Supreme Court Cases

Foundations of Judicial Authority and Federal Power

  • Marbury v. Madison     * Establishment of Judicial Review: This case is the landmark decision that established judicial review.     * Constitutional Compliance: Under this ruling, the Supreme Court has the authority to declare laws unconstitutional.

  • McCulloch v. Maryland     * Federal Supremacy: The ruling served to Establish supremacy of federal law over state law.     * Implied Powers: The Supreme Court confirmed the validity of implied powers within the federal government.

  • Gibbsons v. Ogden     * Interstate Commerce: This decision strengthened federal control over interstate commerce.

Civil Rights, Citizenship, and Racial Segregation

  • Dred Scott v. Sandford     * Citizenship Status: The Supreme Court ruled that African Americans were not citizens.     * Prohibition of Slavery Bans: Because the Court ruled African Americans lacked citizenship, it held that Congress couldn't ban slavery.

  • Plessy v. Ferguson     * Segregation Doctrine: This decision Upheld "separate but equal‐ segregation laws.

  • Brown v. Board of Education     * Reversal of Precedent: This landmark ruling Over turned Pressy v. Ferguson.     * School Segregation: The Court declared that segregation in school is unconstitutional.

Executive Power and Personal Liberties

  • Korematsu v. United States     * Wartime Actions: The Supreme Court Upheld Japanese American internment during WWII.

  • Roe v. Wade     * Reproductive Rights: This ruling established a constitutional right to abortion.