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Marbury v. Madison Facts

William Marbury was appointed as Justice of the Peace, but his commission was not delivered by Secretary of State James Madison.

Marbury v. Madison Issue

Does the Supreme Court have the authority to issue a writ of mandamus under 28 U.S.C. § 1331?

Marbury v. Madison Holding

No, the Supreme Court lacked original jurisdiction in this case.

Marbury v. Madison Reasoning

The Judiciary Act of 1789 extended the Court's original jurisdiction beyond what is established in the Constitution, making it unconstitutional.

Marbury v. Madison Decision

Established the principle of judicial review, allowing the Supreme Court to nullify unconstitutional laws.

Marbury v. Madison Opinion

The judiciary has the ultimate authority to interpret the Constitution.

McCulloch v. Maryland Facts

The state of Maryland imposed a tax on the Second Bank of the United States.

McCulloch v. Maryland Issue

Can Congress create a national bank, and can states levy taxes on it?

McCulloch v. Maryland Holding

Yes, Congress has the authority to create a national bank, and states cannot tax it.

McCulloch v. Maryland Reasoning

The Necessary and Proper Clause grants implied powers to Congress, and the Supremacy Clause establishes that federal law takes precedence over state law.

McCulloch v. Maryland Decision

Strengthened the power of the federal government relative to the states.

McCulloch v. Maryland Opinion

Federal laws are supreme over state laws due to the Supremacy Clause.

Schenck v. United States Facts

Charles Schenck was convicted for distributing pamphlets urging resistance to the draft during World War I.

Schenck v. United States Issue

Is speech that incites a clear and present danger protected by the First Amendment?

Schenck v. United States Holding

No, speech that poses a clear and present danger is not protected.

Schenck v. United States Reasoning

The government can limit speech that threatens national security, particularly during wartime.

Schenck v. United States Decision

Upheld Schenck's conviction.

Schenck v. United States Opinion

First Amendment rights can be limited when there is a significant risk to public safety.

Brown v. Board of Education Facts

Public schools were segregated based on race following the Plessy v. Ferguson precedent.

Brown v. Board Issue

Does racial segregation in public schools violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment?

Brown v. Board Holding

Yes, racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional.

Brown v. Board Reasoning

Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal and violate the Constitution.

Brown v. Board Decision

Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson's separate but equal doctrine.

Brown v. Board Opinion

The Constitution requires public schools to be integrated.

Baker v. Carr Facts

Tennessee had not redistricted in over 60 years, leading to unequal representation.

Baker v. Carr Issue

Can federal courts adjudicate disputes over legislative redistricting?

Baker v. Carr Holding

Yes, federal courts have jurisdiction to hear redistricting cases.

Baker v. Carr Reasoning

The Equal Protection Clause allows federal courts to intervene in cases of unequal representation.

Baker v. Carr Decision

Established the principle of one person, one vote.

Baker v. Carr Opinion

Federal courts can rule on legislative apportionment to ensure equality.

Engel v. Vitale Facts

New York State authorized a short, voluntary prayer for recitation at the start of each school day.

Engel v. Vitale Issue

Does school-sponsored prayer violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment?

Engel v. Vitale Holding

Yes, school-sponsored prayer is unconstitutional.

Engel v. Vitale Reasoning

Government cannot promote or endorse a particular religion.

Engel v. Vitale Decision

School-sponsored prayer is a violation of the Constitution.

Engel v. Vitale Opinion

There must be a strict separation of church and state.

Gideon v. Wainwright Facts

Clarence Earl Gideon was charged with a felony and denied a lawyer.

Gideon v. Wainwright Issue

Must states provide counsel for defendants unable to afford one?

Gideon v. Wainwright Holding

Yes, states are required to provide an attorney for defendants in criminal cases.

Gideon v. Wainwright Reasoning

The Sixth Amendment right to counsel is applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment.

Gideon v. Wainwright Decision

Expanded the rights of the accused.

Gideon v. Wainwright Opinion

The right to counsel is fundamental to a fair trial.

Tinker v. Des Moines Facts

Students wore black armbands to school to protest the Vietnam War.

Tinker v. Des Moines Issue

Is student speech protected under the First Amendment?

Tinker v. Des Moines Holding

Yes, student speech is protected if it does not disrupt the educational process.

Tinker v. Des Moines Reasoning

Students do not lose their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse gate.

Tinker v. Des Moines Decision

Protected symbolic speech in schools.

Tinker v. Des Moines Opinion

Schools cannot suppress non-disruptive expression.

New York Times v. United States Facts

The Nixon administration attempted to prevent the New York Times from publishing the Pentagon Papers.

New York Times v. US Issue

Is prior restraint of the press allowed under the First Amendment?

New York Times v. US Holding

No, prior restraint is not permitted.

New York Times v. US Reasoning

There is a heavy presumption against censorship in a free society.

New York Times v. US Decision

Protected the freedom of the press.

New York Times v. US Opinion

National security does not justify prior restraint of publication.

