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DeJonge v. Oregon (1937)

The right to assemble peacefully applies to states.

Gitlow v. New York (1925)

The Court ruled the Bill of Rights applies to the states; a man was punished for socialist speech.

New York Times v. Sullivan (1964)

Established the “actual malice” rule, protecting the press when writing about public officials.

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

Ruled that students keep free speech rights at school (e.g., wearing black armbands to protest Vietnam).

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

Ruled that religious freedom (Amish parents not sending kids to school) was stronger than state law.

Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)

Case where an enslaved man sued for freedom; the Court ruled African Americans were not citizens.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Established the doctrine of “separate but equal” segregation.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Ended school segregation, declaring that “separate is not equal.”

Gratz v. Bollinger (2003)

Ruled that a college points system for race in admissions was unconstitutional.

Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

Established that illegally found evidence cannot be used in court (exclusionary rule).

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Ruled that states must provide a lawyer to defendants who cannot afford one.

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

Established that police must read defendants their Miranda rights before questioning.

Gregg v. Georgia (1976)

Affirmed that the death penalty is legal if fair rules are applied.

Griswold v. Connecticut (1965)

Ruled that married couples have a right to privacy concerning birth control.

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Protected abortion rights under the right to privacy.

District of Columbia v. Heller (2008)

Affirmed the individual right to own guns for self-defense.

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

Ruled that the Second Amendment (right to bear arms) applies to the states.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Banned school prayer, citing a violation of the Establishment Clause.

Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971)

Established the “Lemon Test” to determine the constitutionality of government aid to religious organizations.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Established judicial review, allowing courts to declare laws unconstitutional.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Ruled that states cannot tax the national bank, affirming the supremacy of federal power.

United States v. Nixon (1974)

Ruled that the President is not above the law, compelling Nixon to release White House tapes.

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

Ruled that corporate spending in elections is a form of free speech, leading to the rise of Super PACs.

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Established the 'one person, one vote' principle and allowed courts to review redistricting cases.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Stated that racial gerrymandering may violate the Equal Protection Clause.

Regents of UC v. Bakke (1978)

Ruled racial quotas in admissions unconstitutional but allowed race to be considered as one of several factors.

United States v. Virginia (1996)

Ruled that the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) must admit women, prohibiting all-male public schools.

Adarand Constructors v. Peña (1995)

Ruled that government racial classifications must withstand strict scrutiny.

Roth v. United States (1957)

Ruled that obscenity is not protected by the First Amendment's free speech clause.

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

(Pentagon Papers case) Ruled that the government could not prevent newspapers from publishing classified documents.