Required Supreme Court Cases - Constitutional Principle in question

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Established that Congress has implied powers and that federal laws are supreme over state laws.

United States v. Lopez (1995)

Ruled that Congress had exceeded its authority under the Commerce Clause by criminalizing gun possession in a school zone.

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Allowed federal courts to intervene in and decide redistricting cases based on the Equal Protection Clause.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Racial gerrymandering is unconstitutional if race is the predominant factor in drawing districts.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Established the Supreme Court’s power to declare laws unconstitutional through Judicial Review.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

School-sponsored prayer in public schools violates the Establishment Clause of the 1st Amendment.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

Compulsory school attendance laws violated Amish families’ right to freely exercise their religion.

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

Students do not lose their free speech rights at school; symbolic speech (armbands) is protected.

Schenck v. United States (1919)

Speech can be limited if it presents a 'clear and present danger' to national security.

New York Times v. United States (1971)

The government cannot censor or block publication unless it poses a direct threat to national security.

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

The 2nd Amendment applies to the states through the 14th Amendment's Due Process Clause.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

States are required to provide attorneys to defendants who cannot afford one under the Right to Counsel.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional; 'separate but equal' is inherently unequal.