Documents
England's King John was facing a rebellion. He agreed to a charter of liberties that would place him within a rule of law. This served to inspire and justify action in liberty's defense. The colonists believed that were entitled to the same rights and Englishmen. Those rights became laws and later are part of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. This document inspired these actions.
Magna Carta
1819
Established that while states retain the power of taxation, the Constitution and the laws made according to the Constitution are supreme and cannot be controlled by the states.
McCulloch v Maryland 1819
Established that the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment does not protect speech deemed as a "clear and present danger" to which Congress has the power to prevent. 1919
Schenck v United States
Established that all evidence in a criminal case obtained by searches and seizures in violation of the 4th Amendment will be rendered inadmissible in state court. 1961
Mapp v Ohio
All defendants in a state criminal cases, regardless of their ability to afford one, have the right to an attorney. 1963
Gideon v Wainwright
America's first founding document written to explain why the 13 colonies rebelled against Britain. It was written by Thomas Jefferson.
Declaration of Independence
Established that racial segregation in accommodations on a train did not violate the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.
1896
Plessy v Ferguson
Established 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.
1962
Engel v Vitale
Established that the exclusion order of Americans of Japanese descent during World War II was lawful and did not show racial prejudice. 1944
Korematsu v United States
The fifth Amendment requires that law enforcement officials advise suspects of their right to remain silent and to obtain an attorney during interrogations while in police custody. 1966
Miranda v Arizona
This was adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777. This document served as the United States first Constitution. The document was weak and gave little or no power over the central government. The Central government could not tax, nor effectively support a war effort.
The Article of Confederation
Established the principle that "separate but equal" educational facilities for racial minorities in inherently unequal and thus violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
Brown v Board of Education 1954
Established portions of the Missouri Compromise of 1820 as unconstitutional, ruling that the plaintiff, Mr. Scott, was property and not a person.
Dred Scott v Sandford
Universities may consider race, but not have quotas when considering who gets admitted.
Regents of the University of California v Bakke
A series of social programs and funding to help improve the lives of Americans. This included the Work Projects Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps. Franklin D. Roosevelt introduced these in response to the Great Depression.
New Deal
This established the government of the United States. It was signed on September 17, 1787.
United States Constitution
The Court struck down the law that said guns had to be rendered inoperable when inside the home. This violated the 2nd Amendment. The right to bear arms can be exercised for self-defense particularly in the home.
District of Columbia v Heller 2008
The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that possession of a gun in a local school is not an economic activity that might, through repetition have a substantial effect on interstate commerce. The law is a criminal stature that has nothing to do with "commerce" or any sort of economic activity.
U.S. v Lopez 1995
The Court held that the burning of an American flag was protected expression under the first Amendment.
Texas v Johnson
President Johnson outlined a series of domestic programs that he promised would eliminate poverty and inequality in the United States.
Great Society
The first ten Amendments to the Constitution.
The Bill of Rights
Established that students did not lose their 1st Amendment rights to freedom of speech when they stepped onto school property. Student could wear armbands to protest the Vietnam War so long as it did not disrupt the educational process.
Tinker v Des Moines 1969
The State of Florida did not need to complete a recount of the 2000 Presidential election because it could not be accomplished in a constitutionally valid way. Bush was declared the winner.
Bush v Gore 2000
This established the principle of judicial review, in other words, the power to declare a law written by the legislative branch as UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
Marbury v Madison
This law was passed in 2010 and was designed to make affordable health insurance to more people.
Affordable Care Act of 2010