Required Cases

McCulloch v Maryland

Supremacy Clause; A state CANNOT tax a federal bank

US v Lopez

Commerce Clause; Congress’ Gun Free School Zone Act was unconstitutional because it EXCEEDED the Commerce Clause

Engel v. Vitale

Establishment Clause; voluntary prayer is unconstitutional because it violated the establishment clause of the 1st amendment

Wisconsin v Yoder

Free Exercise clause; Wisconsin’s compulsory education law violated the free exercise clause of the 1st amendment

Tinker v Des Moines

Freedom of Speech; wearing armbands was protected SYMBOLIC SPEECH and caused no disruption to education

NYT v US

Freedom of the Press; unconstitutional for the US to stop publication of embarrassing materials about a war

Schenck v US

Freedom of Speech; the government could limit speech if it creates a "clear and present danger" to public safety.

Gideon v Wainwright

Due Process Clause (14) and right to counsel (6th); The court ruled that the 14th Amendment requires that all states must provide counsel

McDonald v Chicago

Equal Protection Clause (14); Chicago handgun ban was unconstitutional; 14th Amendment protects individuals right to bear arms from state and local government interference

Brown v Board of Education

Equal protection clause (14); separating schools based on race was unconstitutional

Citizens United v Federal Election Committee (FEC)

Freedom of Speech; political spending by corporations, associations, and labor union is a form of protected speech as long as the company has no coordination with the political party

Baker v Carr

Equal Protection clause (14); “One person one vote” ensured that urban districts were represented proportionally to rural districts

Shaw v Reno

Equal Protection clause (14); Legislative redistricting solely based on race is unconstitutional; racial gerrymandering is illegal; Cannot create majority-minority districts

Marbury v Madison

Judicial Review; The Supreme Court has the power to declare laws unconstitutional

Roe v Wade (no longer required)

Due Process clause (14); a woman’s right to privacy extends to the right to have an abortion