Key Supreme Court Cases and Constitutional Principles

These flashcards cover important Supreme Court cases and constitutional principles essential for understanding key concepts in U.S. law and individual rights.

Schenck v. United States (1919)

Established the 'clear and present danger' test, limiting speech during wartime.

Engel v. Vitale

Ruled school-sponsored prayer unconstitutional under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

Protected students' right to wear black armbands in protest of the Vietnam War as symbolic speech.

McDonald v. Chicago

Incorporated the Second Amendment to the states through selective incorporation via the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause.

Wisconsin v. Yoder

Upheld the Free Exercise Clause, protecting individuals' rights to religious practice.

New York Times v. United States (1971)

Ruled against government prior restraint unless publication poses a grave threat to national security.

Gideon v. Wainwright

Guaranteed the right to an attorney for indigent defendants through the Sixth Amendment and selective incorporation.

Brown v. Board of Education

Struck down racial segregation in public schools using the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

De jure vs. De facto segregation

De jure is segregation by law; de facto is segregation by practice or social/economic patterns.

Equal Protection Clause

Used in civil rights cases to challenge discriminatory laws or policies.

Strict scrutiny

The test likely applied to laws restricting religious practice.

Fourth Amendment

Protects individuals against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Exclusionary rule

Legal principle that excludes evidence obtained in violation of the Constitution.

Prior restraint

Government censorship before publication, as seen in New York Times v. U.S.

Roe v. Wade

Justified by the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause, legalizing abortion.

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978)

Upheld the use of race as one factor in college admissions but banned racial quotas.

Title IX of the Education Amendments (1972)

Prohibits sex-based discrimination in any federally funded education program.

Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment

Might be violated if a public school student is suspended without a hearing.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Prohibits discrimination based on race or gender in restaurants and other public places.

Selective incorporation

The process by which the Bill of Rights is gradually applied to the states.

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

Requires police to inform suspects of their rights before questioning.

Fifth Amendment

Contains protections against self-incrimination and double jeopardy.

Sixth Amendment

Guarantees the right to a speedy, public trial with an impartial jury and legal counsel.

Fourteenth Amendment

Provides the foundation for civil rights protections and defines citizenship.

Establishment Clause

Prevents the government from creating an official religion.

Civil liberties vs. Civil rights

Civil liberties protect against government actions; civil rights protect from discrimination.

New York Times v. United States

Expanded press freedom by limiting government’s power to exercise prior restraint.

Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment

Prevents states from denying people equal protection under the law.

Due Process Clause

Guarantees fair procedures and protections before government can deprive life, liberty, or property.