Required Supreme Court Cases AP GOPO

Federalism Cases

$McCulloch v Maryland -$

History: Dispute over Maryland taxing bank of United States

Clause used: Supremacy Clause

Ruling: Based on necessary and proper clause Congress can create a national bank + due to supremacy clause federal law rules over state law

Memory Aid: McConstitution is supreme

$Us v Lopez -$

Clause used: Commerce clause - DIDNT APPLY

Ruling: Guns near schools does not apply to commerce clause (interstate commerce) and therefore the law is unconstitutional

Memory aid: Lopez limits legislation

Gov Power v Individual Liberty Cases

$Engel v Vitale -$

History: Ny Law requiring a daily prayer led my school officials was seen as violation of establishment clause

Clause: Establishment Clause

Ruling: Violated establishment clause as it valued the presence of specific religion more than the others

Memory Aid: E (Engel) = Establishment Clause

$Wisconsin v Yoder -$

Clause: Free Exercise Clause

Ruling: Amish cannot be required to send children to school after 8th grade, due to their religion. It is a right to freely express religion without government restraint.

Memory Aid: Y (Yoder) = YOU freely exercise religious rights

$Tinker v Des Moines -$

Clause application: 1st Amendment- Free Speech

Ruling: The Court held that the students' silent protest (wearing armbands) did not substantially disrupt school activities and was therefore protected speech.

Memory Aid: Tinker Talks in School

$Ny Times v United States -$

History: Nixen wanted to prevent NY Times from publishing part of the Pentagon Papers

Clause: 1st Amendment: freedom of the press

Ruling: No to Nixon, because pentagon papers were about events that already happened

Memory Aid: NY Nixes Nixon

$Schneck v United States -$

History: Schneck advocated to boycott the draft claiming it was unconstitutional - was arrested

Clause: 1st Amendment: free speech

Ruling: Schneck violated espionage act and established the “clear and present danger” test, if it proposes danger to society than the speech is no longer protected

Espionage Act: Criminalized conveying information that could interfere with war efforts

Memory Aid: Schneck Shivers from clear and present danger

Selective Incorporation Cases:

Selective incorporation - Gradually making states follow rules of bill of rights to ensure safety of citizens basic rights

$Gideon v Wainwright$

Constitutional application: 6th Amendment right to a lawyer applies to states through incorporation

Memory: 6 year old little Gideon gets a lawyer

$McDonald v. Chicago$

Constitutional application: 2nd amendment: right to bear arms applies to states through incorporation

Ruling: States and local governments cannot ban handgun ownership

Memory aid: Ronald McDonald can have a gun

Civil Rights Cases -

$Brown v Board of education$

Clause: 14th amendment: equal protection clause

Ruling: Declared segregated schools are unconstitutional

Memory Aid: Brown Breaks Barriers

Campaign Finance Case -

$Citizens United:$

Constitutional application: 1st amendment: free speech

Ruling: Corporations are considered a person and therefore have 1st amendment free speech rights. Can contribute to PACs and Super Pacs.

Memory aid: Citizens Celebrate Corporate Cash

Equality & Voting Cases -

$Baker v Carr -$

Constitutional application: equal representation/ protection clause

Ruling: Established the “1 person 1 vote” - all legislative districts must be based on equal representation

Memory Aid: Baker Brings Balance

$Shaw v Reno -$

History: A North Carolina congressional district was gerrymandered so oddly, that the only possible reason was to give minority group the majority in district

Constitutional application: 14 amendment equal protection clause

Ruling: Racial Gerrymandering is unconstitutional due to equal protection

Memory Aid: Shaw saw race

Judicial Branch Power Case -

$Marbury v Madison$

Ruling: The Judicial branch has the power of judicial review and can declare acts of congress and president unconstitutional

Memory Aid: MnMs give Judicial Might