)

Facts: Benjamin Gitlow was arrested for publishing a leftist socialist manifesto advocating for the overthrow of the government.

Opinion: The Supreme Court ruled that states could not infringe on free speech rights and incorporated the First Amendment via the Fourteenth Amendment.

Significance: First time the Supreme Court incorporated the First Amendment to apply to the states.

Palko v. Connecticut (1937)

Facts: Frank Palko was convicted of second-degree murder and appealed to the Supreme Court after being retried and convicted of first-degree murder.

Opinion: The Court held that only fundamental rights essential to liberty are protected by the Fourteenth Amendment.

Significance: Established that only fundamental rights, essential to liberty and justice, are incorporated into the Fourteenth Amendment and apply to the states.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

Facts: Amish parents refused to send their children to public school beyond eighth grade for religious reasons.

Opinion: The Supreme Court ruled that the state could not force Amish students to attend school after eighth grade as it violated their First Amendment rights.

Significance: Protected the religious rights of parents to educate their children in a manner consistent with their beliefs.

Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971)

Facts: State laws provided funding to non-public schools for secular subjects, raising concerns about the separation of church and state.

Opinion: The Supreme Court established a three-part test to determine if a law violates the Establishment Clause.

Significance: Established the Lemon Test to determine whether government actions violate the separation of church and state.

Schenck v. United States (1919)

Facts: Charles Schenck was convicted under the Espionage Act for distributing leaflets against the draft during WWI.

Opinion: The Supreme Court held that speech presenting a 'clear and present danger' could be restricted.

Significance: Introduced the 'Clear and Present Danger' test for speech restriction.

Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969)

Facts: Clarence Brandenburg, a Ku Klux Klan leader, was convicted under an Ohio law for advocating violence.

Opinion: The Court ruled that speech can only be restricted if it incites imminent lawless action.

Significance: Established that speech can only be restricted if it incites imminent lawless action.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Facts: A New York state law encouraged a short, voluntary prayer for recitation at the start of each school day.

Opinion: The Supreme Court ruled that this practice violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

Significance: Reinforced the separation of church and state; government cannot compose official prayers for public school students.

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

Facts: Students wore black armbands to protest the Vietnam War and were suspended.

Opinion: The Supreme Court ruled that students do not lose their First Amendment rights while at school as long as their speech does not disrupt school operations.

Significance: Established that student speech is protected under the First Amendment.

Burwell v. Hobby Lobby (2014)

Facts: Hobby Lobby, a for-profit corporation, objected to the ACA mandate covering certain contraceptives.

Opinion: The Supreme Court ruled that closely held for-profit corporations can be exempt from laws violating their religious beliefs under the RFRA.

Significance: Expanded the protections of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to for-profit companies.

Cantwell v. Connecticut (1940)

Facts: Cantwell was convicted for soliciting without a license while distributing religious literature.

Opinion: The Court ruled that the state couldn't impose restrictions on religious solicitation without compelling justification.

Significance: Established the 'Valid Secular Policy' test for religious solicitation regulations.

Pierce v. Society of Sisters (1925)

Facts: An Oregon law required children to attend public schools, threatening the existence of private religious schools.

Opinion: The Supreme Court ruled that the law violated the right of parents to control their children's education.

Significance: Reinforced the right of parents to direct their children's education, particularly in the context of religious institutions.

Minersville v. Gobitis (1940)

Facts: Students were expelled for refusing to salute the flag due to religious beliefs.

Opinion: The Court ruled in favor of the school, but this decision was later overturned.

Significance: Initially limited religious expression in public schools, but later overturned by West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette.

Employment Division v. Smith (1990)

Facts: Two Native Americans were fired for using peyote in a religious ceremony and denied unemployment benefits.

Opinion: The Court ruled that states could deny unemployment benefits to individuals fired for violating a valid law.

Significance: Narrowed the scope of religious exemptions from generally applicable laws.

Lukumi Babalu Aye v. City of Hialeah (1993)

Facts: The city passed ordinances targeting the Santeria religion's animal sacrifices.

Opinion: The Court ruled these laws were unconstitutional as they targeted religious practices.

