SC Cases Rulings: AP Gov

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Established judicial review, giving the Court power to declare laws unconstitutional.

Background: Ruled for Marbury, a newly appointed judge, sued for his undelivered commission and won. However, the law granting the writ of mandamus improperly expanded the court's original jurisdiction.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Upheld implied powers under the Necessary and Proper Clause, justified the Second National Bank in Maryland, and denied states the power to tax the federal government, upholding the Supremacy Clause. (McCulloch won)

United States v. Lopez (1995)

Limited Congress's commerce clause power, striking down a federal gun-free school zone law. Win for the States. (Lopez won)

Baker v. Carr (1962)

(TN Redistricting), Established "One person, one vote" by allowing federal courts to review redistricting cases under the Equal Protection Clause. (Baker won)

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

(North Carolina) Ruled that racial gerrymandering violates the Equal Protection Clause. (Shaw won)

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Ruled that school segregation unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause.

New York Times v. United States (1971)

Ruled that the government could not use prior restraint to stop newspapers from publishing the Pentagon Papers because it failed to prove that publication would cause a "serious and immediate threat to national security," protecting freedom of the press.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) (main takeaway)

Protected freedom of religion under the Free Exercise Clause, exempting Amish students from state compulsory schooling since it interfered with their religious practices and way of life.

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

Wearing black armbands in protest was protected symbolic speech because it did not disrupt the learning environment, and Ruled that students have First Amendment free‑speech rights in school.
(Vietnam War)

Schenck v. United States (1919)

Ruled that speech creating a "Clear and Present Danger" is not protected by the First Amendment and allowing limits on speech during wartime. Upheld his conviction.

(Schenck distributed anti-war leaflets during WW1)

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

Ruled that the Second Amendment right to bear arms applies to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause, so Chicago's handgun ban was unconstitutional.

(Selective Incorporation)

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Established that the Sixth Amendment right to a lawyer applies to state courts through the Fourteenth Amendment.

Clarence Gideon, charged with felony breaking and entering in Florida, was denied a court-appointed lawyer because of a state law.
The Supreme Court ruled that states must provide attorneys to poor defendants in criminal cases, ensuring fair trials.

(Selective Incorporation)

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Separation of church and state. Struck down school-sponsored prayer under the Establishment Clause. (Engel won)

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)

Held that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts is protected free speech under the First Amendment. Led to the rise of PACs and Super PACs (Citizens United won)