Required Supreme Court Cases - Constitutional Principle in question

Perfect — here’s your completed list with dates and the constitutional principles for each of the 13 required Supreme Court cases for AP U.S. Government:

1. McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
Constitutional Principle: Federalism; the Necessary and Proper Clause (Article I, Section 8) and the Supremacy Clause (Article VI).
→ Established that Congress has implied powers and that federal laws are supreme over state laws.

2. United States v. Lopez (1995)
Constitutional Principle: Federalism; limits on the Commerce Clause.
→ Ruled that Congress had exceeded its authority under the Commerce Clause by criminalizing gun possession in a school zone.

3. Baker v. Carr (1962)
Constitutional Principle: Equal Protection Clause (14th Amendment); “One person, one vote.”
→ Allowed federal courts to intervene in and decide redistricting cases.

4. Shaw v. Reno (1993)
Constitutional Principle: Equal Protection Clause (14th Amendment).
→ Racial gerrymandering is unconstitutional if race is the predominant factor in drawing districts.

5. Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Constitutional Principle: Judicial Review; Separation of Powers.
→ Established the Supreme Court’s power to declare laws unconstitutional.

6. Engel v. Vitale (1962)
Constitutional Principle: Establishment Clause (1st Amendment).
→ School-sponsored prayer in public schools violates the Establishment Clause.

7. Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)
Constitutional Principle: Free Exercise Clause (1st Amendment).
→ Compulsory school attendance laws violated Amish families’ right to freely exercise their religion.

8. Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)
Constitutional Principle: Freedom of Speech (1st Amendment).
→ Students do not lose their free speech rights at school; symbolic speech (armbands) is protected.

9. Schenck v. United States (1919)
Constitutional Principle: Freedom of Speech (1st Amendment); Clear and Present Danger test.
→ Speech can be limited if it presents a “clear and present danger” to national security.

10. New York Times v. United States (1971)
Constitutional Principle: Freedom of the Press (1st Amendment); Prior Restraint.
→ The government cannot censor or block publication unless it poses a direct threat to national security.

11. McDonald v. Chicago (2010)
Constitutional Principle: 2nd Amendment (Right to Bear Arms); Selective Incorporation (14th Amendment Due Process Clause).
→ The 2nd Amendment applies to the states through the 14th Amendment.

12. Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
Constitutional Principle: Right to Counsel (6th Amendment); Selective Incorporation (14th Amendment).
→ States are required to provide attorneys to defendants who cannot afford one.

13. Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
Constitutional Principle: Equal Protection Clause (14th Amendment).
→ Racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional; “separate but equal” is inherently unequal.