Required SCOTUS Cases for the AP U.S. Gov't & Politics Exam

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering the required SCOTUS cases, key facts, and constitutional principles from the provided lecture notes for AP U.S. Government & Politics.

Under Article III of the U.S. Constitution, which type of jurisdiction describes cases that are first argued in lower courts before being reviewed by the Supreme Court?

Appellate jurisdiction

What command did the Judiciary Act of 1789 authorize the Supreme Court to issue to public officials, which was at the center of Marbury v. Madison (1803)?

Writs of mandamus

What landmark principle was established in Marbury v. Madison (1803)?

Judicial review, which gives the judicial branch the power to strike down laws and actions that conflict with the Constitution.

In McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), which constitutional clause did the Court use to justify the federal government's authority to establish a national bank?

The Necessary and Proper Clause (Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18).

Why did the Supreme Court rule in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) that Maryland could not tax the national bank?

Based on the Supremacy Clause, the Court determined that states have no power to retard, impede, or control the operation of constitutional laws passed by Congress.

What test was established in Schenck v. United States (1919) to determine the limits of free speech?

The 'clear and present danger' test.

According to the ruling in Schenck v. United States (1919), how does the context of war affect the government's ability to limit speech?

During war, many things that might be said in time of peace can be a hindrance to the national effort and will not be endured by the Court.

Which 1896 Supreme Court decision established the 'separate but equal' doctrine, providing the legal foundation for Jim Crow segregation?

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

What was the central conclusion of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954) regarding segregated educational facilities?

Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal and violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

What phrase did the Supreme Court use in Brown v. Board of Education II to mandate the timing of school desegregation?

With all deliberate speed

In Baker v. Carr (1962), the Court ruled that challenges to legislative districts could be heard by federal courts because they were not what?

A 'political question'

What standard resulted from the cases following Baker v. Carr (1962), requiring legislative districts to have roughly equal populations?

The 'one person, one vote' standard.

In Engel v. Vitale (1962), the Court ruled that school-sponsored prayer violated which part of the First Amendment?

The Establishment Clause

What did the Court decide in Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) regarding indigent defendants in state courts?

The Sixth Amendment right to the assistance of counsel is a fundamental right and requires state courts to appoint lawyers for defendants who cannot afford them.

According to Tinker v. Des Moines (1969), when can a school district limit students’ First Amendment right to free speech?

Only when the school can provide evidence that the speech will cause a 'material and substantial disruption' to school discipline or the educational function.

What is the primary significance of New York Times Co. v. United States (1971)?

It established a 'heavy presumption against prior restraint,' making it very difficult for the government to prevent information from being published on national security grounds.

In Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972), the Court ruled that the state's interest in compulsory education was outweighed by the respondents' rights under which clause?

The Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.

What criteria did Shaw v. Reno (1993) establish for challenging redistricting plans under the Equal Protection Clause?

If a redistricting plan cannot rationally be understood as anything other than an effort to divide voters based on their race, it may be challenged as unconstitutional racial gerrymandering.

Why did the Supreme Court strike down the Gun-Free School Zones Act in United States v. Lopez (1995)?

The Court ruled that carrying a gun in a school zone is not an economic activity, and therefore Congress exceeded its authority under the Commerce Clause.

In Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010), the Court ruled that the First Amendment prohibits limits on what type of spending by corporations and unions?

Independent expenditures for political broadcasts in candidate elections.

What was the direct impact of the Citizens United v. FEC (2010) decision on campaign finance?

It prompted the creation of 'Super PACs' that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to support or oppose candidates.

What did McDonald v. City of Chicago (2010) decide regarding the Second Amendment?

The Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms for self-defense is fully applicable to state and local governments through the 14th Amendment's Due Process Clause.