Supreme Court Cases

McCulloh v. Maryland (1819) - A case involving Federalism.

Can states tax a federal bank?

No. This case established federal supremacy and implied powers.

• Background: Congress created the Second Bank of the United States. Maryland tried to tax the bank to assert state authority.

• Constitutional Question: Can states tax a federal institution? Does Congress have the power to create a national bank?

• Ruling: The Supreme Court, under Chief Justice John Marshall, ruled states cannot tax federal institutions, and Congress has implied powers under the Necessary and Proper Clause to create institutions like the bank.

• Impact: Established federal supremacy over states and expanded federal government power.

United States v. Lopez (1995) - a case involving federalism.

Can Congress ban guns in schools under Commerce Clause?

No. This case limited federal power.

• Background: A high school student carried a gun to school; federal law prohibited guns in schools.

• Constitutional Question: Did Congress overstep its powers under the Commerce Clause?

• Ruling: Supreme Court ruled Congress exceeded its power—possessing a gun in school is not an economic activity affecting interstate commerce.

• Impact: Limited federal power under the Commerce Clause for the first time in decades.

Engel v. Vitale (1962) - this case involves the 1st Amendment.

Can public schools require prayer?

No. This case violates the Establishment Clause.

• Background: NY schools required students to recite a daily prayer.

• Ruling: Supreme Court ruled mandatory school prayer violates the Establishment Clause (government cannot establish religion).

• Impact: Strengthened separation of church and state in public schools.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) - this case involves the 1st Amendment.

Can Amish or any religion based parents pull kids from school for their religion?

Yes. This case protects free exercise of religion.

• Background: Amish parents wanted to stop sending kids to school after 8th grade for religious reasons.

• Ruling: Supreme Court ruled parents’ right to free exercise of religion outweighs state education laws in this case.

• Impact: Strengthened religious freedoms and parental rights.

Tinker v. Des Moins Independent Community School District (1969) - this case involves the 1st Amendment.

Can students protest in school with symbols?

Yes. This case protects student speech. It being one of the first cases to be on the students side.

• Background: Students wore black armbands to protest the Vietnam War; school suspended them.

• Ruling: Supreme Court protected student symbolic speech, unless it disrupts school operations.

• Impact: Affirmed First Amendment rights for students in schools.

New York Times Co. v. United States (1971) - this case involves the 1st Amendment.

Can the government block publication for national security?

Only in extreme cases such as national security. This case protects press freedom.

• Background: Pentagon Papers were leaked; government tried to block publication citing national security.

• Ruling: Supreme Court ruled prior restraint unconstitutional unless there’s an immediate, grave threat to security.

• Impact: Strengthened freedom of the press.

Science v. United States (1919) - this case involves the 1st Amendment.

Can wartime anti-draft speech be punished?

Yes, if danger exists such as times of war that are critical to have more people in the military. This case exists for that reason.

• Background: Anti-draft leaflets circulated during WWI.

• Ruling: Speech that presents a “clear and present danger” can be restricted.

• Impact: Set precedent for limits on free speech during wartime.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) - this case involves Selective Incorporation.

Does the right to counsel apply to states?

Yes. This case is to install that every person no matter the money has the right to an attorney, counsel or lawyer to support them in court.

• Background: Man arrested, denied attorney for a felony because he couldn’t afford one.

• Ruling: Supreme Court ruled 6th Amendment right to counsel applies to states. States must provide attorneys if defendant cannot afford one.

• Impact: Expanded defendants’ rights.

McDonald v. Chicago (2010) - this case involves Selective Incorporation.

Does the 2nd Amendment apply to states?

Yes. This case shows that us as people have the right to hand guns for our own safety.

• Background: Chicago banned handguns; challenged under 2nd Amendment.

• Ruling: Supreme Court ruled 2nd Amendment applies to states via 14th Amendment.

• Impact: Individuals have right to bear arms in all states.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954) - this case involves Equal Protections Clause (AKA 14th Amendment).

Can schools be segregated by race?

No. This case first said that segregation was equal but later turned over saying, “separation means people are NOT equal".”

• Background: Segregated schools claimed “separate but equal.”

• Ruling: Supreme Court ruled segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

• Impact: Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson; major civil rights milestone.

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) - this case involves Federal Policy.

Can corporations spend unlimited money on elections?

Yes. This case said that corporations have the same freedoms as individuals and are allowed to spend whatever money on elections-it is considered free speech.

• Background: Film critical of Hillary Clinton; challenged campaign finance restrictions.

• Ruling: Corporations/unions can spend unlimited money on elections; considered free speech.

• Impact: Major influence on campaign finance and political spending.

Baked v. Carr (1963) - this case involves Districting and Representation (equal protections too).

Can courts review state districting?

Yes. This case said that the Federal Government can get involved in it if it involves 1 person, 1 vote or race, but they cannot draw the lines.

• Background: Tennessee districts unequal in population; some votes counted more than others.

• Ruling: Supreme Court can intervene in redistricting cases under Equal Protection Clause.

• Impact: “One person, one vote” principle.

Shaw v. Reno (1993) - this case involves Districting and Representation (equal protections too).

Can districts be drawn based solely on race?

No. This case involved the fact that they tried to draw lines for a “minority, majority” to give minorities more power, but they ruled no because it went to far and was too much.

• Background: North Carolina created majority-minority district for voting rights.

• Ruling: Race cannot be sole factor in districting; unconstitutional gerrymandering.

• Impact: Limits racial gerrymandering, requires race-neutral processes.

Marybury v. Madison (1803) - this case involves Judicial Review.

Why did this case establish Judicial Review?

This case ruled Judicial Review because they declared that an act of Congress was unconstitutional. This case established the main power of the Supreme Court, which is deciding whether or not something is Constitutional.

• Background: Marbury’s commission not delivered; sued Secretary of State.

• Ruling: Supreme Court established judicial review—can declare laws unconstitutional.

• Impact: Foundation of U.S. constitutional law.

Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) - this case involves the 9th Amendment (not written rights), 14th Amendment (selective incorporation) and 10th Amendment (state rights).

Does the Constitution protect privacy in contraceptive use?

Yes. This case gave people the right to privacy, which isn't named in the Constitution but is out under the 9th Amendment, which is all of our unwritten rights given to us.

• Background: Connecticut banned contraceptives; couple challenged.

• Ruling: Supreme Court recognized right to privacy (penumbras of Constitution).

• Impact: Basis for later privacy cases, including Roe v. Wade.

Roe v. Wade (1973) - this case involves the 9th Amendment (not written rights), 14th Amendment (selective incorporation) and 10th Amendment (state rights).

Does privacy protect abortion?

Yes. This case gives you the right to private medical decisions (abortion specifically). This has recently been overturned though and now you do not.

• Background: Texas law prohibited abortion; challenged.

• Ruling: Right to privacy extends to abortion in early pregnancy.

• Impact: Established federal protection for abortion until overturned.

What is similar between the Griswold v. Conneticut case and Roe v. Wade?

They both protect were the right to privacy, but now its wrong because it belongs to the States is what they say.

Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization (2022) - this case involves the 9th Amendment (not written rights), 14th Amendment (selective incorporation) and 10th Amendment (state rights).

Can States regulate abortions?

Yes. This case is the one that overturned Roe v. Wade.

• Background: Mississippi law limited abortion; challenged.

• Ruling: Overturned Roe v. Wade; states control abortion laws.

• Impact: Returned abortion rights regulation to states.