AP US Government & Politics–Required Supreme Court Cases (Organized by topic)

Federalism is a system of government where power is divided between a central or national government and regional or state governments. This division of power allows both levels to share authority and responsibilities, with the US Constitution outlining specific powers granted to each level.

Facts: Maryland taxed the national bank; Congress established it, despite no explicit constitutional authorization.
Issue: Can Congress establish a national bank? Can states tax the federal government?
Holding: Congress can establish a national bank; states cannot tax the federal government.
Constitutional Principle: Necessary and Proper Clause implies Congressional powers; Supremacy Clause asserts federal government superiority.

Facts: A student brought a gun to school, violating the Gun-Free School Zones Act.
Issue: Is the Gun-Free School Zones Act unconstitutional as exceeding Congress's authority under the Commerce Clause?
Holding: The Gun-Free School Zones Act is unconstitutional at the federal level.
Constitutional Principle: Possessing a gun in a school zone doesn't substantially affect interstate commerce (commerce clause); the Tenth Amendment reserves some powers to the states.

Facts: Public schools in New York began the day with a non-denominational prayer.
Issue: Does reciting a prayer in public schools violate the First Amendment's Establishment Clause?
Holding: States cannot hold prayers in public schools, even if voluntary.
Constitutional Principle: Public school sponsorship of religious activity violates the Establishment Clause of the first amendment.

Facts: Amish families refused to send their children to school after 8th grade, violating Wisconsin law.
Issue: Did Wisconsin's law violate the Free Exercise Clause by criminalizing parents' refusal to send their children to school for religious reasons?
Holding: Wisconsin cannot compel Amish students to attend public school beyond 8th grade.
Constitutional Principle: first amendment Free exercise of religion outweighs the state's interest in compelling school attendance.

Facts: Students were suspended for wearing black armbands to protest the Vietnam War.
Issue: Does prohibiting armbands violate students' free speech rights?
Holding: Students have free speech rights at school.
Constitutional Principle: Students' right to political, symbolic speech in the first amendment overrides school administrators' concerns about potential disorder.

Facts: The Nixon administration tried to block publication of the Pentagon Papers.
Issue: Did this prior restraint violate the First Amendment's freedom of the press?
Holding: The government couldn't block publication without proving it would cause grave and irreparable damage.
Constitutional Principle: First amendment’s Freedom of the press, with a heavy presumption against prior restraint.

Facts: Schenck distributed pamphlets opposing the military draft and was arrested under the Espionage Act.
Issue: Did Schenck's conviction violate his First Amendment free speech rights?
Holding: The Espionage Act was constitutional under Congress's wartime authority; his free speech was not violated.
Constitutional Principle: Speech creating a "clear and present danger" is not protected. first amendmenr right to Free speech does not apply to speech that incites illegal activity or creates false danger

Facts: Tennessee redistricting didn't account for population shifts, leading to unequal district populations.
Issue: Does the federal judiciary have jurisdiction over redistricting questions?
Holding: Redistricting claims are justiciable (resolvable by a court).
Constitutional Principle: Right to challenge unequal apportionment and redistricting plans under the Equal Protection Clause from the 14th amendment.

Facts: North Carolina created a gerrymandered district to increase black voter representation.
Issue: Can state residents challenge racially gerrymandered congressional districts in federal court?
Holding: Residents can challenge majority-minority districts if race was the predominant factor.
Constitutional Principle: Drawing congressional districts based solely on race violates the 14th amendments Equal Protection Clause.

Facts: Marbury's judicial appointment was not delivered by Madison.
Issue: Did Marbury have a right to his commission, and could the Supreme Court order its delivery?
Holding: Marbury was entitled to his commission, but the Court couldn't grant it because the relevant part of the Judiciary Act of 1789 was unconstitutional.
Constitutional Principle: Established judicial review; the Constitution is supreme over laws.

The process by which the U.S. Supreme Court gradually applies the Bill of Rights to state governments, rather than just the federal government, through the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause

Facts: Gideon was denied a state-appointed lawyer in a felony case.
Issue: Does the Sixth Amendment's right to counsel apply to state courts?
Holding: States must provide attorneys for defendants who can't afford one.
Constitutional Principle: The Sixth Amendment's right to counsel extends to state courts through the Fourteenth Amendment’s due process clause.

Facts: Chicago residents were denied handgun licenses, effectively banning handguns.
Issue: Does the Second Amendment's right to bear arms apply to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment?
Holding: The right to bear arms for self-defense applies to the states.
Constitutional Principle: The Second Amendment establishes an individual right to bear arms for self-defense; the Fourteenth Amendment applies the Bill of Rights to the states.

Facts & Issue: Black students were denied admittance to public schools based on race.
Holding: Racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional.
Constitutional Principle: Segregated schools violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Facts: Citizens United was prevented from showing an anti-Hillary Clinton movie.
Issue: Can the political speech of corporations and unions be banned?
Holding: Corporate funding of independent political expenditures cannot be limited, but direct contributions to candidates can be.
Constitutional Principle: The First Amendment's free speech clause allows corporations the right to engage in political speech.