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Marbury v. Madison (1803)
This case establishes the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review.
Luther v. Borden (1849)
Court decided that it would not hear political questions and instead referred hypothetical issues to the other two branches through legislation. "political question doctrine"
Powell v. McCormack (1969)
Supreme Court ruling which says the House cannot exclude a member who meets the age, citizenship, and residency requirements. House cannot impose additional standards on representatives, power to expel Adam Powell (Article 1, Sec. 5) but not exclude.
McGrain v. Daugherty (1927)
The constitutional question/issue
Does congress have the authority to compel private citizens to appear before an investigation committee that is inquiring about legal activity within the executive Branch ?
- Yes congress can compel citizens to appear before it
1.Firmly established congress power to investigate as an implied power
2. Began to develop the rights witnesses in congressional investigation
NLRB v. Canning (2014)
A United States Supreme Court case in which the Court unanimously ruled that the President of the United States cannot use his or her authority under the Recess Appointment Clause of the United States Constitution to appoint public officials unless the United States Senate is in recess and not able to transact Senate business. The Court held that the clause allows the president to make appointments during both intra-session and inter-session recesses but only if the recess is of sufficient length, and if the Senate is actually unavailable for deliberation. The Court also ruled that any vacancy in an office can be filled during the recess, regardless of when it arose. The case arose out of President Barack Obama's appointments of Sharon Block, Richard Griffin, and Terence Flynn to the National Labor Relations Board and Richard Cordray as the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Eakin v. Raub (1825)
1825; The Judiciary interprets the laws but not to question the authority of the laws, this takes away power from the legislative branch. Gibson was against the Judicial Review process.
Hein v. Freedom from Religion Foundation (2007)
Taxpayers do not have the right to challenge the constitutionality of expenditures by the executive branch (here, discretionary spending on faith-based initiatives)
DeShaney v. Winnebago
county health department
mother sues on due process clause- provides fair procedures
supreme court- officials had no affirmative constitutional duty to protect joshua
father beat so
(negative constitution)
US v. Comstock (2010)
Under the Necessary and Proper Clause, Congress has the authority to enact a law that allows civil commitment of mentally ill, sexually dangerous federal inmates beyond the end of the prisoners' criminal sentences.
Myers v. United States (1926)
President has the exclusive power to remove executive branch officials, and does not need the approval of the Senate or any other legislative body.
Cooper v. Aaron (1958)
1958; reaffirmed (9-0) Brown v Board. Outlawing the "Separate but equal" doctrine reasserted that the U.S. Constitution's "Supremacy Clause" (Article VI, Section 2) declared a federal judge ruling could not be ignored/overruled by a Governor of a state.
Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife (1992)
1992. Wildlife activists lacked standing because did not suffer actual injury in fact. Court disregarded proposed theory of "ecosystem nexus".
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
the Supreme Court upheld the power of the national government and denied the right of a state to tax the federal bank using the Constitution's supremacy clause. The Court's broad interpretation of the necessary and proper clause paved the way for later rulings upholding expansive federal powers.
Watkins v. United States (1957)
The ruling in this case established that congressional investigations must spell out their legislative purpose and jurisdiction and that the Bill of Rights is applicable to congressional investigations. Watkins was within his rights to refuse to testify to matters beyond the scope of the House Committee on Un-American Activities.
Youngstown v. Sawyer (1952)
- War Powers, Executive Power
- Truman lacks constitutional authority to seize and operate the steel mills
- No Congressional statue authorizes Prez. to take possession of pvt. property
- Military power as CIC does not extend to labor disputes
- Vinson
Plaut v. Spendthrift Farm, Inc. (1995)
Key takeaway: Prohibition against advisory opinions case court cannot reopen cases and issue advisory judgments
Rule: The Federal judiciary has the power not merely to rule on cases, but to decide them, subject to review only by superior courts in the Article III hierarchy- a judgment conclusively resolves the case because a judicial power is one to render dispositive judgments.
Holding: Section 27(A)(b) is unconstitutional to the extent that it requires federal courts to reopen final judgments entered before it enactment.
Ex Parte McCardle (1869)
Allowed Congress to change the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. Court validated withdraw on the basis of Exception Clause Article 3 sec. 2 ; gave Congress authority to withdraw apellate jurisdiction from Supreme Court at anytime.
Gravel v. United States (1972)
The Speech and Debate Clause extends to staff. They get the same level of immunity as if a Senator had done something during official business themselves. Having the papers published is not Constitutional since that was not related to the legislative process. (arrangements with the Beacon Press were not constitutionally protected)
INS v. Chadha (1983)
Congress would write legislation giving the president broad powers to act but reserve to itself the right to void presidential actions by a vote of one or both houses. This legislative veto was declared unconstitutional by violating seperation of powers.
Schechter Poultry Corp v. US (1935)
Congress gives the President the power to regulate industry under National Industry Recovery Act. Result: Congress does not have the authority to delegate such powers to the President. Congress may not delegate its legislative powers to the President. Declared the New Deal's NIRA unconstitutional.
Baker v. Carr (1962)
case that est. one man one vote. this decision created guidelines for drawing up congressional districts and guaranteed a more equitable system of representation to the citizens of each state. State reapportionment are justiciable in federal court, Fourteenth Amendment Equal Protection.
Nixon v. United States (1993)
determined that the question of whether the Senate had properly tried an impeachment was a political question and could not be resolved in the courts.
Mistretta v. United States (1989)
congress can delegate powers to an independent commission and the U.S sentencing commission is constitutional. Valid under "intelligible principle" commission was given substantial authority in setting guidelines but Congress provided classification hierarchy for fed. crimes to use as outline.
U.S. Term Limits v. Thornton (1995)
was a case in which the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that states cannot impose qualifications for prospective members of the U.S. Congress stricter than those specified in the Constitution.
Clinton v. New York City (1998)
In 1996, Congress passed a law granting the president authority to line item veto certain types of appropriations bills and tax provisions. The Court voided the law claiming it violated the "separation of powers" concept. Banned presidential use of line item veto.