AP GOV Required Court Cases

McCulloch v. Maryland

(Implied powers) Powers of the federal gov. go beyond what is in Article 1, section 8. Federal law takes precedence over state law. Necessary and proper clause. (establishing a national bank in Maryland)

U.S. v. Lopez

The supreme court limited Congress's power under the Commerce Clause by ruling that the possession of a firearm in a school zone is not an economic activity. (Gun-Free School Zones Act)

Engle v. Vitale

School prayer violated the establishment clause. reinforcing the separation between the stare and church. (A group of parents challenged a public school prayer)

Wisconsin v. Yoder

Free exercise clause prohibits the government from interfering with the practice of religion. (Amish children forced getting sent to school passed 8th grade)

Tinker v. Des Moines

Symbolic speech is protected, allowing students to wear armbands in protest. The Supreme Court ruled that students do not lose their 1st rights to free speech when they enter school, as long as their actions do not disrupt the educational process. (Students wore black armbands in protest of the Vietnam War.)

New York Times v. U.S.

Government cannot prevent materials from being published/censorship. Prior Restraint. (Publishing the Pentagon papers)

Schenck v. U.S.

Established that free speech can be limited if it presents a "clear and present danger." (distribution of leaflets to resist the draft during WWI.)

Gideon v. Wainwright

Established the right to counsel, (6th amendment)guaranteeing that defendants in criminal cases are provided an attorney at no charge if they cannot afford one. (Gideon breaking and entering in Florida)

McDonald v Chicago

Incorporated the Second Amendment to the states, affirming the individual right to keep and bear arms for self-defense. (Chicago ban on handgun policy)

Brown v Board of Education

Racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, overturning the "separate but equal" in Plessy v. Ferguson.

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

Corporations and unions can spend unlimited amounts of money on political campaigns, as long as they do so independently of a candidate's campaign. protected by the 1st (created a documentary critical of Hillary Clinton)

Baker v Carr

Supreme Court can rule on re-drawing of districts. 1 man 1 vote. the weight of individual votes in rural districts was greater than in urban districts was unconstitutional. (Tennessee's legislature had not reapportioned districts to account for significant population shifts)

Shaw v Reno

Equal protection clause (14) can’t write districts based on race (a group of white North Carolina residents, argued that the district was drawn in a strange shape with the purpose being racial gerrymandering)

Marbury v. Madison

Established the principle of judicial review, allowing courts to invalidate laws and executive actions that conflict with the Constitution. (John Adams appointed judges and then when Jefferson got in office Madison refused to give them their commissions)