Landmark Court Cases

Marbury v Madison

Established precedent of Judicial Review. Strengthened power of Judicial Review. Supreme Court can nullify an ac of legislative or executive branch that violates Constitution

McCullough v. Maryland

Ruled that through the necessary and proper clause the federal government had the right to open a bank. Supremacy of Constitution and federal law over state laws

United States v. Lopez

Congress doesn’t have authority under Commerce Clause to outlaw guns near school. Congress can’t use Commerce Clause to make having a gun in a school zone a federal crime

Schenck v. United States

Defendant was handing out anti-draft pamphlets during WWI and was not protected under the 1st amendment because it created a “clear and present danger”

Engel v. Vitals

State-sponsored prayer in public school is an unconstitutional violation of Establishment Clause. Schools can’t sponsor religious activities and states can’t sponsor public school prayers

Gideon v. Wainwright

Case that ruled under the 6th and 14th amendment that a right to counsel provision applies to those accused of major crimes under state laws. Guarantees right to an attorney for the poor or indigent

Tinker v. Des Moines

Students have the right to express their freedom of speech with symbolic speech of wristbands to protest the Vietnam war because it doesn’t cause a disruption

Wisconsin v. Yoder

Amish community wanted to pull children out of school but state didn’t allow it. Supreme Court ruled that the state of Wisconsin can’t force compulsory education because it violates their freedom of religion

Roe v. Wade

Decision to obtain an abortion is protected by right to privacy implied by Bill of Rights, protecting women’s rights

Dobbs v. Women’s Health

Overturned Roe v. Wade

McDonald v. Chicago

Ruled that a persons right to bear arms under the second amendment applied at the state and local levels

Brown v. Board

Ruled that racially segregated schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of 14th amendment. Reversed “separate but equal” laws

Baker v. Carr

State legislative districts to be as equal as possible. Federal courts have power to intervene and decide redistributing case

Shaw v. Reno

No racial gerrymandering allowed. Race can’t determine how legislative boundaries are drawn

Citizens United v. F.E.C

Polical spending by corporations, associations, and labor unions are protected and can’t be limited by law; Money = Free Speech

New York Times v. U.S

Press released “Pentagon Papers” and government tries to get it removed, but court ruled hat it’s not a threat to national security and was allowed to be published under the 1st amendment.