AP Gov Court Cases (copy)

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Established national supremacy; established implied powers; use of elastic clause; state unable to tax fed. Institution; John Marshall; "the power to tax involves the power to destroy."

United States v. Lopez (1995)

the court ruled that the Commerce clause of the Constitution does not allow Congress to control guns near state-operated schools, like how a school principal cannot regulate what you do at home.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

a Supreme Court case that banned public schools from leading prayer because it violated the separation of church and state, as protected by the Constitution.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

the Court said that Wisconsin couldn't force Amish parents to send their kids to school after 8th grade because it would go against their religious beliefs, like trying to make a vegetarian eat meat.

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

Guaranteed a student's right to protest (wearing armbands).

New York Times v. US (1971)

the court said that the press has the right to publish information freely, and the government cannot stop them beforehand, which strengthened freedom of the press.

Schenk v. United States (1919)

the Supreme Court ruled that speech that creates a "clear and present danger" is not protected by the First Amendment, just like how yelling "fire" in a crowded theater is not protected because it endangers others.

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Abortion rights fall within the privacy implied in the 14th amendment

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

segregating students based on race in public schools is unfair and against the Constitution

Baker v. Carr (1962)

"one man, one vote," requiring state legislative districts to have roughly equal populations

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

NO racial gerrymandering; race cannot be the sole or predominant factor in redrawing legislative boundaries; majority-minority districts.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Established judicial review empowering the Supreme Court to nullify an act of the legis. or exec. branch that violates the Constitution. giving the Supreme Court the power to invalidate laws that go against the Constitution.

McDonald v Chicago

Chicago wants to limit the right to bear arms, raised constitutional questions about individual gun rights, and state regulations under the 14th Amendment.

Gideon v Wainwright

Right to a lawyer. Gideon was arrested for burglary, but couldn’t afford a lawyer, argued the 6th amendment entitles everyone to a lawyer.

Citizens Unitied v FEC

Regulation prohibited corporations and unions from directly paying for advertisements. Argued that spending money on political advertisements is a form of speech, the 1st amendment

Federalist Papers #10

strong federal government can protect liberty because it guards against the dangers of factions

Federalist Papers #51

checks and balances, each branch of government (executive, legislative, judicial) acts as a counterweight to prevent one from overpowering the others.

Federalist Papers #78

the federal courts have the duty to determine whether acts of Congress are constitutional and to follow the Constitution when there is inconsistency

Brutus #1

belief that Congress will have unlimited power to make laws that benefit the leaders, transforming the states into a republic where federal laws supersede state laws.

Federalist Papers #70

a unitary executive (One President) is necessary to ensure accountability in government and enable the president to defend against legislative encroachments on his power.