Historical Documents, SCOTUS Cases, & Amendments

Fed 10

essay about the danger of factions

Brutis 1

essay arguing that the constitution gives too much power to the federal government

Fed 51

essay explaining the system of checks and balances

Fed 70

essay explaining the importance of a single “energetic executive”

Fed 78

essay explaining the role of the judicial branch

Marbury v Madison

decided issuing a writ or mandamus was unconstitutional; established judicial review

McCulloch v Maryland

taxes on federal bank; expand federal power under supremacy clause & commerce clause, establish a national bank

Schenck v US

distribution of leaflets urging soldiers to not sign up for draft; speech can be limited if it creates “clear & present danger”

Brown v Board of Education

Black girl tries to attend a less crowded white only school which is closer to her home; racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional

Baker v Carr

TN using old census data to draw district lines; supreme court can rule over state redistricting, expand federal power

Engel v Vitale

prayer @ school is unconstitutional

Gideon v Wainwright

6th & 14th amendment; a lawyer must be provided in state cases

Tinker v Des Moines

students wear black armbands to protest Vietnam War; school cannot prohibit student speech as long as it doesn’t cause “material & substantial disruption”

NYT v US

news organization attempts to publish illegally obtained documents about vietnam war; prior restraint is unconstitutional

Wisconsin v Yoder

amish people don’t school children after 14 years old; religious beliefs outweigh state interest to school kids after 8th grade

Roe v Wade

woman tries to get abortion but TX law doesn’t allow, 14th amendment, state laws banning abortion are unconstitutional

Shaw v Reno

NC creates districts based on race in order to elect a Black congress person; 14 & 15th amendments can’t redistrict on racial lines

US v Lopez

Gun Free School Zones Act prevents guns on school grounds; commerce clause, carrying a gun is not an economic activity

Citizens United v FEC

political movie trailers playing during election time; 1st amendment, independent expenditures are a protected form of speech

McDonald v Chicago

state ban on handguns; 2nd & 14th amendments, right to bear arms is protected at state & local level

religion, assembly, petition, press, speech

5 freedoms in the first amendment

2nd amendment

right to bear arms except for felons and in school & government buildings

4th amendment

protection against unreasonable search & seizures

5th amendment

cannot be tried for the same crime twice (double jeopardy), protection against self-incrimination, eminent domain, due process of law

6th amendment

right to an attorney, speedy & public trial, impartial jury, trial within the place where crime was committed

8th amendment

protection against excessive bail and cruel & unusual punishment

9th amendment

people still have rights even if they’re not not specifically enumerated in the Constitution

10th amendment

powers not delegated to federal government are reserved for the states

12th amendment

presidential candidates run with their vice president

13th amendment

abolish slavery

14th amendment

bill of rights applies to the states

15th amendment

people of any race can vote

17th amendment

direct election of senators

19th amendment

women can vote

22nd amendment

term limits for president

24th amendment

eliminates poll taxes

25th amendment

Vice President takes spot of President

26th amendment

voting age is 18

27th amendment

congress people can’t change their salaries while in office