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