Key Supreme Court Cases

Vocabulary flashcards covering landmark Supreme Court cases and their holdings based on the provided AP US Government study guide.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Established judicial review.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Established supremacy of the Constitution and federal laws over state laws, increasing federal power via the Necessary & Proper Clause.

Schenck v. United States (1919)

Ruled that speech creating a "clear & present danger" is not protected under the 1st Amendment (Speech).

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Ruled that race-based school segregation violates Equal Protection under the 14th Amendment.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Ruled that school-sponsored prayer violates the Establishment Clause of the 1st Amendment.

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Established "one person, one vote" and ruled that redistricting is justiciable under the 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Ruled that the right to an attorney applies to state felony defendants (6th Amendment; 14th Amendment - Due Process).

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

Established that public school students have free speech rights under the 1st Amendment (Speech).

New York Times Co. v. United States (1971)

Established a heavy presumption against prior restraint under the 1st Amendment (Press).

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

Ruled that compelling Amish students past 8th grade violates the Free Exercise Clause of the 1st Amendment.

Griswold v. Connecticut (1965)

Established a right to privacy in marital contraception (implied by 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 9th Amendments).

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Held that the right to privacy includes the abortion decision under the 14th Amendment Due Process Clause.

Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Org. (2022)

Overturned Roe v. Wade; ruled there is no constitutional right to abortion and returned the decision to the states.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Ruled that race cannot be the sole factor in creating majority-minority districts under the 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause.

United States v. Lopez (1995)

Ruled that the gun-free school zone law exceeded Congress's Commerce power, reducing federal power.

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

Established that the 2nd Amendment right to keep & bear arms applies to states.

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

Ruled that political spending is protected speech under the 1st Amendment.