AP Government Supreme Court Cases

Marbury v. Madison Constitutional Principle

Judicial Review

What did Marbury request from the Supreme Court?

A writ of mandamus

McCulloch v. Maryland Constitutional Principle

Federalism, Elastic Clause, and Supremacy Clause

Why did Maryland tax the Bank of the United States in McCulloch v. Maryland?

Maryland believed the Bank of the US was unconstitutional

Why did McCulloch refuse to pay the tax imposed by Maryland?

McCulloch believed that states did not have the power to tax the Bank of the United States

What was the Supreme Court's ruling in McCulloch v. Maryland regarding the Bank of the United States?

the Bank of the United States was constitutional due to the Necessary and Proper Clause and that states lacked the power to tax a federal entity under the Supremacy Clause

United States v. Lopez Constitutional Principles

Federalism, Commerce Clause

What was the issue in United States v. Lopez?

Lopez brought a gun to school and was charged with a federal crime under the Gun-Free School Zones Act (interstate commerce clause).

What was the argument of Lopez's lawyers in United States v. Lopez?

The Gun-Free School Zones Act is not connected to the interstate commerce clause.

What was the Supreme Court's ruling in United States v. Lopez?

The commerce clause does not support the Gun-Free School Zones Act.

Engle v. Vitale Constitutional Principle

1st Amendment Establishment Clause

14th Amendment Due Process Clause (Selective-incorporation)

What was the issue in Engle v. Vitale?

The New York State Board of Regents authorized a short, voluntary prayer for recitation at the start of each school day, which was challenged for violating the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

What was the Supreme Court's ruling in Engle v. Vitale?

School-established prayer violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

Wisconsin v. Yoder Constitutional Principle

1st Amendment Free Exercise Clause

14th Amendment Due Process Clause (selective-incorporation)

What was the issue in Wisconsin v. Yoder?

Wisconsin attempted to force Amish children to attend school until age 16 and Amish people took children out of school after 8th grade

What was the outcome of the Wisconsin v. Yoder case?

Individual interest in protecting their religion through education outweighs the state's interest in keeping kids in school

New York Times v. United States Constitutional Principle

1st Amendment (Freedom of Press) Prior Restraint

New York Times v. United States Facts

Nixon sued the New York Times to prevent them from publishing the Pentagon Papers, citing national security concerns.

New York Times v. United States Holding

The Nixon Administration's vague national security claims were not sufficient to override the New York Times' First Amendment right to publish the Pentagon Papers.

Schenk v. United States Constitutional Principle

1st Amendment Free Speech

What did Schenk do in the case of Schenk v. United States?

He handed out papers that said the draft violated the 13th Amendment.

Why was Schenk arrested in the case of Schenk v. United States?

He was arrested for violating the Espionage Act.

Schenk v. United States Holding

The country's need for soldiers outweighed his 1st amendment right to free speech

1st Amendment Free Speech Exceptions

Clear and Present Danger, Obscenity, Time/Place/Manner, Defamation

Obscenity

Time/Place/Manner

Defamation

Tinker v. Des Moines Constitutional Principle

1st Amendment Free Speech

What was the issue in Tinker v. Des Moines?

Tinker wore an armband to protest the Vietnam War and was suspended

Tinker v. Des Moines Holding

Schools do not have the right to remove a student's free speech

Gideon v. Wainwright Constitutional Principle

6th Amendment right to counsel, 14th Amendment Due Process

14th Amendment due process

What was the issue in Gideon v. Wainwright?

Gideon requested a lawyer because he could not afford one. His request was denied because of a Florida law.

Gideon v. Wainwright Holding

Criminal defendants who cannot afford a lawyer have to have a state-appointed lawyer.

McDonald v. Chicago Constitutional Principle

2nd Amendment

14th Amendment Due Process

14th Amendment Due Process

What was the case of McDonald v. Chicago about?

Chicago citizens filed a suit against the Chicago ordinance that prohibited them from owning most handguns.

What was Chicago's argument in McDonald v. Chicago?

Chicago argued that the ordinance was constitutional because the 2nd Amendment did not apply to the states.

McDonald v. Chicago Holding

The 14th Amendment (due process clause) extends the 2nd Amendment to the states for self-defense.

Brown v. Board of Education Constitutional Principle

14th Amendment Equal Protection

Brown v. Board of Education Holding

Racial segregation of public schools allowed by "separate but equal" principle of Plessy v. Ferguson is unconstitutional

(lead to desegregation of schools)

Citizens United v. FEC Consitutional Principle

1st Amendment Free Speech

What did BCRA make illegal regarding corporations and electioneering?

Engaging in electioneering 60 days before an election or 30 days before a primary

What movie did Citizens United make that led to the challenge against FEC (BCRA)?

Hillary

What did the Supreme Court rule in Citizens United v. FEC regarding political spending by corporations?

Protected as free speech under the 1st Amendment

What did Citziens United v. FEC create?

Super PACs

Baker v. Carr Constitutional Principle

14th Amendment Equal Protection

Baker v. Carr Facts

Tenessee had not redrawn its districts, so rural voters had more voting power than urban voters

Baker v. Carr Holding

Established "one person, one vote" and opens door to courts to review redistricting challenges

Shaw v. Reno Constituitonal Principle

14th Amednment Equal Protection

Shaw v. Reno Facts

North Carolina created an oddly shaped district to create a district with a majority of Black voters

Shaw v. Reno Holding

racial gerrymandering is unconstitutional