AP Gov Required Court Cases

Marbury v. Madison part a clause

Part A: Clause

• Article III of the Constitution (Judicial Branch)

• Supremacy Clause (Article VI)

Marbury v. Madison part b key facts

Part B: Key Facts

• William Marbury was appointed justice of the peace.

• His commission was not delivered before Thomas Jefferson took office.

• Marbury sued Secretary of State James Madison.

• The Court ruled part of the Judiciary Act of 1789 unconstitutional.

• Established judicial review — the power of the Court to declare laws unconstitutional.

Marbury v. Madison Part c impact

Part C: Impact

• Foundation for ALL later judicial review cases.

• Used in:

  • United States v. Lopez

  • Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

• Without this case, SCOTUS couldn’t strike down laws.

McCulloch v. Maryland Part a clause

Part A: Clause

• Necessary and Proper Clause

• Supremacy Clause

McCulloch v. Maryland Part b key facts

Part B: Key Facts

• Maryland taxed the Second Bank of the United States.

• McCulloch refused to pay.

• Court ruled:

  • Congress can create a national bank (implied powers).

  • States cannot tax federal institutions.

McCulloch v. Maryland Part c impact

Part C: Impact

• Strengthened federal power.

• Influences:

  • United States v. Lopez (limits on Congress’ power)

• Shows broad interpretation of federal authority.

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission Part a amendment

Part A: Amendment

• First Amendment (Freedom of Speech)

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission part b key facts

Part B: Key Facts

• Citizens United wanted to air a political film about Hillary Clinton.

• FEC said it violated campaign finance laws.

• Court ruled corporations have political speech rights.

• Struck down limits on independent expenditures.

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission part c impact

Part C: Impact

• Expanded corporate political spending.

• Increased role of Super PACs.

• Shows how judicial review (from Marbury) shapes campaign finance.

United States v. Lopez part a clause

Part A: Clause

• Commerce Clause

United States v. Lopez Part b key facts

Part B: Key Facts

• Student brought a gun to school.

• Charged under Gun-Free School Zones Act.

• Court ruled Congress exceeded Commerce Clause power.

• Guns in schools were not economic activity affecting interstate commerce.

United States v. Lopez Part c impact

Part C: Impact

• Limited federal power.

• First time since New Deal the Court restricted Commerce Clause authority.

• Pushback against broad power from McCulloch.

Baker v. Carr part a clause

Part A: Amendment

• 14th Amendment (Equal Protection Clause)

Baker v. Carr Part b key facts

Part B: Key Facts

• Tennessee districts hadn’t been redrawn in decades.

• Urban areas underrepresented.

• Court ruled redistricting is justiciable (courts can decide it).

• Established “one person, one vote.”

Baker v. Carr Part c impact

Part C: Impact

• Led to later redistricting cases like:

  • Shaw v. Reno

• Increased judicial involvement in elections.

Shaw v. Reno Part a amendment

Part A: Amendment

• 14th Amendment (Equal Protection Clause)

Shaw v. Reno Part b key facts

Part B: Key Facts

• North Carolina created oddly shaped majority-minority district.

• Voters argued racial gerrymandering.

• Court ruled race cannot be the primary factor in drawing districts without strong justification.

Shaw v. Reno Part c impact

Part C: Impact

• Limited racial gerrymandering.

• Built off Baker v. Carr.

• Shows courts regulating election fairness

Engel v. Vitale Part a clause

Part A: Clause

• First Amendment – Establishment Clause

Engel v. Vitale Part b key facts

Part B: Key Facts

• New York public schools required a short, voluntary prayer.

• Parents argued it violated separation of church and state.

• Court ruled government cannot sponsor prayer in public schools.

Engel v. Vitale Part c impact

Part C: Impact

• Strengthened separation of church and state.

• Influenced later school religion cases.

• Reinforced strict interpretation of Establishment Clause.

Wisconsin v. Yoder Part a clause

Part A: Clause

• First Amendment – Free Exercise Clause

Wisconsin v. Yoder Part b key facts

Part B: Key Facts

• Amish families refused to send children to school past 8th grade.

• Wisconsin law required attendance until age 16.

• Court ruled forcing attendance violated religious freedom.

Wisconsin v. Yoder Part c impact

Part C: Impact

• Protected religious practices from government interference.

• Shows balance between state interest and religious liberty.

Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District Part a clause

Part A: Clause

• First Amendment – Freedom of Speech

Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District Part b key facts

Part B: Key Facts

• Students wore black armbands protesting Vietnam War.

• School suspended them.

• Court ruled students have free speech rights unless it causes “substantial disruption.”

Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District Part c impact

Part C: Impact

• Protected student speech in schools.

• Standard: “substantial disruption test.”

Schenck v. United States Part a clause

Part A: Clause

• First Amendment – Freedom of Speech

Schenck v. United States Part b key facts

Part B: Key Facts

• Schenck distributed leaflets opposing the draft during WWI.

• Charged under Espionage Act.

• Court ruled speech can be limited if it presents a “clear and present danger.”

Schenck v. United States Part c impact

Part C: Impact

• Allowed government to limit speech in wartime.

• Contrast with Tinker (more protective of speech).

New York Times Co. v. United States Part a clause

Part A: Clause

• First Amendment – Freedom of the Press

New York Times Co. v. United States Part b key facts

Part B: Key Facts

• NYT published Pentagon Papers about Vietnam War.

• Government tried to block publication (prior restraint).

• Court ruled government cannot censor press unless national security risk is extremely serious.

New York Times Co. v. United States Part c impact

Part C: Impact

• Limited prior restraint.

• Strengthened press protections against government.

McDonald v. City of Chicago Part a amendment

Part A: Amendment

• Second Amendment

• 14th Amendment – Due Process Clause (incorporation)

McDonald v. City of Chicago Part b key facts

Part B: Key Facts

• Chicago banned handguns.

• Court ruled Second Amendment applies to states through selective incorporation.

McDonald v. City of Chicago Part c impact

Part C: Impact

• Expanded gun rights at state level.

• Example of incorporation doctrine

Gideon v. Wainwright Part a amendment

Part A: Amendment

• Sixth Amendment – Right to Counsel

• Applied through 14th Amendment

Gideon v. Wainwright Part b key facts

Part B: Key Facts

• Gideon was denied a lawyer because crime wasn’t capital.

• Represented himself and lost.

• Court ruled states must provide attorneys in felony cases.

Gideon v. Wainwright Part c impact

Part C: Impact

• Expanded rights of accused.

• Incorporated Bill of Rights protections to states.

Brown v. Board of Education Part a amendment

Part A: Amendment

• 14th Amendment – Equal Protection Clause

Brown v. Board of Education Part b key facts

Part B: Key Facts

• Segregated public schools in Kansas.

• Overturned “separate but equal.”

• Court ruled segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

Brown v. Board of Education Part c impact

Part C: Impact

• Major civil rights victory.

• Led to desegregation nationwide.

• Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson.

• Increased judicial role in protecting minority rights.