AP Gov Landmark Cases

Marbury v. Madison date

Marbury v. Madison date

1803

Marbury v. Madison laws

• Article III

• Judiciary Act of 1789, Section 2

Marbury v. Madison central question

Does SCOTUS have authority to issue a writ under the Judiciary Act of 1789?

Marbury v. Madison reason

William Marbury sued Secretary of State Madison asking Court for a write of mandamus to obtain his commission as a federal judge

Marbury v. Madison ruling

Marbury is entitled to his commission BUT the Court cannot issue one because Sect. 2 of Judiciary Act of 1789 is unconstitutional. Judicial Review of acts of Congress and President is affirmed. SCOTUS a co-equal branch of government

McCulloch v. Maryland date

1819

McCulloch v. Maryland laws

Necessary and Proper Clause Article 1, Section 8

McCulloch v. Maryland central question

• Is it constitutional for Congress to establish a bank?

• Is it constitutional for Maryland to tax a federal entity?

McCulloch v. Maryland reason

• McCulloch (cashier) refuses to pay tax Maryland puts on Second Bank of the US

• Maryland says the bank is unconstitutional because the Constitution does not say that federal gov is allowed to create a bank

McCulloch v. Maryland ruling

Congress can make another bank and Maryland cannot tax national government institutions as they’re carrying out constitutional powers. Congress allowed to do all this under the Necessary and Proper Clause. States still allowed to tax just not on tools established to carry out the Constitution.

US v. Lopez date

1995

US v. Lopez laws

Commerce Clause Article 1 Section 8

US v. Lopez central question

• Is the Gun-Free School Zones Act 1990 unconstitutional because Congress passed the act under the Commerce Clause?

US v. Lopez reason

High schooler Lopez charged with federal crime for having gun on school grounds due to Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990

US v. Lopez ruling

SCOTUS rules the GFSZA unconstitutional; having a gun in a school zone isn’t an activity that pertains to business/would affect interstate commerce. Therefore, the Congress cannot pass the law under the Commerce Clause

McDonald v. Chicago date

2010

McDonald v. Chicago laws

2nd Amendment and 14th Amendment

McDonald v. Chicago central question

Does the 2nd Amendment apply to the states because of the 14th Amendment?

McDonald v. Chicago reason

NRA filed suits against Chicago and Oak Park that challenged their gun bans because SCOTUS ruled in DC v. Heller that handgun bans were against the second amendment because it was enforced by the federal government

McDonald v. Chicago ruling

The 14th Amendment allows the 2nd Amendment to be applicable to the states. Citing the previous DC v. Heller decision and its use of the Due Process Clause in the 14th Amendment as a means of incorporating the states into the 2nd Amendment.

Citizens United v. FEC date

2010

Citizens United v. FEC laws

1st Amendment (Freedom of Speech)

Citizens United v. FEC central question

• Does limiting independent political spending violate the 1st Amendment?

• Is a limit on independent political spending necessary to protect from corruption?

Citizens United v. FEC reason

Citizens United (conservative nonprofit) attempts to air a film criticizing Hillary Clinton soon before the primaries, the FEC stops them based upon federal election laws (bipartisanly unpopular)

Citizens United v. FEC ruling

SCOTUS ruled in favor of Citizens United, stating that limits on independent political spending were both unnecessary for preventing corruption and a violation of the first amendment. Corporations, unions, and special interest groups and Super PACS were now allowed to spend an unlimited amount of money on political campaigns provided that they don’t coordinate with any candidate’s campaign.

New York Times v. United States date

1971

New York Times v. United States laws

First Amendment (freedom of the press)

New York Times v. United States central question

Did the Nixon’s administration’s efforts to prevent the publication of what it deemed, “classified information”, violate the first amendment and the freedom of the press?

New York Times v. United States reason

Nixon administration wanted to keep NYT and WaPo from publishing news story using classified documents about American activity during the Vietnam War, argued it would protect national security and that prior restraint was necessary

New York Times v. United States ruling

The Court ruled that prior restraint violated the first amendment in this case, as there was no immediate threat as a result of this information. The burden is on the government to demonstrate that reporting of information in the public interest is a threat to national security.

Baker v. Carr date

1962

Baker v. Carr laws

14th amendment, equal protection clause

Baker v. Carr central question

Does the Supreme Court have authority over questions of legislative apportionment?

