Key Supreme Court Cases: Civil Rights, Free Speech, and Federal Powers

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Judicial review; Supreme Court can declare laws unconstitutional.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Federal supremacy and implied powers.

Schenck v. United States (1919)

Speech creating "clear and present danger" is not protected.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

School segregation is unconstitutional.

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Federal courts can rule on redistricting issues; "one person, one vote."

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

School-sponsored prayer violates the Establishment Clause.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Right to a lawyer for criminal defendants who cannot afford one.

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

Students have protected free speech in schools.

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

Government cannot easily censor the press before publication.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

Amish families can remove children from school for religious reasons.

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Right to privacy protected abortion access.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Racial gerrymandering can violate Equal Protection.

United States v. Lopez (1995)

Congress cannot overly expand Commerce Clause powers.

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

Corporate political spending is protected speech.

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

Second Amendment applies to state governments.