AP US Government & Politics Supreme Court Cases

Flashcards for AP United States Government & Politics Supreme Court Cases

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Congress may establish a national bank, and states may NOT tax the national government. Congress has implied powers and the national government is superior to state governments when the two conflict.

United States v. Lopez (1995)

The Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 is unconstitutional because possession of a gun in a school zone does not substantially affect any sort of interstate commerce. The Tenth Amendment protects state power and the commerce clause does not grant Congress endless power.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

States cannot hold prayers in public schools, even if participation is voluntary and the prayer isn't tied to a specific religion. State-sponsored prayer in public schools violates the establishment clause.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

Compelling Amish students to attend public school beyond 8th grade violates the free exercise clause. Individuals' interest in free exercise of religion outweighs the state's interest in compelling school attendance beyond 8th grade.

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

Students have free speech rights at school, unless it substantially interferes with the operation of the school. The students' right of political, symbolic speech overrode the school administrators' concern for potential disorder.

New York Times v. United States (1971)

The government did not have the right to block publication of the Pentagon Papers. There is a heavy presumption against the constitutional validity of government claims of prior restraint due to the First Amendment's freedom of the press.

Schenck v. United States (1919)

The Espionage Act did not violate the First Amendment and was an appropriate exercise of Congress' wartime authority. The First Amendment's free speech guarantee does not shield advocacy urging unlawful conduct or speech that creates a clear and present danger.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

States must provide attorneys for defendants who can't afford one. The Sixth Amendment's guarantee to the right of counsel applies to defendants in state court by way of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Roe v. Wade (1973)

A woman has a right to an abortion based on the right to privacy. A woman's right to an abortion is within the right to privacy as recognized in Griswold v. Connecticut and incorporated through the 14th Amendment.

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

The 2nd Amendment's right to bear arms for the purpose of self-defense applies to the states. The 2nd Amendment establishes an individual right to bear arms and through the 14th Amendment's due process clause applies to states.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Racial segregation of public schools allowed by "separate but equal" principle of Plessy v. Ferguson is unconstitutional. Racially segregated schools violate the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)

Corporate funding of independent political expenditures cannot be limited. Corporations have the right to engage in political speech based on the First Amendment's free speech clause.

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Apportionment claims are justiciable in federal court. Under the equal protection clause the appellants had a right to challenge unequal apportionment. Led to "one person, one vote” principle that increased democracy and voting rights of minorities

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Congressional districts cannot be drawn based only on race. Drawing a congressional district based only on race violated the equal protection clause and opposes the "colorblind” ideal of U.S. law.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Congress couldn't pass legislation that supersedes the Constitution because the supremacy clause places the Constitution above laws. Established judicial review: the power to declare a law unconstitutional.