ap gov court case

must know

Marbury v Madison

supreme court can declare laws unconstitutional (judicial review)

McCulloch v Maryland

Congress can make a national back and states can’t tax it (more federal power + elastic clause)

US v Lopez

limit commerce clause

congress crossed a line regulating guns in school (federal power has limit)

Brown v Board

segregation in schools is unconstitutional (equal protection clause)

Plessy v Ferguson

separate but equal is constitutional (before brown v board)

Tinker v Des Moines

Students can express views if it doesn’t create a harmful environment

Schenk v US

speech can be limited if it causes danger

NYT v US

freedom of the press and prior restraint cant be used so easy by the government

Wisconsin v Yoder

Amish can be pulled from school for religion (free exercise clause)

Gideon v Wainwright

government can provide lawyers if you can’t afford one

Baker v Carr

federal court can hear redistricting cases (redistricting is justiciable)

Shaw v Reno

districts on race is against equal protection clause

Citizens United v FEC

corporations can spend unlimited money for political ads

Strict scrutiny

applies to race and fundamental rights

government must prove

1. compelling government interest

2. narrowly tailored

3. least restrictive means

used when law treats people differently on race

Intermediate scrutiny

used if law treats men and women differently

government must prove

1. important government objective

2. substantially related

Rational basis test

if a law doesnt target a suspect (race or gender) this can be used. this includes

age

disability

wealth

business

government must prove a reasonable purpose

Tinker standard

test to decide when a school can punish a student for what they say and wear.

Lemon test

determine if government actions violate the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause.