ap gov scotus caes

marbury v madison (1803)

background: marbury sued to get a judicial job promised to him by john adams. jeffersons secretary of state, madison, refused to deliver the commission.

decision: marbury had a right to the job, but the supreme court could not issue the writ

constitutional principle: article 3 judicial review (power to declare laws unconstitutional(

effect: gave the court the power to check congress and president (judicial review)

mcculloh v maryland

background: maryland tried to tax the national bank, and mcculloh (a bank worker) refused to pay

decision: congress can create a bank (not listed but allowed) and states cant tax banks

constitutional principle: necessary and proper clause, supremacy clause

effect: expanded national governments power and limited state interference

schenck v united states (1919)

background: schenck handed out papers saying to go against the draft and was charged under the espionage act

decision: his speech wasnt protected because it created a danger in wartime

constitutional principle: first amendment freedom of speech

effect: established the “clear and present danger” test

brown v board of education (1954)

background: black students were denied access to white public schools due to state segregation laws

decision: seperate but equal is not equal— school segregation is unconstitutional

constitutional principle: 14th amendment equal protection clause

effect: overturned plessy v ferguson (1819); began desegregation

engel v vitale (1962)

background: a public school in new york had a coach who led students in a voluntary prayer

decision: this prayer violated the constitution, even if voluntary

constitutional principle: first amendment establishment clause

effect: banned religious activities in schools in states

baker v carr (1962)

background: tennessee hadn’t redrawn voting districts in decades, so urban voting had less power than rural areas

decision: sided with baker saying that Tennessee violated 14th amendment

constitutional principle: 14th amendment equal protection clause

effect: established the one person vote principle and set the precedent that apportionment was able to be ruled on by the court

gideon v wainwright (1963)

background: Gideon was arrested and couldn’t afford a lawyer, and the state didn’t give him one

decision: people must be given a lawyer if they can’t afford one

constitutional principle: 6th amendment right to a lawyer, applicable to all states through 14th amendment due process

effect: guaranteed free lawyers in state courts

tinker v des moines (1969)

background: students wore black armbands to protest the vietnam war and got suspended

decision: students still have free speech at school

constitutional principle: first amendment free speech

effect: schools cannot punish free speech unless it causes problems

new york times v united states (1971)

background: the government tried to stop newspapers from publishing secret war papers

decision: the papers could publish because it didn’t hurt national safety

constitutional principle: first amendment freedom of press

effect: the government cannot stop the press unless it’s truly dangerous

wisconsin v yoder (1972)

background: amish parents didn’t want to send their kids to school past 8th grade

decision: the law violated the amish families’ religious rights

constitutional principle: first amendment free exercise clause

effect: religion can sometimes come before education rules

shaw v reno (1993)

background: north carolina made gerrymandered voting districts to help black voted after the voting rights acts of 1965

decision: racially drawn districts are unconstitutional

constitutional principle: 14th amendment equal protection clause

effect: race cannot be the main factor in redistricting

united states v lopez (1995)

background: a student brought a gun to school and was charged under the gun free zones act of 1990 (a federal law)

decision: congress overstepped its power using the commerce clause, and guns are not federal business

constitutional principle: commerce clause

effect: limited federal power and gave back some power to the states

mcdonald v chicago (2010)

background: chicago banned handguns, but mcdonald wanted one for protection

decision: people have the right to own a gun at home

constitutional principle: 2nd amendment, applicable through 14th amendment due process

effect: states must follow the rule that protects gun ownership

citizens united v FEC (2010)

a group wanted to show a political movie of hilary clinton near election time, but a law said no

decision: groups can spend money on politics to share their view

constitutional principle: 1st amendment free speech

effect: allowed big spending in politics (led to super PACS)

roe v wade (1973)

background: a woman in texas wanted an abortion, but the state law only allowed it if it was to save the mother’s life

decision: women have a right to choose an abortion in early pregnancy

constitutional principle: 14th amendment due process

effect: made abortion legal nationwide

title ix (1972)

a federal law that said schools can’t discriminate students based on their sex. this increased girl’s participation in activities