The 15 Required Supreme Court Cases for AP Government (Summarized by Key Principle and Type of Case)

McCulloch v. Maryland (Federalism Case)

• Key Principle: Supremacy Clause & Elastic Clause
• Established supremacy of the U.S. Constitution and federal laws over state laws
• Congress has the right to establish a national bank

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United States v. Lopez (Federalism Case)

• Key Principle: Commerce Clause
• Congress may not use the Commerce Clause to regulate gun possession on school grounds
• “Gun Free School Zones Act”

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Baker v. Carr (Gerrymandering Case)

• Key Principle: 14th Amendment/Equal Protection Clause
• Established “one man, one vote” and opens door to review redistricting challenge

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Shaw v. Reno (Gerrymandering Case)

• 14th Amendment/Equal Protection Clause
• Legislative redistricting must be conscious of race

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Marbury v. Madison (Judicial Branch Case)

• Key Principle: Judicial Review
• The Supreme Court is allowed to nullify an act of the legislative or executive branch that violates the Constitution

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Engel v. Vitale (Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Case)

• Key Principle: 1st Amendment/Establishment Clause
• Schools cannot sponsor religious activities. No state sponsored prayer.

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Wisconsin v. Yoder (Civil Liberties/Civil Rights Case)

• Key Principle: 1st Amendment/Free Exercise Clause
• Compelling Amish students to attend school past the 8th grade is illegal

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Tinker v. Des Moines (Civil Rights/Civil Liberties Case)

• Key Principle: 1st Amendment/Free Speech
• Public school students have the right to wear black armbands in school to protest the Vietnam War because it does not cause a disruption

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Schonk v. U.S. (Civil Rights/Civil Liberties Case)

• Key Principle: 1st Amendment/Free Speech
• Speech creating a “clear and present danger” is illegal

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NY Times v. U.S. (Civil Rights/Civil Liberties Case)

• Key Principle: 1st Amendment/Freedom of the Press
• Establishes a “heavy presumption against prior restraint” even in cases involving national security

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McDonald v. Chicago (Selective Incorporation Case)

• Key Principle: 14th Amendment/Privileges and Immunity Cause/2nd Amendment
• Right to keep, bear arms for self-defense applies to the states

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Gideon v. Wainright (Selective Incorporation Case)

• Key Principle: 6th Amendment/Right to Counsel
• Guarantee of an attorney for the poor or indignant

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Roe v. Wade (Selective Incorporation Case)

• Key Principle: Due process and the right to privacy/4th Amendment
• Protects the right of a woman to have an abortion

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Brown v. Board (Equal Protection Case)

• Key Principle: 14th Amendment/Equal Protection Clause
• Race-based segregation is illegal

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Citizens v. FEC (Campaigns Case)

• Key Principle: 1st Amendment/Freedom of Speech
• Political spending by corporations, associations, + labor unions is protected + cannot be limited by law; money = speech

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