S.C. Cases + Federalist Papers

ap government supreme court cases

Baker v. Carr (1962)

14th Amendment - Equal Protection Clause; State Legislative districts must be as equal as possible and constitutionally balanced; Tennessee's state legislature had not been reapportioned since 1901, despite significant population shifts, leading to rural areas having disproportionate influence; redistricting at the state level

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

14th Amendment - Equal Protection Clause; landmark Supreme Court case that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, overturning Plessy v. Ferguson. It determined that "separate but equal" educational facilities are inherently unequal. The Brown family wanted to send their daughter to an all white school but they said nope.

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

1st Amendment - Free Speech; allowed for corporation to hav free speech protection to support political candidates; overturned corporate contribution limits under McCain Feingold; Reversed most campaign finance regulations

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

1st Amendment - Establishment Clause; schools were forcing students to recite prayers in a public school even if the religion didn’t apply to them; and the court said this violated the Establishment Clause and declared school-sponsored prayer to be unconstitutional; school cannot sponsor religious activities

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

6th amendment - Right to Counsel; Right to counsel is guaranteed; Those accused of a major crime are entitled to an attorney; incorporated the 6th Amendment to the states

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Article 3 of the Constitution - William Marbury had been appointed as a Justice of the Peace in the District of Columbia by President John Adams, but his commission was not delivered before Adams left office. When Thomas Jefferson took office, he ordered Secretary of State James Madison not to deliver the commissions, including Marbury's. Marbury sued Madison in the Supreme Court, seeking a writ of mandamus to force Madison to deliver the commission; established judicial review.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Supremacy Clause of the Constitution; States cannot interfere with (or tax) legitimate federal activities); laws of the national government are supreme; implied powers (necessary and proper clause) can be used to carry out expressed powers; The case stemmed from the Second Bank of the United States, chartered by Congress, and the state of Maryland's attempt to tax it.

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

2nd Amendment, 14th Amendment due process clause, Privileges and Immunities Clause; incorporated the 2nd Amendment to the states; Right to keep and bear arms is among the fundamental rights “necessary to our system of ordered liberty”; The decision cleared up the uncertainty left from previous cases as to the scope of gun laws in the states.”

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

1st Amendment - Freedom of Press; Prior Restraint unconstitutional in most cases; Pentagon Papers able to be published; Court held that executive efforts to prevent publication violated the 1st amendment

Schenck v. United States (1919)

1st Amendment - Freedom of Speech; Freedom of speech can be restricted by congress if it will cause harm; Clear and Present Danger test; The circumstances of speech matter especially in times of war; someone was passing out anti-draft leaflets to the public during the war and the government said they can draft if needed during the war.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

14th Amendment - Equal Protection Clause; Classifications of citizens on the basis of race conflict with the American political value of equality; Redistricting plan can be challenged under the Equal protection clause if the plan is designed to separate voters on race; districts drawn to benefit one race may cause officials to only represent member of that group rather than all constituents; racial segregation through gerrymandering in NC.

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

1st Amendment - Freedom of Speech; Schools cannot restrict speech unless it causes a disruption in school environment; Freedom of speech still exists for students and teachers as long as it’s not disruptive or rude in school; symbolic speech/expression

United States v. Lopez (1995)

Commerence Clause; Congress exceeded its authority in passing the Gun-Free School Zone Act of 1990; the power of Congress is limited; Carrying a gun in a school zone is not an economic activity.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

1st Amendment - Free exercise Clause; compelling Amish students to attend school past the 8th grade is illegal because it’s against someones religion; states can set reasonable standards for church-sponsored schools; religious belief of a family outweigh compulsory schooling requirement.

Federalist 10

James Madison argues that a large republic, like the one proposed by the Constitution, is the best way to control the "violence of faction". He argues that a large republic, with a multitude of diverse factions, will prevent any single faction from gaining too much power and dominating the government. 

Federalist 51

James Madison, argues that the U.S. Constitution's structure, including the separation of powers and checks and balances, is crucial for preventing government tyranny and protecting individual liberties.

Federalist 70

Alexander Hamilton argues for a strong, single executive as the best form for the executive branch of the U.S. government.

Federalist 78

Alexander Hamilton, defends the judicial branch and the concept of judicial review.

Brutus 1

Anti-Federalist paper, argues against the ratification of the proposed U.S. Constitution. It warns that a powerful, consolidated national government, as envisioned by the Constitution, would ultimately lead to tyranny and the demise of individual liberty and state sovereignty