Supreme Court Cases

Texas v. Johnson (1989)

Supreme Court ruling that burning the American flag is protected speech under the First Amendment.

Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992)

Reaffirmed Roe v. Wade, allowing states to impose restrictions on abortions as long as they do not place an 'undue burden' on women.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Court ruled that racial gerrymandering is unconstitutional, emphasizing that race cannot be the predominant factor in redistricting.

United States v. Lopez (1995)

Limited the scope of the Commerce Clause, ruling that carrying a gun in a school zone does not affect interstate commerce.

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

Incorporated the Second Amendment to the states, ruling that state governments cannot infringe on the right to bear arms.

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)

Allowed corporations to spend unlimited amounts on political campaigns, claiming spending is a form of protected speech.

Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)

Legalized same-sex marriage across the U.S., affirming marriage as a fundamental right.

Dobbs v. Jackson Whole Women’s Health Organization (2022)

Overturned Roe v. Wade, removing the federal constitutional right to abortion and returning power to states.

Tinker v. Des Moines School District (1969)

Affirmed that students have First Amendment rights at school, allowing non-disruptive political expression.

Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971)

Established the 'Lemon Test' for determining if a law violates the Establishment Clause.

New York Times v. United States (1971)

Reinforced that the government cannot prevent publication unless a direct threat to national security is proven.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

Ruled that compulsory school attendance law was unconstitutional when applied to Amish children.

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Established a woman's right to choose an abortion as part of the right to privacy.

Miller v. California (1973)

Defined obscenity and created the 'Miller Test' to identify unprotected speech.

Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

Permitted limits on individual contributions to campaigns but ruled restrictions on independent expenditures unconstitutional.

Regents of Univ. of California v. Bakke (1978)

Allowed race as a factor in college admissions while ruling racial quotas unconstitutional.

New Jersey v. TLO (1985)

Allowed school searches based on reasonable suspicion rather than probable cause, balancing safety and privacy.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Established the principle of judicial review, allowing the Supreme Court to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Confirmed federal government's implied powers, particularly regarding the creation of a national bank.

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

Strengthened federal power to regulate interstate commerce.

Barron v. Baltimore (1833)

Ruled that the Bill of Rights only applied to the federal government, not the states.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Established the 'separate but equal' doctrine, legalizing racial segregation.

Schenck v. United States (1919)

Introduced the 'clear and present danger' test for limitations on free speech.

Gitlow v. New York (1925)

Established that the Bill of Rights applies to the states through incorporation.

Powell v. Alabama (1932)

Guaranteed the right to counsel in capital cases for defendants unable to afford an attorney.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Overturned 'separate but equal,' ruling that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional.

Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

Applied the exclusionary rule to states, making illegally obtained evidence inadmissible in court.

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Allowed federal courts to intervene in redistricting cases, leading to 'one person, one vote' principle.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Prohibited state-sponsored prayer in public schools, reinforcing church-state separation.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Guaranteed legal representation for all defendants in criminal cases, regardless of ability to pay.

Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. United States (1964)

Upheld the Civil Rights Act of 1964, ruling Congress could prohibit racial discrimination in public accommodations.

Griswold v. Connecticut (1965)

Established the right to privacy in marital relations concerning contraception.

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

Established Miranda rights, requiring police to inform suspects of their rights before questioning.