SCOTUS to memorize

1. Marbury v. Madison (1803)

  • Holding + Principle: Established judicial review; reinforced Article III and the Supremacy Clause.

2. McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

  • Holding + Principle: Congress has implied powers under the Necessary and Proper Clause; states cannot tax the federal government due to the Supremacy Clause.

3. Schenck v. United States (1919)

  • Holding + Principle: Speech creating a "clear and present danger" is not protected under the First Amendment – Freedom of Speech.

4. Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

  • Holding + Principle: Racial segregation in public schools violates the 14th Amendment – Equal Protection Clause.

5. Baker v. Carr (1962)

  • Holding + Principle: Courts can review redistricting cases; enforced "one person, one vote" under the 14th Amendment – Equal Protection Clause.

6. Engel v. Vitale (1962)

  • Holding + Principle: State-sponsored prayer in public schools violates the First Amendment – Establishment Clause.

7. Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

  • Holding + Principle: The 6th Amendment right to counsel applies to state courts through the 14th Amendment – Selective Incorporation.

8. Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

  • Holding + Principle: Students retain First Amendment – Freedom of Speech rights in school, including symbolic speech.

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

  • Holding + Principle: Government cannot exercise prior restraint on the press; protected under the First Amendment – Freedom of the Press.

10. Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

  • Holding + Principle: Compulsory school laws violated the First Amendment – Free Exercise Clause when applied to Amish families.

11. Shaw v. Reno (1993)

  • Holding + Principle: Racial gerrymandering violates the 14th Amendment – Equal Protection Clause.

12. United States v. Lopez (1995)

  • Holding + Principle: The Commerce Clause does not grant Congress the power to regulate guns in school zones; supports 10th Amendment – state powers.

13. McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

  • Holding + Principle: The 2nd Amendment right to bear arms is incorporated to the states via the 14th Amendment – Selective Incorporation.

14. Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)

  • Holding + Principle: Corporate funding of independent political broadcasts in candidate elections cannot be limited under the First Amendment – Freedom of Speech.