ap govt required cases

Engel v. Vitale

Supreme Court case that ruled school-sponsored prayer in public schools violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

Lemon v. Kurtzman

Supreme Court case that established the Lemon test to determine whether a law violates the Establishment Clause by requiring a secular purpose, no advancement/inhibition of religion, and no excessive entanglement.

Wisconsin v. Yoder

Supreme Court case that held that forcing Amish students to attend school past eighth grade violated their free exercise of religion.

Schenck v. United States

Supreme Court case that established the “clear and present danger” test, allowing limits on speech that threatens national security.

West Virginia Board of Education v. Barnette

Supreme Court case that ruled students cannot be forced to salute the flag or recite the Pledge of Allegiance, protecting symbolic speech.

Tinker v. Des Moines

Supreme Court case that ruled students retain free speech rights at school as long as it does not cause substantial disruption.

Brandenburg v. Ohio

Supreme Court case that ruled speech can only be restricted if it incites imminent lawless action, strengthening free speech protections.

Texas v. Johnson

Supreme Court case that held flag burning is protected symbolic speech under the First Amendment.

New York Times v. United States

Supreme Court case that ruled prior restraint is unconstitutional, allowing publication of the Pentagon Papers.

Citizens United v. FEC

Supreme Court case that ruled corporate political spending is protected speech under the First Amendment.

McDonald v. Chicago

Supreme Court case that extended Second Amendment gun rights to the states through incorporation under the Fourteenth Amendment.

DC v. Heller

Supreme Court case that ruled individuals have a constitutional right to possess firearms for self-defense in the home.

Gitlow v. New York

Supreme Court case that established selective incorporation, applying First Amendment protections to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment.

New Jersey v. T.L.O.

Supreme Court case that ruled school officials need only reasonable suspicion, not a warrant, to search students.

Mapp v. Ohio

Supreme Court case that applied the exclusionary rule to the states, preventing illegally obtained evidence from being used in court.

Gideon v. Wainwright

Supreme Court case that ruled defendants have a right to an attorney in state criminal trials, even if they cannot afford one.

Miranda v. Arizona

Supreme Court case that required police to inform suspects of their rights, including the right to remain silent and to an attorney.

Plessy v. Ferguson

Supreme Court case that upheld racial segregation under the “separate but equal” doctrine.

Brown v. Board of Education I

Supreme Court case that ruled racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional.

Brown v. Board of Education II

Supreme Court case that ordered desegregation of schools to proceed with “all deliberate speed.”

Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States

Supreme Court case that upheld the Civil Rights Act, ruling Congress can ban segregation in public accommodations under the Commerce Clause.

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke

Supreme Court case that ruled racial quotas are unconstitutional but race can be considered in admissions decisions.

Lawrence v. Texas

Supreme Court case that struck down laws banning same-sex sexual activity, citing a right to privacy.

Obergefell v. Hodges

Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide under the Fourteenth Amendment.

Griswold v. Connecticut

Supreme Court case that established a constitutional right to privacy, allowing married couples to use contraception.

Roe v. Wade

Supreme Court case that established a woman’s right to choose an abortion under the right to privacy.

Planned Parenthood v. Casey

Supreme Court case that reaffirmed Roe v. Wade but allowed states to impose restrictions that do not create an undue burden.

Baker v. Carr

Supreme Court case that established the principle of “one person, one vote” and allowed federal courts to hear redistricting cases.

Shaw v. Reno

Supreme Court case that ruled racial gerrymandering violates the Equal Protection Clause.

Korematsu v. United States

Supreme Court case that upheld Japanese American internment during World War II as a wartime necessity.

United States v. Nixon

Supreme Court case that limited executive privilege and required the president to turn over evidence in a criminal investigation.

Buckley v. Valeo

Supreme Court case that ruled limits on campaign contributions are constitutional but limits on independent expenditures violate free speech.

McCulloch v. Maryland

Supreme Court case that established federal supremacy and upheld the use of implied powers under the Necessary and Proper Clause.

United States v. Lopez

Supreme Court case that limited Congress’s Commerce Clause power, ruling gun possession near schools is not interstate commerce.

Marbury v. Madison

Supreme Court case that established judicial review, giving courts the power to declare laws unconstitutional.

Bush v. Gore

Supreme Court case that halted the Florida recount in the 2000 election, effectively deciding the presidency.

Dred Scott v. Sandford

Supreme Court case that ruled African Americans were not citizens and that Congress could not ban slavery in the territories.