Important Court cases to know

Heller vs. District of Columbia

was a landmark 2008 Supreme Court case that affirmed an individual's right to possess a firearm for self-defense in the home, ruling that the Second Amendment is not limited to militia service

Mapp vs. Ohio

was a significant 1961 Supreme Court case that held that evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable searches and seizures is inadmissible in state courts.

Mcdonald vs. Chicago

was a landmark 2010 Supreme Court case that ruled the Second Amendment's right to keep and bear arms is applicable to state and local governments through the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause.

Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States

A landmark United States Supreme Court case holding that the U.S. Congress could use the power granted to it by the Constitution's Commerce Clause to force private businesses to abide by the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Lawrence vs. Texas

was a pivotal 2003 Supreme Court case that invalidated laws criminalizing private sexual conduct between same-sex couples, affirming the right to privacy.

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke

was a landmark 1978 Supreme Court case that upheld affirmative action, allowing race to be one of several factors in college admissions, but ruled against racial quotas.

Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg

was a significant 1971 Supreme Court case that upheld busing as a means to achieve school desegregation, confirming that courts could oversee and mandate the efforts to integrate public schools.