Required Supreme Court cases
In a unanimous decision, the Court held that Congress had the power to incorporate the National Bank and that Maryland could not tax instruments of the national government employed in the execution of constitutional powers.
What is McCulloch v. Maryland?
In this case, the Court held that the government did not overcome the "heavy presumption against" prior restraint of the press. Justices Black and Douglas argued that the vague word "security" should not be used "to abrogate the fundamental law embodied in the First Amendment." It is sometimes called "The Pentagon Papers case."
What is New York Times Co. v. United States?
By a 5-to-4 vote along ideological lines, the majority held that under the First Amendment corporate funding of independent political broadcasts in candidate elections cannot be limited.
What is Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission?
This foundational document argued a strong federal government is the best way to control factions.
What is Federalist No. 10?
This amendment to the Constitution guarantees the following freedoms: speech, assembly, petition, press, and religion.
What is the 1st amendment?
In this case, the Supreme Court ruled the possession of a gun in a local school zone is not an economic activity that might, through repetition elsewhere, have a substantial effect on interstate commerce. The law is a criminal statute that has nothing to do with "commerce" or any sort of economic activity.
What is U.S. v. Lopez?
In this case, Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes compared leaflets distributed by a socialist opponent of World War I to falsely shouting “Fire!” in a crowded theatre, which is not permitted under the First Amendment.
What is Schenck v. United States?
The Court ruled states have to have relatively equal population in each Congressional District and the court has the ability to rule on that issue in this case.
What is Baker v. Carr?
This foundational document argued against a strong national government, which its authors said would repress the people.
What is Brutus No. 1?
This amendment isn't about wearing a sleeveless shirt, but you could be forgiven for thinking that, since it says you have the right to bare arms.
What is the 2nd amendment?
In this case, the Supreme Court ruled that the state cannot hold prayers in public schools, even if participation is not required and the prayer is not tied to a particular religion
What is Engel v. Vitale?
In this case, the Court held that the Sixth Amendment's guarantee of a right to assistance of counsel applies to criminal defendants in state court by way of the Fourteenth Amendment.
What is Gideon v. Wainwright?
In this case, the Supreme Court held an unusually shaped Congressional district in North Carolina, while perhaps created by noble intentions, seemed to exceed what was reasonably necessary to avoid racial imbalances (You can take race into account when redistricting, but it can’t be the primary reason.)
What is Shaw v. Reno?
This foundational document was adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. It states that all men are created equal and have a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
What is the Declaration of Independence?
This amendment includes the right to due process, protection against self-incrimination ("I plead the _____"), and protects against double jeopardy.
What is the 5th amendment?
In this case, the Court held that individual's interests in the free exercise of religion under the First Amendment outweighed the State's interests in compelling school attendance beyond the eighth grade.
What is Wisconsin v. Yoder?
The Supreme Court reversed the Seventh Circuit court in this case by holding that the Fourteenth Amendment makes the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms for the purpose of self-defense applicable to the states.
What is McDonald v. Chicago?
This case established judicial review.
What is Marbury v. Madison?
This was the first constitution of the United States. Angry farmers in Massachusetts helped put an end to it.
What are the Articles of Confederation?
These three amendments were enacted after the Civil War, then ignored for about 100 years, and then revived in response the Civil Rights movement.
What are the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments?
In this case, the Court held that the students did not lose their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech when they stepped onto school property. In order to justify the suppression of speech, the school officials must be able to prove that the conduct in question would "materially and substantially interfere" with the operation of the school.
What is Tinker v. Des Moines?
This landmark case saw the Supreme Court rule separate but equal educational facilities for racial minorities is inherently unequal, violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
What is Brown v. Board of Education?
In this case, which was overturned in 2022, the Court held that the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment protects against state action the right to privacy, and a woman’s right to choose to have an abortion falls within that right to privacy.
What is Roe v. Wade?
This is the supreme law of the land. It begins with "We the People..."
What is the Constitution?
This amendment is all about suffrage. Enacted just over a hundred years ago, it gave women the right to vote.
What is the 19th amendment?