AP Gov Required Supreme Court Cases

Facts

The relevant events of a case that occurred before courts became involved

Issue

A legal or Constitutional question the court considers in a case

Holding

The court’s response to the issue being considered in a case

Reasoning

The court’s explanation of a holding

Decision

The outcome of a case that includes a discussion of the facts, issue, holding, and reasoning

Opinion

An analysis of the court’s decision, written by the justices. The majority opinion is agreed upong by more than half of the justices

Marbury v. Madison

In deciding this case about judicial appointments, the court established the principle of judicial review, empowering the Supreme Court to declare and act of the legislative or executive branch unconstitutional and thus reinforcing the system of checks and balances inherent in the U.S. Constitution

McCulloch v. Maryland

In deciding this case about a national bank and state taxes, the court established supremacy of the US Constitution and federal laws over state laws

United States v. Lopez

Congress exceeded its power under the Commerce Clause when it made possession of a gun in a school zone a federal crime

Baker v. Carr

This case held that redistricting did not raise political questions, allowing federal courts to hear other cases that challenge redistricting plans that may violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment

Shaw v. Reno

Under the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause, majoirty-minority districts, created under the Voting Rights Act of 1965, may be constitutionally challenged by voters if race is the only factor used in creating the district

Engel v. Vitale

School sponsorship of religious activities violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment

Wisconsin v. Yoder

Compelling Amish students to attend school past the eighth grade violates the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment

Schenck v. US

Speech creating a “clear and present danger” was not protected by the FIrst Amendment and could be limited

Tinker v. Des Moines

A prohibition against public school students wearing black armbands in school to protest the Vietnam War violated the students’ freedom of speech protections in the First Amendment

New York Times v. US

This case bolstered the freedom of the press protections of the First Amendment, establishing a “heavy presumption against prior restraint” even in cases involving national security

McDonald v. Chicago

The Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms for self-defense is applicable to the states

Gideon v. Wainwright

In this case, the Sixth Amendment’s right to an attorney extends procedural due process protections to felony defendants in state courts

Brown v. Board of Education

Race-based school segregation violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment

Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission (FEC)

Political spending by corporations, associations, and labor union is a form of protected speech under the First Amendment