Landmark Supreme Court Cases

Marbury v Madison

Enabled Court t invalidate unconstitutional laws and executive actions throughout American history

Cooper v Aaron

Established that the Court’s constitutional interpretation bind not only the parties to specific cases but also governmental officials generally, ensures uniform constitutional application across the nation while preventing officials selectively implementing constitutional requirements based on personal/political preferences

McCulloch v Maryland

Enabled federal legislation addressing numerous issues not specifically mentioned in the Constitution from environmental protection to civil rights to healthcare regulation

Gibbons v Ogden

Established federal authority over interstate waterways and transportation, expanded the federal regulation of economic actively throughout American history, New Deal Era

United States v Lopez

Decision revitalized judicial enforcement of federalism principles, protecting states authority over matter without substantial connection to interstate commerce, equal protection clause of 14th Amendment forbids states from denying any individual equal protection regarding racial segregation, affirmative action, and other classifications

Plessy v Ferguson

Established the separate but equal doctrine which allowed racial segregation throughout American society for 60 years

Brown v Board of Education

Decision initiated the dismantling of legal segregation across American society while establishing the principle of constitutional meaning can evolve to address changing social understandings and conditions

Obergefell v Hodges

Decision reflected evolving social attitudes while extending constitutional protection to a previously excluded group, 14th Amendment, same gender marriage

Schenck v United States

Anti draft advocacy during WW1, decision limited free speech during security crises

Tinker v Des Moines

Decision established principles regarding students speech rights, tinker’s core protection is for students political expression remains influential in educational settings

Citizens v FEC

Decision overruled portions of ealier cases permitting restrictions on cooperate political spending, finding such restriction incompatible with 1st Amendment

Miranda v Arizona

Established :Miranda rights” the perhaps most widely known constitution protections

Gideon v Wainwright

Enabled access to legal representation establishing that economic status should not determine whether defendants receive adequate defense

Mapp v Ohio

Mapp strengthened 4th Amendment protections by providing a remedy ( exclusion of evidence) when police violate a constitutional search requirements