Wisconsin v. Yoder Facts

Amish families refused to send their children to school after eighth grade due to their religious beliefs.

Wisconsin v. Yoder Issue

Does compulsory school attendance violate the free exercise of religion?

Wisconsin v. Yoder Holding

Yes, it does.

Wisconsin v. Yoder Reasoning

The right to freely exercise one's religion outweighs the state's interest in compulsory education.

Wisconsin v. Yoder Decision

Favored the Amish families' right to religious freedom.

Wisconsin v. Yoder Opinion

Strong protection of the free exercise of religion.

Shaw v. Reno Facts

North Carolina's congressional redistricting plan consisted of oddly shaped districts aimed at increasing minority representation.

Shaw v. Reno Issue

Can race-based redistricting be challenged under the Equal Protection Clause?

Shaw v. Reno Holding

Yes, it can be challenged.

Shaw v. Reno Reasoning

If race is the predominant factor in districting, it violates the Equal Protection Clause.

Shaw v. Reno Decision

Limited the practice of racial gerrymandering.

Shaw v. Reno Opinion

Race cannot be the sole factor in determining congressional district boundaries.

United States v. Lopez Facts

A high school student was charged for bringing a concealed firearm onto school premises.

United States v. Lopez Issue

Does the Commerce Clause allow Congress to regulate firearms near schools?

United States v. Lopez Holding

No, Congress does not have that authority under the Commerce Clause.

United States v. Lopez Reasoning

Possession of a firearm in a school zone is not an economic activity and does not substantially affect interstate commerce.

United States v. Lopez Decision

Limited the scope of federal power under the Commerce Clause.

United States v. Lopez Opinion

Congress has limits to its regulatory powers.

McDonald v. Chicago Facts

Chicago enacted a handgun ban that effectively prohibited the possession of handguns.

McDonald v. Chicago Issue

Does the Second Amendment apply to state laws through the Fourteenth Amendment?

McDonald v. Chicago Holding

Yes, it applies to state laws.

McDonald v. Chicago Reasoning

The Second Amendment is incorporated by the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause.

McDonald v. Chicago Decision

Expanded individual gun rights.

McDonald v. Chicago Opinion

The right to bear arms applies at the state level.

Citizens United v. FEC Facts

Citizens United challenged federal laws limiting corporate funding of political campaigns.

Citizens United v. FEC Issue

Does political spending by corporations constitute protected speech under the First Amendment?

Citizens United v. FEC Holding

Yes, it is protected speech.

Citizens United v. FEC Reasoning

Political spending is equivalent to free speech under the First Amendment.

Citizens United v. FEC Decision

Struck down limits on independent spending by corporations.

Citizens United v. FEC Opinion

First Amendment protections extend to corporations in political spending.

Articles of Confederation

Established a weak national government with strong state power; no executive branch, judiciary, or power to tax; required unanimous consent to amend, leading to issues like debt and Shays' Rebellion.

Brutus No. 1

An Anti-Federalist argument against the Constitution, claiming it creates excessive federal power; critiques the Necessary and Proper and Supremacy Clauses; fears a large republic leads to tyranny and loss of liberty.

Declaration of Independence

States the principles of natural rights—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; establishes the social contract and popular sovereignty; asserts that government power derives from the consent of the governed, and justifies rebellion against unjust governments.

Constitution

Establishes a stronger federal government with a system of separation of powers, checks and balances, and federalism; includes the elastic clause, supremacy clause, and amendment process to balance stability with flexibility.

Federalist No. 10

Argues that factions are inevitable but dangerous; a large republic controls factions through pluralism, preventing majority tyranny.

Federalist No. 51

Emphasizes the necessity of separation of powers and checks and balances; states that ambition must counteract ambition to protect liberty.

Federalist No. 70

Argues for a strong single executive to ensure energy, decisiveness, and accountability, which are essential for enforcing laws.

Federalist No. 78

Claims that the judiciary is the least dangerous branch; supports the principle of judicial review and advocates for lifetime appointments to ensure independence.

Letter from Birmingham Jail

Justifies civil disobedience against unjust laws, distinguishes between just and unjust laws, criticizes delays in justice, and calls for immediate action.

Marbury v. Madison Decision

Established the principle of judicial review, allowing the Supreme Court to nullify unconstitutional laws.

Marbury v. Madison Opinion

The judiciary has the ultimate authority to interpret the Constitution.

McCulloch v. Maryland Facts

The state of Maryland imposed a tax on the Second Bank of the United States.

McCulloch v. Maryland Issue

Can Congress create a national bank, and can states levy taxes on it?

McCulloch v. Maryland Holding

Yes, Congress has the authority to create a national bank, and states cannot tax it.

McCulloch v. Maryland Reasoning

The Necessary and Proper Clause grants implied powers to Congress, and the Supremacy Clause establishes that federal law takes precedence over state law.

McCulloch v. Maryland Decision

Strengthened the power of the federal government relative to the states.