ap gov required scotus cases

Marbury v. Madison

After William Marbury was denied his commission by James Madison he took the case to court The Supreme Court ruled that the law that would force delivery of the commission was unconstitutional This created judicial review and the precedent that the Supreme Court can strike down laws

McCulloch v. Maryland

Maryland tried to tax the national bank and James McCulloch refused The Supreme Court ruled that Congress has implied powers under the Constitution and states cannot tax federal institutions This strengthened federal power over state power

United States v. Lopez

Alfonso Lopez brought a gun to school and the federal government tried to charge him under interstate commerce rules The Court ruled that guns in schools are not interstate commerce and Congress went beyond its power This set a limit on federal authority under the Commerce Clause

Baker v. Carr

Charles Baker argued that Tennessee had unfair voting districts The Supreme Court ruled that redistricting is a question courts can decide This created the precedent of one person one vote and allowed courts to fix unfair districts

Shaw v. Reno

Voters challenged a district drawn mainly based on race The Court ruled that racial gerrymandering can violate the Equal Protection Clause This set the precedent that race cannot be the main factor in drawing districts

Brown v. Board of Education

Black students were forced into segregated schools and argued it was unequal The Supreme Court ruled that separate schools are inherently unequal This overturned Plessy v. Ferguson and ended legal school segregation

Gideon v. Wainwright

Clarence Gideon was denied a lawyer in a criminal case The Court ruled that states must provide an attorney for defendants who cannot afford one This established the right to counsel under the Sixth Amendment

Tinker v. Des Moines

Students wore armbands to protest the Vietnam War and were suspended The Court ruled that students do not lose free speech rights at school unless it causes major disruption This protected symbolic speech in schools

New York Times v. United States

The government tried to stop the Pentagon Papers from being published The Supreme Court ruled that prior restraint is unconstitutional This strengthened freedom of the press

Schenck v. United States

Charles Schenck distributed anti draft leaflets during World War One The Court ruled that speech can be limited if it creates a clear and present danger This set a limit on First Amendment speech rights

Wisconsin v. Yoder

Amish families refused to send children to school past a certain age The Court ruled that religious freedom can outweigh compulsory education laws This strengthened protections for religious practice

Engel v. Vitale

A school required students to say a government written prayer The Court ruled that school sponsored prayer violates the Establishment Clause This reinforced separation of church and state

McDonald v. Chicago

Otis McDonald challenged Chicago gun laws The Court ruled that the Second Amendment applies to states through incorporation This extended gun rights protections to state governments

Citizens United v. FEC

A group wanted to air political ads during elections but was restricted The Court ruled that corporations and unions can spend unlimited money on political speech This expanded the idea of money as protected speech in elections