AP gov court cases 2025

Marbury v. Madison

(1803) Judicial Review: established courts' power to review laws

McCulloch v. Maryland

(1819) Federal Power: states cannot tax federal entities

Schneck v. US

(1919) Free Speech Limits: Speech not protected if it presents a "clear and present danger"

Brown v. Board of Education

(1954) Desegreation: ended school segregation; overturned Plessy v. Ferguson

Engel v. Vitale

(1962) School Prayer: prohibited school-sponsered prayer

Baker v. Carr

(1962) "One person, one vote": Allowed federal courts to address unequal population in state districts.

Gideon v. Wainwright

(1963) Right to Counsel: guaranteed lawyer in criminal cases

Tinker v. Des Moines

(1969) Student Speech: protected symbolic speech (e.g. armbands)

New York Times v. United States

(1971) Press Freedom: Limited government censorship (Pentagon Papers)

Wisconsin v. Yoder

(1972) Religious Freedom: amish children can stop going to school after the 8th grade

Shaw v. Reno

(1993) Racial Gerrymandering: Redistricting based on race must pass strict scrutiny, race cannot be the main factor in drawing districts.

United States v. Lopez

(1995) Commerce Clause: Limited Congress' power over guns in schools

McDonald v. Chicago

(2010) Gun Rights: incorporated the Second Amendment to the states

Citizens United v. FEC

(2010) Campaign Spending: corporations can spend unlimited funds on campaigns