AP Gov Court Cases

Marbury v Madison (1803)

First time SC ruled portion of federal law unconstitutional. Established Judicial Review.

Clause and Concept of Marbury v. Madison

Supremacy clause, separation of powers/checks and balances. Judicial Review

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Validated Congress’ implied powers to charter National Bank. 7-0 holding.

Clauses and Concepts in McCulloch v. Maryland

Necessary and proper clause, supremacy clause. Implied powers, state vs federal power

Schenck v. U.S. (1919)

Upheld Espionage Act. Precedent: Free speech isn’t absolute, esp in wartime. 9-0 decision

Amendment and test in Schenck

1st amendment. Created: Clear and Present Danger test to replace Bad Tendency test

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Struck down segregation in schools. 9-0 holding. Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson

Clauses and concept in Brown v. Board

Equal protection clause of 14th amendment. “Separate but equal” is inherently unequal

Engle v. Vitale (1962)

Struck down teacher-led prayer in school. 6-1 holding

Clause and concept in Engle

1st amendment incorporation case (14th A). Establishment clause. Separation of church and state

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Ruled legislative apportionment issues are justicible. 6-2 holding

Amendment and concept in Baker

14th amendment equal protection clause. Justicibility. Standard of “one man, one vote”

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Struck down law that only provided lawyers to crim defendents in capital crimes. 9-0 holding

Amendment and concept in Gideon

6th amendment incorporation case. Requires lawyers for all criminal cases. Overturned Betts v. Brady

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

Upheld student free/symbolic speech. 7-2 holding. FS can be restricted if disrupts school operation

Amendment and test in Tinker

1st amendment incorporation. Created: Tinker Test (material and substantial standard)

New York Times v. United States (1971)

Struck down government attempt to censor media. 6-3 holding. Case shut down w/o charge due to illegally gather evidence

Amendment and concept in NYT v US

1st amendment incorporation case. No prior restraint of the press except if threatens national security

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

Struck down state law requiring school attendance until age 16. 7-0 holding.

Amendment and concept in Yoder

1st amendment incorporation case. Free exercise clause. Does it allow exemption from compulsory school?

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Struck down abortion ban as violation of privacy rights. Now overturned. 7-2 holding. Precedent": Griswold v. Connecticut (birth control)

Amendment and concept in Roe v. Wade

9th amendment (rights to the people not enumerated). Implied 1st, 3rd, and 4th rights to privacy. Overturned by Dobbs v. Jackson (2022)

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Struck down racial gerrymandering. 5-4 holding

Amendment and concept in Shaw

14th amendment (Equal protection clause). No racial gerrymandering if race is predominant factor

U.S. v. Lopez (1995)

Ruled Gun Free School Zones Act unconstutional under Commerce clause. 5-4 holding

Concept in U.S. v Lopez

State vs Federal power. Possessing firearm in school zone as a criminal matter, not economic policy

McDonald v Chicago (2010)

first 2nd amendment incorporation case. 5-4 holding

Amendment and concept in McDonald

2nd amendment. Made gun laws less restrictive, harder for states to control

Citizens United v FEC (2010)

Struck down portions of McCain-Feingold Act that limited free speech rights of corporations. 5-4 holding

Amendment and concept in Citizens United

1st amendment. Allowed corporations and unions to spend money influencing elections. Money = speech