Significance: Reinforced that laws specifically targeting religious practices must pass strict scrutiny.

Kennedy v. Bremerton (2022)

Facts: A high school football coach was suspended for praying at midfield after games.

Opinion: The Court ruled that public employees can engage in personal religious expression while on duty.

Significance: Clarified that public employees have the right to engage in personal religious expression while on duty.

U.S. v. Carolene Products (1938)

Facts: The case involved a challenge to the Filled Milk Act, which prohibited the interstate shipment of filled milk.

Opinion: The Court indicated a preference for stricter scrutiny of laws infringing on discrete and insular minorities.

Significance: Led to the famous 'Footnote Four,' suggesting a higher level of scrutiny for laws affecting the Bill of Rights.

Reynolds v. U.S. (1879)

Facts: George Reynolds was prosecuted for bigamy under federal law despite his religious beliefs.

Opinion: The Supreme Court ruled that religious beliefs are protected but religious practices can be regulated.

Significance: Established the belief-action distinction; religious beliefs are protected, but practices can be regulated.

Zelman v. Simmons-Harris (2002)

Facts: A voucher program provided aid to families to send children to private schools, including religious schools.

Opinion: The Court ruled the program did not violate the Establishment Clause, as it was neutral toward religion.

Significance: Marked a shift in government funding of religious schools, emphasizing parental choice and religious neutrality.

Everson v. Board of Education (1947)

Facts: New Jersey provided funding for students to attend private schools, including religious ones.

Opinion: The Supreme Court ruled this did not violate the Establishment Clause.

Significance: Established the principle of 'neutrality' in government support of religious institutions.

Abington v. Schempp (1963)

Facts: A Pennsylvania law required Bible readings in public schools.

Opinion: The Supreme Court deemed this practice unconstitutional as a violation of the Establishment Clause.

Significance: Reinforced the separation of church and state, ruling that religious activities in public schools are unconstitutional.

Sherbert v. Verner (1963)

Facts: Sherbert was denied unemployment benefits for refusing to work on Saturdays due to her religious beliefs.

Opinion: The Court ruled that the denial violated her First Amendment rights without a compelling state interest.

Significance: Established the 'compelling interest' standard for evaluating government actions that infringe on religious practices.

Bradfield v. Roberts (1899)

Facts: The government provided funds to a religious school for secular purposes.

Opinion: The Supreme Court held that funding for religious institutions is acceptable if the purpose is secular.

Significance: Established that government funding for religious institutions is acceptable as long as the purpose is secular.

Hurtado v. California (1884)

Facts: Hurtado was indicted without a grand jury and claimed his rights were violated.

Opinion: The Supreme Court ruled that the right to a grand jury indictment was not applicable to the states.

Significance: First case to rule that the right to a grand jury indictment was not applicable to the states.

Coleman v. Miller (1939)

Facts: The case involved a disagreement over the ratification of a constitutional amendment.

Opinion: The Supreme Court upheld the political question doctrine, indicating that ratification was not subject to judicial review.

Significance: Reinforced the political question doctrine; certain matters, such as amendment ratification, are outside judicial review.

Duncan v. Louisiana (1968)

Facts: Duncan was convicted in a Louisiana court without a jury trial.

Opinion: The Supreme Court ruled that the right to a jury trial in criminal cases is applicable to the states via the Fourteenth Amendment.

Significance: Extended the right to a jury trial in criminal cases to the states via the Fourteenth Amendment.

U.S. v. Ballard (1944)

Facts: Ballard was prosecuted for religious fraud regarding healing services.

Opinion: The Court ruled that truth in religious beliefs could not be judged by the courts.

Significance: Established that the truth of religious beliefs cannot be judged by the courts.

Gitlow v. New York (1925)

Facts: Benjamin Gitlow was arrested for publishing a leftist socialist manifesto advocating for the overthrow of the government.

Opinion: The Supreme Court ruled that states could not infringe on free speech rights and incorporated the First Amendment via the Fourteenth Amendment.

Significance: First time the Supreme Court incorporated the First Amendment to apply to the states.