AP Gov Required Cases

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Established judicial review (the power of the Court to declare laws unconstitutional).

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)

Supremacy Clause. No state can tax institutions created by Congress

United States v. Lopez (1995)

Commerce Clause, Lopez was charged under federal law for bringing a gun to school., gun laws belong to states.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Establishment Clause (1st Amendment)

NY school had a short, voluntary prayer.

Court ruled this violated the Establishment Clause.

Even voluntary prayer in public schools = government endorsement of religion.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

Free Exercise Clause (1st Amendment)

• Wisconsin fined Amish families for pulling kids from school after 8th grade.

• Court ruled the state’s interest did not outweigh religious freedom.

• Strengthened protections for religious liberty.

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

Freedom of the Press (1st Amendment)

NYT wanted to publish the Pentagon Papers.

Government tried to stop it (prior restraint).

Court ruled in favor of NYT; government didn't prove publication would cause harm

Schenck v. United States (1919)

Freedom of Speech (1st Amendment)

Schenck distributed anti-draft leaflets during WWI.

Arrested under Espionage Act.

Court upheld conviction; speech that causes a "clear and present danger" isn't protected.

Limited free speech during wartime.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

6th Amendment (Right to Counsel), Selective Incorporation via 14th Amendment

Gideon was denied a lawyer in state court.

Court ruled that the 6th Amendment applies to the states.

Required free legal counsel for felony defendants in state courts.

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Right to Privacy (Implied from 14th Amendment Due Process)

Woman challenged Texas law banning abortion.

Court ruled women have a right to abortion in the 1st trimester.

Based on a right to privacy.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Equal Protection Clause (14th Amendment)

Challenged racial segregation in schools.

Court ruled that "separate but equal" is inherently unequal.

Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson.

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

Freedom of Speech (1st Amendment)

Citizens United wanted to air a film critical of Hillary Clinton before the 2008 election.

Law banned corporate-funded political ads before elections.

Court ruled corporate spending is protected speech.

Led to rise of Super PACs and unlimited independent political spending.

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Equal Protection Clause (14th Amendment)

Rural votes were overrepresented, urban votes underrepresented.

Baker argued this violated the Equal Protection Clause because his vote was worth less.

Supreme Court ruled that redistricting is justiciable (can be decided by courts), not a "political question."

Led to the principle of "one person, one vote"—each vote must carry roughly equal weight.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Equal Protection Clause (14th Amendment)

Also tied to the Voting Rights Act of 1965

Voters sued, claiming it was racial gerrymandering.

Supreme Court ruled that districts drawn primarily on race can violate the Equal Protection Clause.

McDonald v. City of Chicago (2010)

2nd Amendment

Due Process Clause (14th Amendment - Selective Incorporation)

Chicago banned handguns; McDonald challenged this law.

Court had previously ruled in District of Columbia v. Heller that individuals have a right to bear arms.

McDonald argued that this right should apply to states as well.

Supreme Court ruled that the 2nd Amendment is incorporated via the 14th Amendment.

This means states and local governments must also protect the right to keep and bear arms for self-defense.