required cases

Wisconsin v. Yoder

State compulsory education laws interfered with Amish child upbringing; related to the First Amendment: Free Exercise Clause.

Schenck v. United States

United Socialist published pamphlet advocating ideals to avoid the military draft; Advocacy for overthrow of government was a clear and present danger and not protected speech; First Amendment: Free Speech; Clear and present danger

Tinker v. Des Moines

Public high school students wore black armbands protesting the Vietnam War; Symbolic speech protected as free speech in public high schools; Symbolic speech

New York Times v. United States

Nixon administration ordered publication of Pentagon Papers to cease, citing national security concerns; Free press protected with federal government having a heavy presumption against prior restraint involving national security; First Amendment: Free Press; Free press; Prior restraint

Gideon v. Wainwright

State denied legal representation to indigent defendant; States required provide legal representation in state criminal prosecutions as guarantee of right to counsel; Sixth Amendment Right to Counsel; Rights of the accused

McDonald v. Chicago

City of Chicago Implemented a handgun ban; Right to bear arms is a fundamental right of self-defense and Incorporated to the states; Second Amendment; Selective incorporation.

Brown v. Board of Education

Public schools segregated based on race; Race-based public school segregation violated Equal Protection Clause; 14th Amendment: Due Process Clause; 14th Amendment. Equal Protection Clause; Equal Protection: school segregation

Marbury v. Madison

Established judicial review, allowing the federal judiciary to overturn laws as unconstitutional. Involves Article III and separation of powers.

McCulloch v. Maryland

Ruled the Bank of the United States as necessary and proper and affirmed federal supremacy over states via the Supremacy Clause. Relates to implied powers and federalism.

United States v. Lopez

Limited federal commerce power by ruling that a gun-free school zone law had an indirect effect on the economy. Deals with federalism and state sovereignty.

Baker v. Carr

Established that legislative redistricting is subject to judicial review to ensure equal protection, based on the 14th Amendment.

Shaw v. Reno

Ruled that race cannot be the primary factor in legislative redistricting. Addresses gerrymandering and majority-minority districts.

Citizens United v. FEC

Protected political spending by special interest groups as free speech. Impacts campaign finance and PACs/SuperPACs.

Engel v. Vitale

Ruled school-sanctioned prayer in public schools as a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

Judicial Review

The power of the federal judiciary to overturn congressional laws, executive orders, or state laws as unconstitutional.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Allows Congress to make laws necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers.

Supremacy Clause

Establishes that the Constitution and federal laws are supreme to state laws.

Commerce Clause

Grants Congress the power to regulate commerce among the states.

Equal Protection Clause

Part of the 14th Amendment that prohibits states from denying any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Gerrymandering

Drawing legislative district boundaries to favor one party or group over another.

Establishment Clause

Clause in the First Amendment that prohibits the government from establishing a religion.