AP Gov Required Court Cases Rulings

Marbury v. Madison

Marbury has the right to directly sue the supreme court under Article III under the Judiciary Act. This case also established the concept of Judicial Review, giving the court the right to declare laws unconstitutional. 

McCulloch v. Maryland

Congress has implied powers to create a national bank under the Necessary and Proper Clause, and states cannot tax federal institutions under the Supremacy Clause.

Schenck v. United States

Speech that presents as a Clear and Present Danger is not protected under the First Amendment freedom of speech

Brown v. Board of Education

Racial segregation in public schools is not protected under the 14th amendment Equal Protection Clause since separate societies is inherently unequal

Baker V. Carr

The population of districts must be approximately equal, or else it violates the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause. This case establishes the concept one person, one vote.

Engle V. Vitale

School Prayer that is led by a teacher and written by the state violates the First Amendment Establishment Clause

Gideon V. Wainwright

States must provide the 6th amendment right to an attorney under the 14th Amendment Due Process Clause if the accused cannot afford representation

Tinker V. Des Moines

Students’ freedom of speech is not lost at school gates, and the armbands are protected under the First Amendment Freedom of Speech

New York Times V. United States

The publication of the pentagon papers is protected under the first amendment freedom of press and most forms of prior restraint is banned unless natonal security is at risk

Wisconsin V. Yoder

Forcing amish students to attend public school beyond the 8th grade violates their first amendment free exercise

Shaw V. Reno

Drawing district lines solely on the basis of race violates the 14th amendment equal protections clause

United States V. Lopez

The U.S. government does not have the implied power to regulate gun possession on school grounds under the commerce clause

Citizens United V. Federal Election Commission

Corporations and unions have the protection to spend unlimited amounts of money to air electioneering communications under the first amendment freedom of speech

McDonald V. Chicago

Chicago does not have the right to ban guns under the 2nd amendment right to bear arms, as it applies to the states through the 14th Amendment due process clause