Baker v. Carr ruling

Tennessee legislature violated state law, and equal protection clause under the 14th Amendment meant that the Court could rule on cases pertaining to apportionment in states.

Baker v. Carr reason

Baker said that the Tennessee district boundaries hadn’t been drawn every 10 years as it was supposed to be; his district grew but had no increased representation

Shaw v. Reno date

1993

Shaw v. Reno laws

14th Amendment Equal Protection clause

Shaw v. Reno central question

Was the creation of a racially gerrymandered district a violation of the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause?

Shaw v. Reno ruling

SCOTUS decided that it was unconstitutional for there to be a racially gerrymandered district.  The shape of the district was strange enough to warrant accusation that the district was drawn in such a way to partition voters based on race.

Shaw v. Reno reason

US Attorney General rejects NC reapportionment plan, would’ve made only 1 majority black district; new plan had district 12 with 2 majority black districts

Schenck v. United States date

1919

Schenck v. United States laws

The First Amendment - freedom of speech

Schenck v. United States central question

Did charging Schenck and Baer under the Espionage Act for speaking out against the draft violate their First Amendment rights?

Schenck v. United States ruling

Unanimously decided in favor of the U.S. that the Espionage Act was under the powers of Congress during wartime despite constitutional rights being violated.  Ruling establishes the “clear and present danger” test.

Schenck v. United States reason

Schenck and Baer charged for violating Espionage Act by urging public that draft was violating 13th Amendment

Tinker v. Des Moines date

1969

Tinker v. Des Moines laws

1st Amendment - freedom of speech

Tinker v. Des Moines central question

Does the 1st Amendment speech protections apply to students in public school? (Can students wear black armbands to school as protest, without punishment?)

Tinker v. Des Moines ruling

Court decides 7-2 that the 1st Amendment protects student speech in public school so long as that speech does not disrupt the learning of the other students.

Tinker v. Des Moines reason

Students wore black armbands to school in protest of Vietnam War, rule created to ban bands, 3 students suspended

Engel v. Vitale date

1962

Engel v. Vitale laws

The First Amendment - establishment clause

Engel v. Vitale central question

Does the reading of a nondenominational prayer at the start of the school day violate the "establishment of religion" clause of the First Amendment?

Engel v. Vitale ruling

The state cannot hold prayers in public schools, even if participation is not required and the prayer is not tied to a particular religion.  Establishes the doctrine of separation of church and state.

Engel v. Vitale reason

NY Board recommended voluntary non-denominational prayer at the beginning of each school day, several organizations challenged the rules

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka date

1954

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka laws

14th Amendment - equal protection clause

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka central question

Central Question: Does the racial segregation of public schools violate the Equal Protection clause of the 14th Amendment?

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka ruling

“Separate but equal” schools are inherently unequal and violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka reason

Plessy v. Ferguson upheld separate but equal doctrine, people argued that segregated schools violated equal protection clause and consolidated under Brown

Wisconsin v. Yoder date

1972

Wisconsin v. Yoder laws

First Amendment - free exercise of religion

Wisconsin v. Yoder central question

Did this Wisconsin law violate the First Amendment - free exercise of religion clause - by punishing people for following their religious beliefs?

Wisconsin v. Yoder ruling

The courts said that the individual interest of religious freedom outweigh that of states interest to force attendance until 16. Unanimous consent in favor of the plaintiff. 7-0

Wisconsin v. Yoder reason

Amish parent claimed that law forcing children to attend school until 16 went against religious beliefs, fined for removing children after 8th grade

Gideon v. Wainwright date

1963

Gideon v. Wainwright laws

Sixth Amendment - rights of the accused, and Fourteenth Amendment - due process

Gideon v. Wainwright central question

Does the Sixth Amendment’s right to counsel in criminal cases extend to felony defendants in state courts?

Gideon v. Wainwright ruling

The Supreme Court found that the Sixth Amendment’s right to counsel applied to criminal defendants in state courts through the Fourteenth Amendment. The Court reasoned that the Sixth Amendment is a fundamental and essential right made obligatory upon the states by the Fourteenth Amendment

Gideon v. Wainwright reason

Gideon charged with breaking and entering, appeared in court without lawyer, found guilty and sentence to 5 yrs in prison