gov court cases

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Maryland was trying to tax the national bank and Supreme Court ruled that federal law was stronger than the state law (necessary and proper clause, supremacy clause)

US v. Lopez (1995)

The Court held that Congress had exceeded its commerce clause power by prohibiting guns in a school zone (interstate commerce, 10th amendment)

Baker v. Carr (1962)

"One person, one vote." Ordered state legislative districts to be as near equal as possible in population (equal protection clause)

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

NO racial gerrymandering; race cannot be the sole or predominant factor in redrawing legislative boundaries; majority-minority districts (equal protection clause, colorblind Constitution)

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

This case establishes the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review (Supremacy clause places the Constitution above laws)

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Struck down state-sponsored prayer in public schools. Ruled that the Regents' prayer was an unconstitutional violation of the Establishment Clause

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

The Court ruled that Wisconsin could not require Amish parents to send their children to public school beyond the eighth grade because it would violate long-held religious beliefs (Free Exercise Clause)

Schenck Vs. U.S. (1919)

Speech can be limited if there is a "clear and present danger" (Not protected by Free Speech Clause)

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

Students in an Iowa school were suspended for wearing black armbands to protest the Vietnam war. Ruled that this suspension was unconstitutional, and that public school students do not "shed their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse door." (Free Speech Clause)

New York Times Co. v. US (1971)

"Pentagon Papers" case decided Nixon's attempted "prior restraint (censorship)" was unconstitutional interference with press freedom. (Freedom of Press)

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

The Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms for self-defense is applicable to the states (due process clause)

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Ordered states to provide lawyers for those unable to afford them in criminal proceedings (due process clause)

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Overrules Plessy v. Ferguson (no stare decisis). Racial segregation violates 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause ("separate is inherently unequal")

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

Corporations can raise and spend unlimited money on independent political speech, but may not give any money directly to candidates (Free Speech Clause)