Ap Government: Supreme Court Cases

Background and ruling for AP gov required court cases

Engel v. Vitale

Background: NY Board of Education authorized the reading of a short prayer at the beginning of the school day. It was not mandatory.
Ruling: Violated the ESTABLISHMENT clause because prayer was written by state and because all students are forced to hear the prayer even though it is optional.

Wisconsin v. Yoder

Background: Amish parents refused to send their children to school after the eighth grade because it went against their religion and way of life. Wisconsin law stated all children must receive education until 16 years. Parents were prosecuted.
Ruling: Individual interest in FREE EXERCISE outweighs states interests here. Amish people not having an education will not harm society.

Schneck v. United States

Background: Defendants were distributing anti-draft leaflets during WW1. When arrested for violating the Espionage Act, he argued his first amendment rights were being infringed upon.
Ruling: Because the defendant's speech was harming the nation's war efforts and created a "clear and present danger" is right to FREE SPEECH is not protected

New York Times v. United States

Background: the Nixon Administration tried to prevent the publication of incriminating documents about the decisions made in the Vietnam war. Tried to use prior restraint.
Ruling: The Pentagon Papers can not be censored and prior restraint will not be applicable very often anymore. Protects FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Tinker v. Des Moines

Background: Students wore black armbands to school in protest of the Vietnam War. Administrators suspended three students for going through with the plan even though it would be a distraction in the learning environment. Parents argued students' rights were violated.
Ruling: FREEDOM OF SPEECH is protected. School does not have the authority to censor the speech just because it is controversial. It does not prevent the school from effectively teaching.

McDonald v. Chicago

Background: McDonald needed a handgun for his own protection because he lived in a dangerous neighborhood and was robbed multiple times. Chicago government banned the use of handguns. McDonald argued his second amendment rights were violated.
Ruling: Protection was essential and the ban on handguns is unconstitutional. SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS are crucial. Selective incorporation case

Gideon v. Wainwright

Background: Gideon was caught breaking and entering and was denied an attorney by the state of Florida and was forced to defend himself. He then appealed, stating his sixth amendment right was infringed upon.
Ruling: INCORPORATED SIXTH AMENDMENT RIGHT. Ensured all people have equal chance at justice in court. Strengthened sixth amendment rights

Roe v. Wade

Background: Jane Roe wanted an abortion but could not legally have one in Texas. Abortion was banned unless it threatened the mother's life. Thought this invaded her right to privacy.
Ruling: RIGHT TO PRIVACY was defended and expanded. Reservation of rights in the NINETH AMENDMENT defends women's right to choose whether she wants an abortion.

Miranda v. Arizona (EXTRA)

Background: Ernesto Miranda signed a confession during questioning because he was unaware of his fifth Amendment rights.
Ruling: Court overruled his conviction because he was not aware of his rights. (

Marbury v. Madison

Background: John Adams was packing the Court with federalist judges at the end of his presidency but all of the letters did not get sent. New President Thomas Jefferson ignored the letters instead of sending them, denying Marbury his spot as a judge

Ruling: Madison argued that the SC had the right to issue a writ of Mandamus, but he was struck down since that power is not in the constitution. This made Judiciary Act of 1979 void. Granted the power of JUDICIAL REVIEW

Baker v. Carr

Background: Tennessee had not redrawn district lines for over 50 years and some districts had much more representation than others. However, such political issues were not justiciable, meaning judiciary should not get involved.

Ruling: However, under the EQUAL PROTECTION clause, court was able to rule on this case. One person one vote doctrine was established. Now SC is involved in political questions.

Shaw v. Reno

Background: North Carolina wanted to better represent its constituents and deliberately racially gerrymandered to favor black citizens. When states change their districts it must be approved by the federal government.

Ruling: Even though the gerrymandering was helping reverse the discrimination of the past, it was done only with race in mind and therefore sets a dangerous precedent. EQUAL PROTECTION clause was violated by the strange districts

Brown v. Board of Education

Background: a Black family tried admitting their daughter to a white school and was denied because of the separate but equal ruling.

Ruling: Separate but equal violated the EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE and is unconstitutional.

\*\*one of the only cases to be ruled upon twice to enforce decision - stare decrisis

McCulloch v. Maryland

Background: Congress created the second national bank in Maryland. Maryland passed a law taxing the banks for using their territory. Maryland argued the bank was unconstitutional since its not an enumerated power of Congress. But its an implied power

Ruling: Bank is Constitutional because of the NECESSARY AND PROPER CLAUSE and SUPREMACY CLAUSE. The bank upholds the spirit of the Constitution.

United States v. Lopez

Background: Alfonzo Lopex takes a gun to school and is arrested. State charges were dropped and federal charges were applied because of a preexisting act. However, Congress does not have the authority to pass gun laws as this is a state issue.

Ruling: Federal government does not have the authority to pass gun laws based on the COMMERCE CLAUSE because it was going too far with the aggregate effect.

Gibbons v. Ogden