Court Cases
Marbury v Madison:
Facts: Marbury sued Madison for not delivering his judicial appointment
Principle: Judicial Review, Article III
Decision: Marybury had a right, but the Court could’nt enforce it
Impact: established judicial review power
McCulloch v Maryland:
Facts: Maryland tried to tax the national bank
Principle: Necessary and Proper Clause, Supremacy Clause
Decision: Congress can create a bank; states can't tax it
Impact: strengthened federal power by confirming implied powers and supremacy of fed laws
Schenck v United States
Facts: Shenck passed out anti-draft leaflets during WWI
Principle: free speech (1st amendment)
Decision: upheld conviction due to “clear and present danger”
Impact: limited free speech during war time
Brown v Board of Ed
Facts: black students denied entry to white schools
Principle: equal protection (14th amendment)
Decision: school segregation is unconstitutional
Impact: overturned plessy; started desegregation
Baker v Carr:
Facts: Tennessee didn't update legislative districts
Principle: equal protection (14th amendment)
Decision: federal courts can rule on redistricting
Impact: “One person, one vote” principle
Engel v Vitale:
Facts: NY public schools held morning prayer
Principle: establishment Clause (1st amendment)
Decision: school-sponsored prayer is unconstitutional
Impact: reinforced separation of church and state
Gideon v Wainwright:
Facts: gideon was denied a lawyer in state court
Principle: right to counsel (6th and 14th amendments)
Decision: states must provide lawyers
Impact: incorporated right to counsel
Tinker v Des Moines
Facts: students wore armbands to protest the vietnam war
Principle: free speech (1st amendment)
Decision: symbolic speech is protected in schools
Impact: protected student expression
NYT Co v US:
Facts: govt tried to block publication of Pentagon papers
Principle: freedom of press (1st amendment)
Decision: prior restraint unconstitutional
Impact: protected press from govt censorship
Wisconsin v Yoder
Facts: Amish families didn't want kids in school past 8th grade.
Principle: free exercise clause (1st amendment)
Decision: compulsory school law violated religious freedom
Impact: expanded religious exemptions
Shaw v Reno
Facts: NC created bizarrely shaped, majority minority district
Principle: equal protection (14th amendment)
Decision: racial gerrymandering is unconstituional
Impact: limited use of race in redistrcting
US v Lopez
Facts: student brought gun to school, charged under federal law
Principle: Commerce Clause
Decision: Gun-Free School Zones Act exceeded federal power
Impact: limited Congress’s use of Commerce power
Citizens United v FEC:
Facts: citizens united wanted to air a political film near an election
Principle: free speech (1st amendment)
Decision: corporations can spend unlimited money on campaigns
Impact: led to Super PACS and more independent expenditures
McDonald v Chicago:
Facts: McDonald challenged Chicagos handgun ban
Principle: right to bear arms (2nd amendment); incorporation
Decision: 2nd Amendment applies to states
Impact: incorporated 2nd amendment via the 14th. (due process clause)