AP Gov Unit 3 Court Cases

Required Unit 3 cases with facts, rulings, votes, opinion authors, and which Court decided them.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Facts: New York public schools opened each day with a voluntary prayer written by the state. Ruling: 6-1, the Warren Court said school-sponsored prayer is unconstitutional, even if it's voluntary. Majority opinion: Justice Hugo Black. Clause: 1st Amendment, Establishment Clause.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

Facts: Amish parents refused to send their kids to school past 8th grade. Ruling: 7-0, the Burger Court said the parents' religious freedom outweighs the state's interest in more schooling. Majority opinion: Chief Justice Warren Burger. Clause: 1st Amendment, Free Exercise Clause.

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

Facts: Students wore black armbands to protest the Vietnam War and were suspended. Ruling: 7-2, the Warren Court said students don't lose free speech at the schoolhouse gate. Symbolic speech is protected unless it causes a substantial disruption. Majority opinion: Justice Abe Fortas. Clause: 1st Amendment, Speech.

Schenck v. U.S. (1919)

Facts: Schenck handed out flyers urging men to resist the WWI draft. Ruling: 9-0, the Court upheld his conviction. Speech that creates a "clear and present danger" isn't protected (like falsely shouting fire in a crowded theater). Majority opinion: Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes. Clause: 1st Amendment, Speech.

New York Times v. U.S. (1971)

Facts: The Nixon administration tried to stop the Times from printing the Pentagon Papers, a secret history of the Vietnam War. Ruling: 6-3, the Burger Court said the government didn't meet the heavy burden needed for prior restraint, so the Times could publish. Opinion: per curiam (unsigned, from the whole Court). Clause: 1st Amendment, Press.

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

Facts: Chicago banned handguns. Ruling: 5-4, the Roberts Court said the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms applies to the states through selective incorporation. Majority opinion: Justice Samuel Alito. Clause: 2nd Amendment + 14th Amendment Due Process Clause.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Facts: Gideon was charged with a felony in Florida, was denied a free lawyer, and had to defend himself. Ruling: 9-0, the Warren Court said states must provide a lawyer to anyone who can't afford one in felony cases. Majority opinion: Justice Hugo Black. Clause: 6th Amendment + 14th Amendment Due Process Clause (selective incorporation).

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Facts: A Texas woman challenged the state's ban on abortion. Ruling: 7-2, the Burger Court said the right to privacy covers abortion, with limits by trimester. Majority opinion: Justice Harry Blackmun. Clause: 14th Amendment Due Process Clause (right to privacy). Overturned by Dobbs v. Jackson (2022).

Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health (2022)

Not a required case, but it overturned Roe. Ruling: the Roberts Court said the Constitution doesn't protect a right to abortion, so the issue goes back to the states. 6-3 to uphold Mississippi's law, and 5-4 to fully overturn Roe. Majority opinion: Justice Samuel Alito.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Facts: Linda Brown was kept out of a white school near her home in Topeka, Kansas. Ruling: 9-0, the Warren Court said "separate but equal" schools are unconstitutional, which overturned Plessy v. Ferguson (1896). Majority opinion: Chief Justice Earl Warren. Clause: 14th Amendment, Equal Protection Clause.

Which case: school-sponsored prayer is unconstitutional, even if voluntary?

Engel v. Vitale (1962). Establishment Clause.

Which case: Amish parents can take their kids out of school after 8th grade?

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972). Free Exercise Clause.

Which case: students keep free speech at school unless there's a substantial disruption?

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969). Symbolic speech.

Which case: the "clear and present danger" test?

Schenck v. U.S. (1919). Limited speech.

Which case: prior restraint, the Pentagon Papers?

New York Times v. U.S. (1971). Freedom of the press.

Which case: the 2nd Amendment applies to the states?

McDonald v. Chicago (2010). Selective incorporation.

Which case: states must give poor defendants a lawyer in felony cases?

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963). 6th Amendment, selective incorporation.

Which case: the right to privacy covers abortion?

Roe v. Wade (1973). Overturned by Dobbs (2022).

Which case: "separate but equal" schools are unconstitutional?

Brown v. Board of Education (1954). Equal Protection. Overturned Plessy.

Which cases were unanimous (9-0)?

Schenck, Gideon, and Brown. (Yoder was 7-0 because two justices didn't take part.)

Which cases came from the Warren Court?

Engel, Tinker, Gideon, and Brown. The Warren Court (1953-1969) expanded civil rights and civil liberties.