Civil Rights Test
Key Supreme Court Cases:
Lopez v. United States (1995): Declared the Gun-Free School Zones Act unconstitutional under the Commerce Clause, limiting Congress's powers.
Baker v. Carr (1962): Established "one person, one vote," allowing federal courts to intervene in redistricting under the Equal Protection Clause.
Citizens United v. FEC (2010): Ruled that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts cannot be limited, leading to increased political money influence.
Engel v. Vitale (1962): Found state-mandated school prayer unconstitutional under the Establishment Clause.
Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972): ruled Amish parents could withdraw children from public school for religious reasons.
Schenck v. United States (1919): Set the "clear and present danger" test for speech limitations under the First Amendment.
Tinker v. Des Moines (1969): Protected students' rights to free speech in schools through the symbolic speech of wearing armbands.
New York Times Co. v. United States (1971): Upheld freedom of the press by preventing prior restraint on publishing classified documents.
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963): Required states to provide attorneys to defendants unable to afford one, reinforcing the Sixth Amendment.
Roe v. Wade (1973): Affirmed women's right to choose abortion under the right to privacy in the 14th Amendment.
McDonald v. Chicago (2010): Extended the Second Amendment's right to bear arms to the states via the Fourteenth Amendment.
Brown v. Board of Education (1954): Declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, dismantling "separate but equal."
Shaw v. Reno (1993): Ruled racial gerrymandering constitutes a violation of the Equal Protection Clause.
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819): Affirmed federal implied powers and barred states from taxing federal institutions.
Gibbons v. Ogden (1824): Established that Congress has exclusive power over interstate commerce.
Wesberry v. Sanders (1964): Emphasized equal populations in congressional districts.
Buckley v. Valeo (1976): Upheld limits on contributions but deemed election spending as protected free speech.
Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971): Established the "Lemon test" for laws regarding the Establishment Clause.
Minersville School District v. Gobitis (1940): Upheld a flag salute policy, later overturned in Barnette (1943).
Feiner v. New York (1951): Affirmed limitations on free speech that incites breaches of the peace.
Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier (1988): Allowed editorial control over student newspaper content.
Powell v. Alabama (1932): Ensured counsel for defendants in capital cases.
Griswold v. Connecticut (1965): Recognized a right to privacy in marital relations, affecting contraceptive use laws.
Gratz v. Bollinger (2003): Declared non-individualized race factors in admissions unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause.
Key Supreme Court Cases:
Lopez v. United States (1995): Declared the Gun-Free School Zones Act unconstitutional under the Commerce Clause, limiting Congress's powers.
Baker v. Carr (1962): Established "one person, one vote," allowing federal courts to intervene in redistricting under the Equal Protection Clause.
Citizens United v. FEC (2010): Ruled that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts cannot be limited, leading to increased political money influence.
Engel v. Vitale (1962): Found state-mandated school prayer unconstitutional under the Establishment Clause.
Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972): ruled Amish parents could withdraw children from public school for religious reasons.
Schenck v. United States (1919): Set the "clear and present danger" test for speech limitations under the First Amendment.
Tinker v. Des Moines (1969): Protected students' rights to free speech in schools through the symbolic speech of wearing armbands.
New York Times Co. v. United States (1971): Upheld freedom of the press by preventing prior restraint on publishing classified documents.
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963): Required states to provide attorneys to defendants unable to afford one, reinforcing the Sixth Amendment.
Roe v. Wade (1973): Affirmed women's right to choose abortion under the right to privacy in the 14th Amendment.
McDonald v. Chicago (2010): Extended the Second Amendment's right to bear arms to the states via the Fourteenth Amendment.
Brown v. Board of Education (1954): Declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, dismantling "separate but equal."
Shaw v. Reno (1993): Ruled racial gerrymandering constitutes a violation of the Equal Protection Clause.
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819): Affirmed federal implied powers and barred states from taxing federal institutions.
Gibbons v. Ogden (1824): Established that Congress has exclusive power over interstate commerce.
Wesberry v. Sanders (1964): Emphasized equal populations in congressional districts.
Buckley v. Valeo (1976): Upheld limits on contributions but deemed election spending as protected free speech.
Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971): Established the "Lemon test" for laws regarding the Establishment Clause.
Minersville School District v. Gobitis (1940): Upheld a flag salute policy, later overturned in Barnette (1943).
Feiner v. New York (1951): Affirmed limitations on free speech that incites breaches of the peace.
Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier (1988): Allowed editorial control over student newspaper content.
Powell v. Alabama (1932): Ensured counsel for defendants in capital cases.
Griswold v. Connecticut (1965): Recognized a right to privacy in marital relations, affecting contraceptive use laws.
Gratz v. Bollinger (2003): Declared non-individualized race factors in admissions unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause.