AP US GOV Court Cases

Everson v. Board of Education

NJ law provides transportation to all schools, even religious schools. Supreme Court ruled in New Jersey’s favor as the law did not violate the Establishment clause.

Engel v. Vitale

Supreme Court case that ruled school-sponsored prayer unconstitutional, violating the Establishment Clause.

Abington School District v. Schempp

A landmark Supreme Court case that ruled mandatory Bible reading in public schools unconstitutional, reinforcing the separation of church and state.

Lemon v. Kurtzman

Supreme Court case that established the "Lemon test" for determining if a law violates the Establishment Clause, focusing on purpose, effect, and entanglement.

Wallace v. Jaffree

Supreme Court struck down a law that forced students to pray in public schools.

Allegheny v. ACLU

The display by the Allegheny depicted Jesus; Supreme Court ruled against Allegheny and the display was removed.

Reynolds v. US

Supreme Court ruled that religion can be practiced as long as it fits within US law.

Torcaso v. Watkins

Supreme Court ruled that the government cannot force you to express a belief.

Braunfeld v. Braun

Ruled that PA’s law was of the same importance of Braunfeld’s religion.

Wisconsin v. Yoder

Ruled that the State’s interest for schooling wasn’t as important as religious practice.

Employment Division v. Smith

Reinforced the idea that justifying illegal acts through religion was not protected by the constitution.

Goldman v. Weinberger

Ruled that national defense was of more importance than religion.

Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye v. City of Hialeah

Ruled that the Hialeah law was unconstitutional as it specifically targeted the church.

Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores

Ruled that Corporations have the same free-exercise rights as individual people.

Kennedy v. Bremerton School District

Ruled that prayers after school hours is not unconstitutional.

Mahmoud v. Taylor

Ruled that exposure to objectionable material is coercion.

Schenck v. US

Ruled that Free Speech is not absolute. Clear and Present Danger rule.

Gitlow v. New York

Created the Selective Incorporation; Applying Bill of Rights to states case by case.

Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire

Created the Fighting Words Doctrine; Some words could result in injury.

West Virginia v. Barnette

Ruled that states cannot force speech.

Brandenburg v. Ohio

Created the Imminent Danger Test; Speech has to indicate something is about to happen.

Cohen v. California

Ruled that offensive language cannot be prosecuted.

Miller v. California

Created the Miller Test; Obscene speech can be limited or not.

Bethel v. Fraser

Ruled that it was appropriate for schools to prohibit the use of vulgar and offensive language.

Texas v. Johnson

Ruled that burning the flag was protected speech.

Morse v. Fredrick

Ruled that schools can ban students from displaying messages that promote illegal drugs.

District of Columbia v. Heller

Ruled that people can own a firearm unconnected to a militia.

McDonald v. Chicago

Applied the D.C vs. Heller case to every state.

Mapp v. Ohio

Ruled that all evidence obtained in illegal searches and seizures cannot be used in state court.

New Jersey v. T.L.O

Ruled that illegal searches and seizures also applied to schools.

Safford Unified School District v. Redding

Reinforced NJ v. TLO.

Miranda v. Arizona

Created Miranda rights; 5th amendment Rights need to be stated.

Gideon v. Wainwright

Ruled that the government must provide a lawyer for non-civil cases if the defendant cannot afford one.

Furman v. Georgia

Ruled that the Death Penalty was too random and unfair.

Roper v. Simmons

Ruled that executing children was cruel and unusual (even for adult crimes)

Skinner v. Oklahoma

Ruled that procreation was a basic right.

Griswold v. Connecticut

Ruled that there is a zone of privacy in a marriage.

Roe v. Wade

Expanded the zone of privacy to a women’s right to an abortion.

Bowers v. Hardwick

Ruled that since Sodomy had been banned for a long time it was not a right.

Lawrence v. Texas

Ruled that liberty rights protect you even in your home; Overturned Bowers v. Hardwick