Required Supreme Court Cases

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Established the principle of judicial review, allowing the Supreme Court to declare acts of other branches unconstitutional.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Established the supremacy of the U.S. Constitution and federal laws over state laws.

Schenck v. United States (1919)

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

Brown v. Board of Education Topeka (1954)

Segregation violates the Fourteenth Amendment; separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Federal courts can hear redistricting cases; redistricting issues are within the court's jurisdiction.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

School sponsorship of religion violates the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Extends the Sixth Amendment's right to counsel to felony defendants in state courts.

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

Students' freedom of speech is protected in schools.

New York Times Co v. United States (1971)

Government's attempt to prevent publication violated the First Amendment; heavy presumption against prior restraint.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

Compulsory school attendance law violated Amish rights under the First Amendment.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Race cannot be the predominant factor in redistricting under the Equal Protection Clause.

United States v. Lopez (1995)

Congress's power under the Commerce Clause limited; Gun-Free School Zones Act unconstitutional.

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

Second Amendment's right to keep and bear arms applies to the states for self-defense.

Citizens United v. FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION (2010)

Political spending by corporations is protected as a form of speech under the First Amendment.