Required Court Cases

These are the court cases you need to know for the AP Exam

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Established judicial review by ruling that the Supreme Court can declare laws unconstitutional, strengthening the judicial branch’s power

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Upheld Congress’s implied powers under the Necessary and Proper Clause and ruled that states cannot tax federal institutions due to the Supremacy Clause

Schenck v. United States (1919)

Established the “clear and present danger” test, allowing the government to limit speech that threatens national security

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, overturning “separate but equal” and advancing civil rights

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Established that federal courts can hear redistricting cases, leading to the principle of “one person, one vote”

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Ruled that school-sponsored prayer violates the Establishment Clause, reinforcing separation of church and state

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Guaranteed the right to an attorney in criminal cases for those who cannot afford one, applying the 6th Amendment to the states

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

Protected students’ symbolic speech in schools as long as it does not disrupt the educational environment

New York Times v. United States (1971)

Limited prior restraint by allowing publication of the Pentagon Papers, reinforcing freedom of the press

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

Ruled that compulsory education laws cannot violate religious freedom, strengthening the Free Exercise Clause

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Held that racial gerrymandering violates the Equal Protection Clause if race is the primary factor in districting

United States v. Lopez (1995)

Limited Congress’s Commerce Clause power by ruling that gun possession in schools is not interstate commerce

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

Incorporated the 2nd Amendment to the states through the 14th Amendment’s Due Process Clause

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

Ruled that corporations and unions can spend unlimited money on political campaigns as protected speech