AP Government - Chapter 9: Supreme Court Cases PART ONE

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

The court found that Madison not delivering the commission was unconstitutional, but did not order him to actually deliver it. The courts said that Marbury bringing this to the Supreme Court was itself unconstitutional.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

The court held that Congress had the power to establish a bank and that Maryland couldn't tax instruments of the national government employed in the execution of constitutional powers

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

The Supreme Court concluded that regulation of navigation by steamboat owners and others for the purpose of conducting interstate commerce was a job reserved for Congress NY could not interfere with it, so the law was invalid.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

The court decided that this law was unconstitutional and that it imposed racial segregation. The Constitution was color-blind and the United States had no class system, so all citizens should have access to equal rights.

Schneck v. United States (1919)

The court held that the Espionage Act did not violate the First Amendment was an appropriate exercise of Congress' wartime authority.

Alco concluded that the First Amendment does not protect speech that created a clear and present danger that Congress has the power to prevent

Gitlow v. New York (1925)

The court concluded that New York could prohibit advocating violent efforts to overthrow the government under the Criminal Anarchy Law

Even though Gitlow's actions weren't necessarily major, the majority ruled that they could've done something bad for the country

Korematsu v. United States (1944)

The court ruled that the order was not unconstitutional, and simply was used to protect the United States from invasion and espionage by Japan.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Separate but equal educational facilities are unequal, so this violates the Equal Protection Clause.

Racial segregation in schools has a detrimental effect on minority children because it is interpreted as a sign of inferiority

Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

All evidence obtained by search and seizures in violation of the 4th amendment is not admissible in court.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

The court ruled that the state cannot hold prayers in public schools even if participation is not required and the prayer is not tied to a certain religion

The state's financing a religious exercise violated the First Amendment

Baker v. Carr (1962)

The court ruled that this issue had no questions to be asked, and that legislative apportionment was a justiciable issue.

Abbington v. Schempp (1963)

The court ruled that public schools cannot sponsor Bible readings and recitations of the Lord's Prayer under the First Amendment Establishment

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

The court unanimously decided that the states have to provide defendants counsel for those who can't get one

6th Amendment= right to counsel, and should apply to everyone, not just certain types of cases

Wesberry v. Sanders (1963)

The courts ruled that congressional districts must have a relatively equal size regarding population

Georgia's policy went again Article I Section 2

New York Times v. Sullivan (1964)

The court ruled that the 1st amendment protects the NYT and when a statement contains a public figure, it's not enough to show that it's false for the press to be liable for libel.

Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States (1964)

The court ruled (unanimously) that the motel cannot discriminate based on race.

Furthermore, since the motel is between interstates and gets most of its business from outside state lines, congress can exercise its Commerce Clause power

Griswold v. Connecticut (1965)

The court rules that there are several amendments in the Bill of Rights that prevent the states from making the use of contraception by married couples illegal

The 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 9th relations create the right to privacy in marital relations

Miranda v. Arizona (1965)

The court ruled that the 5th amendment requires law enforcement officials to advise suspects of their right to remain silent and right to an attorney.