Key Supreme Court Cases and Foundational Documents

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Established the principle of judicial review, empowering the Supreme Court to nullify an act of the legislative or executive branch that violates the Constitution.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Established the supremacy of the U.S. Constitution and federal laws over state laws; confirmed the implied powers of Congress.

United States v. Lopez (1995)

Limited Congress's power under the Commerce Clause; ruled that carrying a gun in a school zone is not an economic activity that affects interstate commerce.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Ruled that school-sponsored prayer in public schools violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

Held that compelling Amish students to attend school past the eighth grade violates the Free Exercise Clause.

Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969)

Affirmed that public school students have the right to wear black armbands in school to protest the Vietnam War, as it is protected symbolic speech under the First Amendment.

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

Bolstered the freedom of the press, establishing a 'heavy presumption against prior restraint' even in cases involving national security.

Schenck v. United States (1919)

Declared that speech creating a 'clear and present danger' is not protected by the First Amendment.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Guaranteed the right to an attorney for the poor or indigent in a state felony case.

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Recognized a woman's constitutional right to an abortion under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

Determined that the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms for self-defense is applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Declared that race-based school segregation violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Federal Election Commission (2010)

Held that political spending by corporations, associations, and labor unions is a form of protected speech under the First Amendment.

Baker v. Carr (1961)

Opened the door to equal protection challenges to redistricting and established the 'one person, one vote' doctrine.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Ruled that majority-minority districts, created under the Voting Rights Act of 1965, may be constitutionally challenged if race is the predominant factor in their creation.

Federalist No. 10

Authored by James Madison, it argues for the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and discusses the dangers of factionalism and how a large republic can mitigate those dangers.

Brutus No. 1

An Anti-Federalist paper expressing concerns that the Constitution would create an overly powerful central government, leading to the erosion of personal liberties.

The Declaration of Independence (1776)

Announced the American colonies' separation from Britain and outlined the principles of individual rights and government by consent.

The Articles of Confederation (1781)

The first constitution of the United States, which created a weak central government and was eventually replaced by the current Constitution.

The Constitution of the United States (1789)

The supreme law of the United States, establishing the framework of the national government and fundamental laws, and guaranteeing certain basic rights.

Federalist No. 51

Written by James Madison, it explains how the structure of the new government provides the necessary checks and balances to prevent tyranny.

Federalist No. 70

Alexander Hamilton argues for a single, energetic executive (the President) to ensure accountability and effective administration.

Federalist No. 78

Alexander Hamilton discusses the power of judicial review and argues that the judiciary must be independent to protect the rights of individuals.

Letter from Birmingham Jail (1963)

A letter written by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. defending the strategy of nonviolent resistance to racism and explaining the moral imperative for civil disobedience.