AP Gov - Key Cases

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

• Constitutional Basis: Judicial review

• Facts:
  William Marbury was appointed as a justice by President John Adams, but his commission wasn’t delivered before Jefferson took office. Marbury sued James Madison (Secretary of State) to get his commission.

• Decision:
  The Court said Marbury had a right to the commission, but the law (Judiciary Act of 1789) giving the Court power to issue writs of mandamus was unconstitutional.

• Significance:
  Established judicial review — the power of the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

• Constitutional Basis: Necessary and Proper Clause, Supremacy Clause

• Facts:
  Congress created a national bank. Maryland tried to tax it. McCulloch (a bank employee) refused to pay.

• Decision: In Favor of McCulloch
  Congress can create a national bank (implied power under the Necessary & Proper Clause). States can’t tax federal institutions (Supremacy Clause).

• Significance:
  Expanded federal power by upholding implied powers and national supremacy.

United States v. Lopez (1995)

• Constitutional Basis: Commerce Clause (Article I)

• Facts:
  A student brought a gun to a Texas school. He was charged under the federal Gun-Free School Zones Act.

• Decision: In Favor of Lopez
  The Court said the law exceeded Congress's power under the Commerce Clause.

• Significance:
  Limited Congress’s use of the Commerce Clause — education and gun laws are state powers, not federal.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

• Constitutional Basis: Establishment Clause

• Facts:
  A New York school held a short, voluntary prayer at the start of each school day. Parents sued, saying it violated the Constitution.

• Decision: In Favor of Engel
  The prayer was unconstitutional, even if it was non-denominational and voluntary.

• Significance:
  Banned school-sponsored prayer — the government can’t promote religion in public schools.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

• Constitutional Basis: Free Exercise Clause

• Facts:
  Amish parents refused to send their kids to school after 8th grade, arguing high school conflicted with their religious beliefs.

• Decision: In favor of Yoder
  The Court sided with the Amish. The state’s interest in education did not outweigh the family's religious rights.

• Significance:
  Strengthened the Free Exercise Clause — religious freedom can outweigh state laws in some cases.

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

• Constitutional Basis: 1st Amendment – Free Speech

• Facts:
  Students wore black armbands to school to protest the Vietnam War. The school suspended them.

• Decision: In Favor of Tinker
  The suspension violated their First Amendment rights.

• Significance:
  Protected student symbolic speech — students don’t lose free speech rights at school unless it causes a major disruption.

New York Times Co. v. United States (1971)

• Constitutional Basis: 1st Amendment – Freedom of the Press

• Facts:
  The NY Times wanted to publish the Pentagon Papers about the Vietnam War. The government tried to block them (prior restraint).

• Decision: In Favor of New York Times
  The government couldn’t stop the publication.

• Significance:
  Limited prior restraint — the press has strong protections, even in national security matters.

Schenck v. United States (1919)

• Constitutional Basis: 1st Amendment – Free Speech

• Facts:
  Charles Schenck handed out leaflets urging people to resist the WWI draft. He was arrested under the Espionage Act.

• Decision: In Favor of United States
  The Court upheld the arrest. His speech presented a “clear and present danger.”

• Significance:
  Set limits on free speech during wartime — not all speech is protected.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

• Constitutional Basis: 6th Amendment (Right to Counsel), 14th Amendment (Due Process Clause)

• Facts:
  Clarence Gideon was charged with a felony in Florida. He couldn’t afford a lawyer and was denied one because state law only provided attorneys for capital crimes.

• Decision: In Favor of Gideon
  The Supreme Court ruled that the right to an attorney applies to state courts through the 14th Amendment.

• Significance:
  Incorporated the 6th Amendment right to counsel to the states. All defendants get a lawyer, even if they can’t afford one.

Roe v. Wade (1973)

• Constitutional Basis: Right to Privacy (from 9th and 14th Amendments)

• Facts:
  "Jane Roe" challenged a Texas law banning abortions except to save the mother’s life.

• Decision: In Favor of Roe
  The Court ruled that women have a constitutional right to abortion during the first trimester.

• Significance:
  Established a constitutional right to privacy regarding reproductive decisions.

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

• Constitutional Basis: 2nd Amendment (Right to bear arms), 14th Amendment (Due Process Clause)

• Facts:
  Chicago had strict gun control laws banning handguns. McDonald sued, arguing his 2nd Amendment rights were violated.

• Decision: In Favor of McDonald
  The Court ruled the 2nd Amendment applies to states.

• Significance:
  Incorporated the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms through the 14th Amendment.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

• Constitutional Basis: 14th Amendment – Equal Protection Clause

• Facts:
  African American students were denied admission to public schools attended by white children under laws permitting segregation.

• Decision: In Favor of Brown
  The Court ruled that “separate but equal” in public education was inherently unequal.

• Significance:
  Ended racial segregation in public schools and overturned Plessy v. Ferguson (1896).

Baker v. Carr (1962)

• Constitutional Basis: 14th Amendment – Equal Protection Clause

• Facts:
  Tennessee hadn’t redrawn its legislative districts in decades, even though population had shifted. Baker argued this diluted his vote.

• Decision: In Favor of Baker
  The Court ruled that redistricting issues can be decided by federal courts.

• Significance:
  Opened the door for “one person, one vote” — districts must be roughly equal in population.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

• Constitutional Basis: 14th Amendment – Equal Protection Clause

• Facts:
  North Carolina created a strange-shaped congressional district to help elect more Black representatives. White voters sued, saying it was racial gerrymandering.

• Decision: In Favor of Shaw
  The Court agreed — race can’t be the only factor in drawing districts.

• Significance:
  Limited racial gerrymandering, even when the intent is to help minorities.

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)

• Constitutional Basis: 1st Amendment – Free Speech

• Facts:
  Citizens United wanted to air a movie critical of Hillary Clinton before the 2008 election, but campaign finance laws blocked it.

• Decision:
  The Court ruled that corporations and unions can spend unlimited money on independent political ads.

• Significance: In Favor of Citizens United
  Money = speech — led to the rise of Super PACs and major changes in campaign finance.