Required SCOTUS Cases

Freedom of Speech

  • Tinker v. Des Moines

    • Facts: Tinker wore a black armband to protest the Vietnam War, violating the school’s dress code

    • Ruling: First Amendment protected symbolic speech

    • Precedent: Students have the right to exercise free speech in schools as long it doesn’t pose a disruption to their education

  • Schenk v. U.S.

    • Facts: Schenk was arrested for distributing pamphelts protesting the draft during WW1 and was arrested for violating the Espionage Act

    • Supreme Court Ruling: Schenk’s actions were not protected free speech

    • Precedent: Freedom of Speech could be limited in times of war or when it leads to a “clear and present danger”

  • Citizens United v. FEC

    • Facts: Citizens United produced a documentary critical of Hillary Clinton, violating the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) prohibiting corporate-funded "electioneering communications" near an election.

    • Ruling: Ruled in favor of Citizens United. The government cannot suppress political speech based on the speaker's corporate identity.

    • Significance: Corporations have the same 1st Amendment right as individuals to express support political candidates for Congress and the White House through campaign contributions.

      • Rise in Super PACS and increased campaign spending

Freedom of Religion

  • Engel v. Vitale - Addressses Establishment Clause

    • Facts: New York families sued their school district as a result of a district policy to recite a prayer at the start of each school day

    • Ruling: School-sponsored prayer violates the Establishment Clause

  • Wisconsin v. Yoder - Addresses Free Exercise Clause

    • Facts: Wisonsin fined 3 Amish families for removing their children from school in 8th grade arguing that schooling would interfere with their religious practices.

    • Ruling: In favor of Amish families b/c high school attendance would endanger their religous practices

    • Precedent: Free exercise could not be interfered with unless there was a “compelling government interest”

Freedom of Speech

  • New York Times v. U.S.

    • Facts: The gov. attempted to stop the publication of the Pentagon Papers (leaked that Congress had been lying to the public about U.S. involvement in Vietnam), arguing that they violated the Espionage Act

    • Ruling: Ruled that prior restraint could not be used b/c the information being published would not put American troops in danger

    • Established a heavy presumption against prior restraint. The gov. can’t block media publication of classified documents unless it proves a direct, immediate, and grave danger to national security

2nd Amendment

  • McDonald v. Chicago

    • Facts: Chicago put restrictions on handgun ownership in place, preventing McDonald from purchasing a handgun

    • Ruling: Agreed with McDonald that Chicago’s laws violated his due process

    • Significance: Incorporated the 2nd Amendment to state governments

Due Process

  • Gideon v. Wainwright

    • Facts: Gideon arrested for breaking and entering. Florida law did not provide an attorney. Gideon represented himself and was found guilty. He wrote a petition (writ of habeaus corpus) to the Supreme Court arguing that his 6th Amendment rights were violated

    • Ruling: Agreed with Gideon, "lawyers in criminal courts are necessities, not luxuries

    • Significance: Applied 6th Amendment to the states (via 14th Amendment)

Civil Rights

  • Brown v. Board of Education

    • Facts: Linda Brown, a Black third-grader, was forced to attend a segregated school farther away, and other parents. NAACP argued that segregation caused psychological harm to show segregation made Black children feel inferior.

    • Ruling: Segregated schools were “unherently unequal” and required integration of schools across the country

    • Significance: Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson and “separate but equal” doctrine (states could legally segregate public facilities as long as they were “equal”)

Federalism and Powers

  • U.S. v. Lopez

    • Facts: Alfonzo Lopez carried a concealed .38 caliber handgun into his San Antonio, Texas high school (violates Gun Free School Zone Act)

    • Ruling: Gun Free School Zone Act is unconstitutional because it exceeded Congress’s power to legislate under the Commerce Clause.

    • Significance: Restricted federal power under the Commerce Clause and strengthened state authority over local issues like education.

  • McCulloch v. Maryland

    • Facts: Maryland tried to tax the Baltimore branch of the Second Bank of the United States, which was created by Congress. McCulloch refused to pay the tax.

    • Ruling: Congress has implied powers under the Necessary and Proper Clause to create a national bank and that states cannot tax federal institutions

    • Significance: Established Supremacy Clause and Necessary and Proper Clause

Judicial / Political Process

  • Baker v. Carr (1962)   

    • Facts: Tennessee had not updated its state legislative districts since 1901, despite massive population growth in urban areas (like Memphis) compared to rural areas, resulting in rural votes having disproportionate influence.

    • Ruling: the federal judiciary has jurisdiction to hear lawsuits alleging that state redistricting violates the Equal Protection Clause.

    • Significance: "One person, one vote” principle (ensuring rural and urban votes have equal value). Allows federal courts to hear redistricting lawsuits

      • many states reapportioned their legislative districts based on population changes

        • Shifted political power from rural to urban areas

  • Shaw v. Reno

    • Facts: North Carolina submitted a redistricting plan with only one black-majority district (Attorney G. wanted two) to increase minority representation, resulting in bizarrely shaped districts.

    • Ruling: Reapportionment plan segregated voters on the basis of race requires strict scrutiny.

      • Violates Equal Protection Clause

    • Significance: While race can be considered, it cannot be the dominant factor in drawing district lines

      • Changed how states draw electoral maps

  • Marbury v. Madison

    • Facts: Thomas Jefferson’s administration refused to deliver judicial commissions, including one for William Marbury

    • Ruling: Judiciary Act of 1789 that allowed the Court to issue a writ of mandamus was unconstitutional

    • Significance: Established judicial review (the Supreme Court can strike down legislative or executive actions that conflict with the Constitution)

      • established the Judiciary as an independent, equal branch of government