SCOTUS for midterm

Brown v. Board of Education

Ruled that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. overturning the 'separate but equal' doctrine from Plessy v. Ferguson.

Engel v. Vitale

Declared that it is unconstitutional for state officials to compose an official school prayer and encourage its recitation in public schools.

Gideon v. Wainwright

Held that the Sixth Amendment's right to counsel is applicable to state courts via the Fourteenth Amendment.

Marbury v. Madison

Established the principle of judicial review, allowing courts to strike down laws that conflict with the Constitution.

McDonald v. Chicago

Incorporated the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms to the states.

McCulloch v. Maryland

Established that federal law is supreme over state law and implied powers of Congress.

New York Times v. US

Reinforced the principle of freedom of the press against prior restraint.

Tinker v. Des Moines

Held that students do not lose their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech when they step onto school property.

US v. Lopez

Limited Congress's power under the Commerce Clause, ruling that carrying a gun in a school zone is not an economic activity.

Wisconsin v. Yoder

Acknowledged the right of parents to inform their children's education, allowing them to withdraw from school for religious reasons.

Bethel School v. Fraser

Ruled that schools could limit student speech that is vulgar or offensive.

Brandenburg v. Ohio

Established the standard for protecting incendiary speech under the First Amendment.

Dred Scott v. Sanford

Held that African Americans could not be American citizens and therefore had no standing to sue in federal court.

Employment Division v. Smith

Ruled that states can deny unemployment benefits to a worker fired for using illegal drugs for religious purposes.

Gitlow v. New York

Declared that the First Amendment applies to state governments as well as federal governments.

Grutter and Bakke AA Cases

Addressed affirmative action in college admissions, allowing race to be one factor among others.

Loving v. Virginia

Invalidated laws prohibiting interracial marriage, affirming marriage as a fundamental right.

Mahoney School v. BL

Clarified student free speech rights in a non-school-sponsored setting.

Mapp v. Ohio

Established the exclusionary rule, preventing illegally obtained evidence from being used in court.

Morse v. Frederick

Held that schools may restrict student speech at a school-sponsored event.

Obergefell v. Hodges

Legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, ruling it a constitutional right under the Fourteenth Amendment.

Plessy v. Ferguson

Upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the 'separate but equal' doctrine.

Schenck v. US

Established the 'clear and present danger' test for free speech limitations.

Slaughter House Cases

Limited the privileges or immunities clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Snyder v. Phelps

Protected the Westboro Baptist Church's right to protest at military funerals under the First Amendment.

US v. Cruikshank

Established that the federal government could not criminalize private conspiracies against civil rights.

West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette

Held that students cannot be compelled to salute the flag or recite the Pledge of Allegiance.