Constitutional Amendments and SCOTUS Cases

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from lecture notes on Constitutional Amendments and Supreme Court Cases.

1st Amendment

Freedom of the press, speech, assembly, religion, and right to petition government.

2nd Amendment

Guarantees the right to bear arms.

3rd Amendment

Bans quartering of soldiers.

4th Amendment

Freedom from unreasonable search and seizure.

5th Amendment

Freedom from self-incrimination, right to fair justice; prevents double jeopardy.

6th Amendment

Right to a fair trial and an attorney; guarantees Due Process.

7th Amendment

Right to a speedy trial and a jury trial in civil cases.

8th Amendment

Prohibits excessive bail and cruel/unusual punishments.

9th Amendment

Equal protection of enumerated and unenumerated rights.

10th Amendment

Powers not given to the federal government are reserved for the states and its people.

11th Amendment

People cannot sue a state from federal court without state consent.

12th Amendment

Electors vote separately for President and VP.

13th Amendment

Abolished slavery except as punishment for a crime.

14th Amendment

Birthright citizenship, equal rights/protection, due process clause.

15th Amendment

Gave Black men the right to vote.

16th Amendment

Allows Congress to collect and levy income taxes without apportionment among the states.

17th Amendment

Direct election of senators by popular vote.

18th Amendment

Banned the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol (Prohibition).

19th Amendment

Gave women the right to vote.

20th Amendment

Addresses the 'lame duck' period by moving start dates for presidential and congressional terms.

21st Amendment

Repealed the 18th Amendment, ending Prohibition.

22nd Amendment

Presidency is limited to two terms in office.

24th Amendment

Eliminated poll taxes.

26th Amendment

Decreased the voting age from 21 to 18.

Federalism

When federal and state governments work together.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Established judicial review, determining the Supreme Court's power to declare laws unconstitutional.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Established the supremacy of national laws over state laws via the Necessary and Proper Clause.

Schenck v. United States (1919)

Established the 'clear and present danger' test, limiting free speech during wartime.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Ruled that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional, overturning Plessy v. Ferguson.

Baker v. Carr (1961)

Established that issues of reapportionment are justiciable, leading to the 'one person, one vote' doctrine.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Ruled that mandatory prayer in public schools violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Established that the 6th Amendment right to counsel applies to state courts through the 14th Amendment.

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

Established that students have free speech rights in schools as long as it doesn't disrupt the learning environment.

New York Times v. United States (1971)

Ruled against prior restraint, protecting freedom of the press even when publishing potentially sensitive material.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

Ruled that Amish families' right to freedom of religion outweighed the state's interest in mandatory education beyond 8th grade.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Ruled that congressional districts drawn solely based on race are unconstitutional, violating the Equal Protection Clause.

United States v. Lopez (1995)

Limited the power of Congress under the Commerce Clause, asserting that gun-free school zones are a state matter.

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

Ruled that corporations have free speech rights to engage in electioneering communications.

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

Applied the Second Amendment right to bear arms to the states through selective incorporation.

Facts

Relevant events of a case that occurred before courts became involved.

Issue

A legal or constitutional question the court considers in a case.

Holding

The court’s response to the issue.

Reasoning

The court’s explanation to the case Decision.