GOPO Unit 3 SCOTUS Cases, Amendments, and Documents

SCOTUS Cases that are tied to Bill of Rights, Amendments, and Documents that are necessary

Schenck v. U. S. (1919)

Speech representing “a clear and present danger” is not protected (1) Because the pamphlets could have caused mass-protests and rebellion, there was iminent danger from the speech, allowing the government to restrict it.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

School-sponsored prayer violates the establishment clause (1) Created a precedence of not allowing student-led prayer in official public school events and the government cannot endorse or deny any religions

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

Students in public schools are allowed to wear armbands as symbolic speech (1) Students do not shed their rights unless it creates a substantial disruption in the school environment.

NYT v. U.S. (1971)

The government cannot forbid a press publication ahead of time (1) The government cannot apply prior restraint unless the publication will create inevitable, direct, and immediate danger for the U.S. or its citizens

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

The right to bear arms to protect one’s property (2)

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

States must provide poor defendants with an attorney (6)

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Abortion is in a woman’s privacy, but states have a legitimate interest in protection of the unborn (1, 3, 4, 5, 9)

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

The state or national government cannot create laws that violate the free exercise clause, meaning that laws cannot violate a religious way of life (2)

Mc. Donald v. Chicago (2010)

The 2nd Amendment must be protected by states based on the due process clause of the 14th amendment (2) An individual has the right to “keep and bear arms,” which means that the individual states do not have the power to create or enforce gun laws. (Supremacy Clause)

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

States must provide an attorney for defendants who can’t afford one to guarantee a fair trial (6) Applies the 6th amendment to all states through selective incorporation and the 14th amendment.

First Amendment

freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and press

Second Amendment

right to bear arms

third amendment

right to not quarter soldiers

fourth amendment

right against unreasonable search and seizure

Fifth Amendment

Protects against self-incrimination, double jeopardy, and ensures just compensation for property takings.

Sixth Amendment

Ensures the right to a speedy trial, an impartial jury, to be informed of charges, to confront witnesses, to call witnesses, and to legal representation.

Seventh Amendment

Guarantees the right to a jury trial in civil cases.

Eigth Amendment

Protects against cruel and unusual punishment

Ninth Amendment

The people have rights that are not stated in the constitution

Tenth Amendment

The rights not reserved for the national government will go to the states, local government, or the people

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

This landmark case ruled that racial segregation in public schools violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, overturning the 'separate but equal' doctrine established by Plessy v. Ferguson (1896).

Fourteenth Amendment

Grants citizenship to all born or naturalized in the U.S. and ensures equal protection under the law.

Twenty Fourth Amendment

made illegal any tax related to the voting process

Civil Rights Act of 1968

made illegal the practice of selling real estate based on race, color, religion, national origin, or gender

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, and ended segregation in public places and schools.

Dr. Martin Luther King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail

Defends the strategy of nonviolent resistance to racism. Says people have a moral responsibility to break unjust laws and to take direct action rather than waiting potentially forever for justice to come through the courts.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Federal law aimed at removing voting barriers for African Americans and enforcing voting rights under the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments.

Nineteenth Amendment

Women can vote!

Judiciary Act 1789

established the federal judiciary system in the United States, including the Supreme Court and lower federal courts, and outlined their jurisdiction.

Baker v. Carr

Established the principle of “one person, one vote.” The apportionment lines had not been redrawn, making unequal representation. This violated the 14th and established precedents for fed intervening in apportionment issues and apportionment standards.

Shaw v. Reno

Apportionment made the votes skewed towards AA ppl, ppl argued that it violated the 14th because it gave more power to a certain group intentionally. Ruling was that the apportionment was unconstitutional because it was drawn primarily on race. Race can be a consideration, but should not be the predominant factor.

Citizens United v. FEC

ruled that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts cannot be limited under the First Amendment, leading to increased political spending by corporations and unions.

money = speech, but allows dark money

12th Amendment

VP is picked by president and must be the same party

13th Amendment

ended slavery

14th Amendment

Guarantees all citizenship; Equal Protection and Due Process

15th Amendment

Gave AA the right to vote and no colorism w voting

16th Amendment

Federal income tax: gives a major source of revenue for the gov

17th Amendment

Established direct election of United States Senators by popular vote, replacing state legislature election.

Full Faith and Credit

A clause in the Constitution that requires states to recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state, ensuring legal consistency.

Commerce Clause

Cong has the power to regulate all business activities over state and international lines.

Due Process

A constitutional guarantee that legal proceedings will be fair and that individuals will be given notice and an opportunity to be heard, protecting their rights from arbitrary action.

Equal Protection

prohibits states from denying equal protection of the law/discrimination

Elastic

grants Congress the power to pass necessary laws to fulfill its Constitutional powers

Establishment

no religion should be established, favored, or discriminated against by the government

Supremacy

federal law is that supreme law of the land (fed>state)