Supreme Court Cases

Marbury v. Madison 1803

established judicial review by holding that the Court can strike down national laws that conflict with the Constitution which strengthened the judiciary as an equal branch

McCulloch v. Maryland 1819

ruled that Congress has implied powers such as creating a national bank and that states cannot interfere with or tax federal institutions which reinforced federal supremacy

Brown v. Board of Education 1954

declared that segregated public schools violated equal protection because separation created unequal conditions which overturned Plessy and required integration

Gideon v. Wainwright 1963

held that states must provide attorneys to criminal defendants who cannot afford one because fair trials require legal counsel

Tinker v. Des Moines School District 1969

protected students wearing armbands as symbolic speech and ruled that schools cannot restrict student expression unless it causes substantial disruption

Roe v. Wade 1973

recognized that the right to privacy protects a woman's choice to have an abortion within a trimester framework which limited state restrictions

United States v. Lopez 1995

struck down a federal gun free school zone law because carrying a gun in a school zone is not economic activity and Congress exceeded its Commerce Clause power

Baker v. Carr 1961

held that federal courts can review legislative district maps and that unequal districts can violate equal protection which led to the one person one vote standard

Engel v. Vitale 1962

banned school sponsored prayer in public schools because government led prayer violates the Establishment Clause even if participation is voluntary

New York Times Company v. U S 1971

protected the press from prior restraint when the government tried to block publication of the Pentagon Papers because national security claims were insufficient

Schenck v. United States 1919

upheld punishment for distributing anti draft leaflets and created the clear and present danger test which allows limits on speech that threatens national security during wartime

McDonald v. Chicago 2010

ruled that the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms applies to states through incorporation which restricted states from banning handguns

Shaw v. Reno 1993

ruled that racially drawn districts are unconstitutional if race is the main factor because they violate equal protection even if the goal is minority representation

Wisconsin v. Yoder 1972

held that Amish families could withdraw their children after eighth grade because compulsory schooling laws burdened free exercise rights

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission 2010

ruled that independent political spending by corporations and unions is protected speech which allowed unlimited election related spending outside campaigns