Civil Rights and Equality

1. Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

   • Summary: Ended racial segregation in public schools ("separate is not equal").

   • Amendment/Clause: 14th Amendment (Equal Protection Clause)

2. Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

   • Summary: Upheld racial segregation under "separate but equal" doctrine.

   • Amendment/Clause: 14th Amendment (Equal Protection Clause)

3. Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)

   • Summary: Declared African Americans were not U.S. citizens and could not sue in federal court.

   • Amendment/Clause: None (overturned by the 14th Amendment later)

4. Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978)

   • Summary: Upheld affirmative action but banned racial quotas in college admissions.

   • Amendment/Clause: 14th Amendment (Equal Protection Clause)

5. Shaw v. Reno (1993)

   • Summary: Ruled that racial gerrymandering is unconstitutional.

   • Amendment/Clause: 14th Amendment (Equal Protection Clause)

Due Process and Rights of the Accused

1. Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

   • Summary: Guaranteed the right to an attorney for defendants who cannot afford one.

   • Amendment/Clause: 6th Amendment (Right to Counsel)

2. Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

   • Summary: Established "Miranda rights," requiring police to inform suspects of their rights.

   • Amendment/Clause: 5th Amendment (Self-Incrimination Clause)

3. Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

   • Summary: Created the "exclusionary rule," barring illegally obtained evidence from court.

   • Amendment/Clause: 4th Amendment (Search and Seizure)

Freedom of Speech and Expression

1. Texas v. Johnson (1989)

   • Summary: Protected flag burning as free speech.

   • Amendment/Clause: 1st Amendment (Freedom of Speech)

2. Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

• Summary: Protected students' right to free speech in schools (wearing black armbands).

• Amendment/Clause: 1st Amendment (Freedom of Speech)

1. Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier (1988)

• Summary: Allowed schools to censor student newspapers for educational purposes.

• Amendment/Clause: 1st Amendment (Freedom of the Press)

1. Schenck v. U.S. (1919)

• Summary: Limited free speech if it presents a "clear and present danger" (wartime restrictions).

• Amendment/Clause: 1st Amendment (Freedom of Speech)

1. Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

• Summary: Allowed unlimited political spending by corporations and unions.

• Amendment/Clause: 1st Amendment (Freedom of Speech)

1. New York Times v. U.S. (1971)

• Summary: Protected the right of the press to publish classified information (Pentagon Papers case).

• Amendment/Clause: 1st Amendment (Freedom of the Press)

Religious Freedom

1. Engel v. Vitale (1962)

• Summary: Prohibited state-sponsored prayer in public schools.

• Amendment/Clause: 1st Amendment (Establishment Clause)

1. Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

• Summary: Allowed Amish families to withdraw children from school for religious reasons.

• Amendment/Clause: 1st Amendment (Free Exercise Clause)

Presidential Power and the Constitution

1. United States v. Nixon (1974)

• Summary: Limited the president's power, ruling executive privilege cannot withhold evidence in a trial.

• Amendment/Clause: Article II (Presidential Powers)

1. Bush v. Gore (2000)

• Summary: Stopped the Florida recount, effectively deciding the 2000 presidential election.

• Amendment/Clause: 14th Amendment (Equal Protection Clause)

Abortion and Privacy

1. Roe v. Wade (1973)

• Summary: Legalized abortion nationwide, recognizing a woman’s right to privacy.

• Amendment/Clause: 14th Amendment (Right to Privacy)

Federal Power vs. State Power

1. McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

• Summary: Established the supremacy of federal laws over state laws.

• Amendment/Clause: Necessary and Proper Clause, Supremacy Clause

1. U.S. v. Lopez (1995)

• Summary: Limited Congress’s power under the Commerce Clause, striking down a gun law in schools.

• Amendment/Clause: Commerce Clause

Rights to Bear Arms

1. District of Columbia v. Heller (2008)

• Summary: Recognized an individual’s right to own firearms for personal use.

• Amendment/Clause: 2nd Amendment (Right to Bear Arms)

1. McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

• Summary: Extended the right to bear arms to the states, limiting state gun control laws.

• Amendment/Clause: 2nd Amendment (Right to Bear Arms), 14th Amendment (Due Process Clause)

Judicial Review and Redistricting

1. Baker v. Carr (1962)

• Summary: Allowed federal courts to rule on redistricting cases, establishing "one person, one vote."

• Amendment/Clause: 14th Amendment (Equal Protection Clause)

1. Korematsu v. U.S. (1944)

• Summary: Upheld the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, though it’s now seen as a violation of civil rights.

• Amendment/Clause: 5th Amendment (Due Process Clause)

1. Brown v. Board of Education (1954): Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, ruling that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional ("separate is not equal").

2. Plessy v. Ferguson (1896): Upheld racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine.

3. Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857): Ruled that African Americans, whether free or enslaved, were not U.S. citizens.

Due Process and Rights of the Accused

1. Gideon v. Wainwright (1963): Guaranteed the right to an attorney for criminal defendants who cannot afford one.

2. Miranda v. Arizona (1966): Established "Miranda rights," requiring police to inform suspects of their rights during arrest.

3. Mapp v. Ohio (1961): Established the "exclusionary rule," barring illegally obtained evidence from court.

Freedom of Speech and Expression

1. Texas v. Johnson (1989): Ruled that flag burning is protected speech under the First Amendment.

2. Tinker v. Des Moines (1969): Protected students' right to free speech in schools (black armbands protesting the Vietnam War).

3. Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier (1988): Allowed schools to censor student newspapers if they have a legitimate educational concern.

Religious Freedom

1. Engel v. Vitale (1962): Prohibited state-sponsored prayer in public schools.

2. Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972): Held that Amish children cannot be forced to attend school past 8th grade due to religious beliefs.

Presidential Power and the Constitution

1. United States v. Nixon (1974): Limited the president's power, ruling that executive privilege cannot be used to withhold evidence in criminal cases.

Abortion and Privacy

1. Roe v. Wade (1973): Legalized abortion nationwide, establishing a woman's right to privacy.

Election Disputes

1. Bush v. Gore (2000): Resolved the 2000 presidential election dispute, halting the Florida recount.