Supreme Court Cases

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Established the principle of judicial review, allowing the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional.

Fletcher v. Peck (1810)

First case to strike down a state law as unconstitutional, reinforcing the sanctity of contracts.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Established federal implied powers and strengthened the federal government’s role over state laws.

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

Supreme Court held that Congress has exclusive power to regulate interstate commerce.

Worcester v. Georgia (1832)

Recognized the sovereignty of Native American nations, asserting federal authority over states.

Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857)

Ruled African Americans could not be U.S. citizens and intensified national tensions over slavery.

Civil Rights Cases of 1883

Limited federal protections against discrimination and upheld segregation laws.

Wabash, St. Louis v. Illinois (1886)

Supreme Court ruled that states cannot regulate interstate commerce, leading to the Interstate Commerce Commission.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Upheld segregation under the 'separate but equal' doctrine, cementing the legality of racial segregation.

Insular Cases (1901)

Established the principle of 'territorial incorporation', affecting U.S. territorial policy.

Northern Securities Co. v. U.S. (1904)

Strengthened antitrust laws and affirmed the government's power to regulate monopolies.

Muller v. Oregon (1908)

Recognized state's power to regulate labor conditions for women, influencing labor laws.

Schenck v. U.S. (1919)

Established the clear and present danger test, allowing limits on free speech during wartime.

Adkins v. Children’s Hospital (1923)

Struck down a minimum wage law for women, limiting government regulation of wages.

Korematsu v. U.S. (1941)

Upheld wartime internment of Japanese Americans, setting a precedent for civil liberties suspension.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, ruling that segregated schools are inherently unequal.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Ruled that the Sixth Amendment's right to counsel is applicable to state courts.

NY Times v. Sullivan (1964)

Established the actual malice standard for press reporting on public officials.

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

Established Miranda rights, requiring suspects to be informed of their rights before interrogation.

Loving v. Virginia (1967)

Ruled laws banning interracial marriage unconstitutional, affirming the right to marry regardless of race.

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Legalized abortion nationwide, affirming a woman's right to choose under the right to privacy.

US v. Nixon (1974)

Affirmed that no person, including the president, is above the law during investigations.

Regents v. Bakke (1978)

Permitted affirmative action but ruled that quotas in admissions are unconstitutional.

National Federation of Independent Business v. Kathleen Sebelius (2011)

Affirmed the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate.

District of Columbia v. Heller (2008)

Held that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to possess firearms.

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

Ruled that political spending is protected speech under the First Amendment.

United States v. Windsor (2013)

Ruled that DOMA's definition of marriage is unconstitutional, paving the way for marriage equality.