US Supreme Court Cases and Constitutional Law

Vocabulary-style flashcards based on lecture notes regarding key US Supreme Court cases, relevant constitutional clauses, and legal holdings.

Marbury v. Madison

Established the principle of judicial review, allowing the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional. This was confirmed when John Adams appointed judges, but William Marbury never received his commission.

McCulloch v. Maryland

Held that the national bank is constitutional under the necessary and proper clause; also stated that states cannot tax federal institutions, after Maryland taxed the bank.

Gideon v. Wainwright

Determined that the $6 ext{th}$ amendment guarantees the right to counsel in criminal cases, requiring states to provide attorneys when a poor defendant is denied a lawyer.

Griswold v. Connecticut

Recognized a right to privacy under the $1 ext{st}$, $3 ext{rd}$, $4 ext{th}$, and $9 ext{th}$ amendments in response to a law prohibiting married couples from using birth control.

Citizens United v. FEC

Ruled that corporations and unions can spend unlimited independent money during elections under the $1 ext{st}$ amendment free speech clause.

United States v. Lopez

Declared the Gun-Free School Zones Act unconstitutional, emphasizing the limitations of Congress under the commerce clause.

Engel v. Vitale

Ruled that school-sponsored prayer violates the establishment clause of the $1 ext{st}$ amendment.

Wisconsin v. Yoder

Found that the free exercise clause of the $1 ext{st}$ amendment allows a religious exemption for Amish children from mandatory schooling past the $8 ext{th}$ grade.

Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District

Established that symbolic speech, like wearing armbands in protest, is protected under the $1 ext{st}$ amendment in schools.

New York Times Co. v. United States

Determined that the government's attempt to block the publication of the Pentagon Papers was an unconstitutional prior restraint under the $1 ext{st}$ amendment free press clause.

Schenck v. United States

Introduced the 'clear and present danger' standard for limiting speech, as exemplified in the case involving anti-draft pamphlets during WWI.

McDonald v. City of Chicago

Applied the $2 ext{nd}$ amendment to the States through the $14 ext{th}$ amendment incorporation mechanism, challenging the Chicago gun ban.

Brown v. Board of Education

Declared school segregation unconstitutional under the $14 ext{th}$ amendment, effectively overturning Plessy v. Ferguson and the 'separate but equal' doctrine.

Miller v. Johnson

Ruled that a racially gerrymandered district in North Carolina is unconstitutional if race is the dominant factor, under the equal protection clause of the $14 ext{th}$ amendment.

Baker v. Carr

Established the principle of 'one person, one vote' under the $14 ext{th}$ amendment equal protection clause, allowing courts to hear cases regarding redistricting and legislative districts.