Supreme court Cases

McCULLOCH V. MARYLAND

States can’t tax the national bank - uses implied powers doctrine and gave federal government more power

UNITED STATES V. LOPEZ

Ruled that the possession of a firearm in a school zone is not an economic activity that affects interstate commerce and should therefore be left to the states

BAKER V. CARR

Allowed federal courts to hear cases challenging how states draw their electoral districts (legislative apportionment)

SHAW V. RENO

 ruled that drawing district lines based on race led to racial gerrymandering, making it unconstitutional under the Equal Protection clause

MARBURY V. MADISON

Established the principle of judicial review, allowing the Supreme Court to invalidate laws that conflict with the Constitution.

ENGEL V. VITALE

Ruled that school-sponsored prayer violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

WISCONSIN V. YODER

Ruled that enforced school attendance laws violated the free exercise of religion, allowing Amish children to halt formal education after the eighth grade. States can no longer pass legislation that inhibits or burdens certain religious practices without a compelling reason to do so.

TINKER V. DES MOINES

Determined that students do not lose their First Amendment rights to free speech in public schools, as long as their expression does not disrupt educational activities.

SCHENCK V. US

Case that established the "clear and present danger" test for limiting free speech during wartime.

NEW YORK TIMES CO. V. U.S.

Government can’t prevent publication of the Pentagon Papers, affirming a strong presumption against prior restraint. Government can’t censor the press from publishing truthful information unless it can prove an overwhelming justification that it would be dangerous to do so. 

McDONALD V. CITY OF CHICAGO

Case that incorporated the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms to apply to state and local governments through the Fourteenth Amendment/selective incorporation/due process clause.

GIDEON V. WAINWRIGHT

Guarantees the right to legal counsel for all felony defendants in state courts, regardless of their ability to pay

ROE V. WADE

A Women’s right to have an abortion is constitutionally protected under the right to privacy.

BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION

declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, stating it violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

CITIZENS UNITED V. FEC

corporate funding of independent political broadcasts in candidate elections cannot be limited under the first amendment. Required disclosure of independent expenditures