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

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”

Baker v. Carr (Gerrymandering Case)

• Key Principle: 14th Amendment/Equal Protection Clause

• Established “one man, one vote” and opens door to review redistricting challenge

Shaw v. Reno (Gerrymandering Case)

• 14th Amendment/Equal Protection Clause

• Legislative redistricting must be conscious of race

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

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

• Key Principle: 1st Amendment/Establishment Clause

• Schools cannot sponsor religious activities. No state sponsored prayer.

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

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

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

• Key Principle: 1st Amendment/Free Speech

• Speech creating a “clear and present danger” is illegal

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

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

Gideon v. Wainright (Selective Incorporation Case)

• Key Principle: 6th Amendment/Right to Counsel

• Guarantee of an attorney for the poor or indignant

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

Brown v. Board (Equal Protection Case)

• Key Principle: 14th Amendment/Equal Protection Clause

• Race-based segregation is illegal

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