required supreme court cases

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) Confirmed the supremacy of federal law over state law and upheld Congress’s implied powers under the Necessary and Proper Clause. Main idea: Strengthened federal power.
United States v. Lopez (1995) Limited Congress’s power under the Commerce Clause by ruling that carrying a gun in a school zone is not an economic activity. Main idea: Set boundaries on federal power and reinforced states’ rights.
Baker v. Carr (1962) Established the principle of “one person, one vote” by allowing federal courts to intervene in state redistricting cases. Main idea: Strengthened judicial oversight of fair representation.
Shaw v. Reno (1993) Ruled that racial gerrymandering is unconstitutional if race is the predominant factor in creating districts. Main idea: Limited race-based districting to protect equal representation.