Federalism
This case established the principle of judicial review, empowering the Supreme Court to nullify an act of the legislative or executive branch that violates the Constitution.
Marbury v Madison (1803)
Does a prohibition against the wearing of armbands in public school as a form of symbolic speech violate the students’ freedom of speech protections guaranteed by the First Amendment?
Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969)
The court ruled that compelling Amish students to attend school past the eighth grade violates the free exercise clause.
WISCONSIN V. YODER (1972)
The court rules that race-based school segregation violates the equal protection clause.
BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION (1954)
Ruling: Political spending by corporations, associations, and labor unions is a form of protected speech under the First Amendment
CITIZENS UNITED V. FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION (2010)
This case ruled that Congress may not use the commerce clause to make possession of a gun in a school zone a federal crime.
U.S. v Lopez (1995)
Did the government’s efforts to prevent two newspapers from publishing classified information given to them by a government leaker violate the First Amendment protection of freedom of the press?
New York Times Co. v. United States (1971)
The court ruled that public school students have the right to wear black armbands in school to protest the Vietnam War.
TINKER V. DES MOINES (1969)
The court ruled that the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms for self-defense is applicable to the states.
MCDONALD V. CHICAGO (2010)
Facts: A group of voters filed a lawsuit against both state and federal officials in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. They argued that District 12 violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause because it was motivated by racial discrimination and resulted in a district drawn almost entirely on racial lines, with the sole purpose of electing Black Congressional representatives.
Shaw v. Reno (1993)
This case established supremacy of the U.S. Constitution and federal laws over state laws.
McCulloch v Maryland (1819)
Under what conditions does the state’s interest in promoting compulsory education override parents’ First Amendment right to free exercise of religion?
Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)
The court ruled that speech creating a “clear and present danger” is not protected by the First Amendment.
SCHENCK V. UNITED STATES (1919)
This case guaranteed the right to an attorney for the poor or indigent in a state felony case.
GIDEON V. WAINWRIGHT (1963)
Issue: Do federal courts have the power to decide cases about the apportionment of population into state legislative districts?
Baker v. Carr (1962)
Issue: Did Congress have the authority under the Constitution to commission a national bank? If so, did the state of Maryland have the authority to tax a branch of the national bank operating within its borders?
McCulloch v Maryland (1819)
Did the petitioner's conviction under the Espionage Act for criticizing the draft violate his First Amendment free speech rights?
Schenck v. United States (1919)
This case bolstered the freedom of the press, establishing a “heavy presumption against prior restraint” even in cases involving national security.
NEW YORK TIMES CO. V. UNITED STATES (1971)
Facts: In 1982, the city of --------- adopted a handgun ban to combat crime and minimize handgun related deaths and injuries. In 2008, after the Court decided Heller and said that the Second Amendment includes an individual right to keep and bear arms in Washington D.C., city residents sued the city for violating the Constitution.
McDonald v. Chicago (2010)
Ruling: This case opened the door to equal protection challenges to redistricting and the development of the “one person, one vote” doctrine by ruling that challenges to redistricting did not raise “political questions” that would keep federal courts from reviewing such challenges.
BAKER V. CARR (1962)
Facts: A 12th-grade student was convicted of possessing a gun at a Texas school. Lopez appealed his conviction, arguing that Congress never had the authority to pass the GFSZA in the first place.
U.S. v Lopez
Does the recitation of a government-composed prayer in public schools violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment?
Engel v. Vitale (1962)
The court ruled that school sponsorship of religious activities violates the establishment clause of the 1st Amendment.
Engel v. Vitale (1962)
Does the Sixth Amendment’s right to counsel in criminal cases extend to defendants in state courts, even in cases in which the death penalty is not at issue?
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
Ruling: Majority-minority districts, created under the Voting Rights Act of 1965, may be constitutionally challenged by voters if race is the only factor used in creating the district.
SHAW V. RENO (1993)