SCOTUS Cases

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Established supremacy of the U.S. Constitution and federal laws over state laws.

United States v. Lopez (1995)

Congress may not use the commerce clause to make possession of a gun in a school zone a federal crime.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

School sponsorship of religious activities violates the establishment clause.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

Compelling Amish students to attend school past the eighth grade violates the free exercise clause.

Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969)

Public school students have the right to wear black armbands in school to protest the Vietnam War.

New York Times Co. v. United States (1971)

This case bolstered the freedom of the press, establishing a 'heavy presumption against prior restraint' even in cases involving national security.

Schenck v. United States (1919)

Speech creating a 'clear and present danger' is not protected by the First Amendment.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Guaranteed the right to an attorney for the poor or indigent in a state felony case.

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

The Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms for self-defense is applicable to the states.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Race-based school segregation violates the equal protection clause.

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)

Political spending by corporations, associations, and labor unions is a form of protected speech under the First Amendment.

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Opened the door to equal protection challenges to redistricting and developed the 'one person, one vote' doctrine.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Majority-minority districts may be constitutionally challenged if race is the only factor used in creating the district.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Established the principle of judicial review, empowering the Supreme Court to nullify acts that violate the Constitution.