AP Government Civil Liberties Court Cases

Unit 2 test court cases needed!

Roe v. Wade

Made abortions legal, right to privacy under the 14th Amendment

Roth v. United States

Ruled obscenity as not protected by the First Amendment. (“You know it when you see it”)

Gitlow v. United States

Ruled that First Amendment guarantee of free speech applied to states through Due Process.

New York Times v. Sullivan

Ruled that “actual malice” must be presented in order to be considered libel.

Engel v. Vitale 

Prayers during the silent moment after the pledge is unlawful under the Establishment Clause of 1st Amendment

Near v. Minnesota

Government cannot censor things before published (Prior Restraint)

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke

Cannot hire people solely of their race if they are less qualified over another race.

Plessy v. Fergunson

“Separate but equal” doctrine

Brown v. Board of Eduation

Ruled segregation as unlawful in schools, overturned “separate but equal”

Tinker v. Des Moines

Freedom of expression in schools as long as it doesn’t cause disruption.

Gideon v. Wainwright 

Courts must provide a lawyer to those who cannot afford them to ensure fair trials (6th Amendment)

Schneck v. United States

First Amendment does not protect things that present a “clear and present danger”

Wisconsin v. Yoder

Amish do not have to attend school after 16 due to Freedom of Religion

Mcdonald v. Chicago 

Argued selective incorporation—right to bear arms applies to state and local governments, not just the federal government