Gov court case vocav

Q: What was the background of Marbury v. Madison?
A: William Marbury sued to get his judicial commission, which was not delivered by James Madison.

Q: What constitutional principle was in Marbury v. Madison?
A: Article III – Judicial Review.

Q: What was the decision in Marbury v. Madison?
A: The Court ruled the Judiciary Act of 1789 unconstitutional and did not force Madison to deliver the commission.

Q: Why did the Court rule that way in Marbury v. Madison?
A: It established judicial review, letting the Court strike down unconstitutional laws.

Q: What was the background of McCulloch v. Maryland?
A: Maryland tried to tax the national bank, and McCulloch refused to pay.

Q: What constitutional principle was in McCulloch v. Maryland?
A: Necessary and Proper Clause; Supremacy Clause.

Q: What was the decision in McCulloch v. Maryland?
A: Congress could create a national bank, and Maryland couldn’t tax it.

Q: Why did the Court rule that way in McCulloch v. Maryland?
A: Federal laws are supreme, and Congress has implied powers.

Q: What was the background of Schenck v. United States?
A: Schenck handed out anti-draft leaflets and was arrested under the Espionage Act.

Q: What constitutional principle was in Schenck v. United States?
A: First Amendment – Freedom of Speech.

Q: What was the decision in Schenck v. United States?
A: The Court upheld his conviction and limited speech during wartime.

Q: Why did the Court rule that way in Schenck v. United States?
A: Speech causing a “clear and present danger” is not protected.

Q: What was the background of Brown v. Board of Education?
A: Black students were denied entry into white public schools.

Q: What constitutional principle was in Brown v. Board of Education?
A: 14th Amendment – Equal Protection Clause.

Q: What was the decision in Brown v. Board of Education?
A: Segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.

Q: Why did the Court rule that way in Brown v. Board of Education?
A: “Separate but equal” schools are inherently unequal.

Q: What was the background of Baker v. Carr?
A: Tennessee had not redrawn districts, causing unequal representation.

Q: What constitutional principle was in Baker v. Carr?
A: 14th Amendment – Equal Protection Clause.

Q: What was the decision in Baker v. Carr?
A: Courts can rule on redistricting cases.

Q: Why did the Court rule that way in Baker v. Carr?
A: “One person, one vote” ensures equal representation.

Q: What was the background of Engel v. Vitale?
A: A school required students to say a voluntary prayer.

Q: What constitutional principle was in Engel v. Vitale?
A: First Amendment – Establishment Clause.

Q: What was the decision in Engel v. Vitale?
A: School-sponsored prayer is unconstitutional.

Q: Why did the Court rule that way in Engel v. Vitale?
A: Government cannot promote religion, even with voluntary prayer.

Q: What was the background of Gideon v. Wainwright?
A: Gideon was denied a lawyer in state court because it wasn’t a capital case.

Q: What constitutional principle was in Gideon v. Wainwright?
A: 6th Amendment – Right to Counsel; 14th Amendment – Due Process.

Q: What was the decision in Gideon v. Wainwright?
A: States must provide lawyers for criminal defendants.

Q: Why did the Court rule that way in Gideon v. Wainwright?
A: The right to a fair trial includes legal help, even in state courts.

Q: What was the background of Tinker v. Des Moines?
A: Students wore black armbands to protest the Vietnam War and were suspended.

Q: What constitutional principle was in Tinker v. Des Moines?
A: First Amendment – Freedom of Speech.

Q: What was the decision in Tinker v. Des Moines?
A: The armbands were protected symbolic speech.

Q: Why did the Court rule that way in Tinker v. Des Moines?
A: Students don’t lose rights at school unless they cause disruption.

Q: What was the background of New York Times Co. v. United States?
A: The government tried to stop newspapers from publishing the Pentagon Papers.

Q: What constitutional principle was in New York Times Co. v. United States?
A: First Amendment – Freedom of the Press.

Q: What was the decision in New York Times Co. v. United States?
A: The government couldn’t stop the papers from publishing.

Q: Why did the Court rule that way in New York Times Co. v. United States?
A: The publication didn’t cause a real national security threat.

Q: What was the background of Wisconsin v. Yoder?
A: Amish families didn’t want to send their kids to high school for religious reasons.

Q: What constitutional principle was in Wisconsin v. Yoder?
A: First Amendment – Free Exercise Clause.

Q: What was the decision in Wisconsin v. Yoder?
A: The Amish could stop school after 8th grade.

Q: Why did the Court rule that way in Wisconsin v. Yoder?
A: Religious freedom outweighed the state's interest in schooling.

Q: What was the background of Roe v. Wade?
A: “Jane Roe” challenged a Texas law banning abortion.

Q: What constitutional principle was in Roe v. Wade?
A: 14th Amendment – Right to Privacy through Due Process.

Q: What was the decision in Roe v. Wade?
A: Women can get abortions in the first trimester.

Q: Why did the Court rule that way in Roe v. Wade?
A: The right to privacy includes medical choices like abortion.

Q: What was the background of Shaw v. Reno?
A: North Carolina drew a strangely shaped, racially gerrymandered district.

Q: What constitutional principle was in Shaw v. Reno?
A: 14th Amendment – Equal Protection Clause.

Q: What was the decision in Shaw v. Reno?
A: Race cannot be the only factor in drawing districts.

Q: Why did the Court rule that way in Shaw v. Reno?
A: Racial gerrymandering violates equal protection.

Q: What was the background of United States v. Lopez?
A: A student was arrested for bringing a gun to school under a federal law.

Q: What constitutional principle was in United States v. Lopez?
A: Commerce Clause.

Q: What was the decision in United States v. Lopez?
A: The federal law was unconstitutional.

Q: Why did the Court rule that way in United States v. Lopez?
A: Guns in schools don’t relate to interstate commerce.

Q: What was the background of McDonald v. Chicago?
A: McDonald challenged a handgun ban in Chicago.

Q: What constitutional principle was in McDonald v. Chicago?
A: 2nd Amendment; 14th Amendment – Incorporation.

Q: What was the decision in McDonald v. Chicago?
A: The right to bear arms applies to the states.

Q: Why did the Court rule that way in McDonald v. Chicago?
A: The 2nd Amendment is a fundamental right protected by the 14th.

Q: What was the background of Citizens United v. FEC?
A: Citizens United wanted to air a political movie close to an election.

Q: What constitutional principle was in Citizens United v. FEC?
A: First Amendment – Freedom of Speech.

Q: What was the decision in Citizens United v. FEC?
A: Corporations and unions can spend unlimited money on political ads.

Q: Why did the Court rule that way in Citizens United v. FEC?
A: Political spending is a form of protected speech.