Significance
What is the significance of TINKER V. DES MOINES INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT?
The significance of the decision was that it protected students’ freedom of speech rights in public schools after the protests against the Vietnam war.
What is the background surrounding the case McCulloch v. Maryland?
James McCulloch, head of Baltimore's branch of the US Bank, refused to pay the taxes imposed by the Maryland state legislature on all out-of-state banks operating in Maryland. In response, Maryland filed a suit against McCulloch to collect the taxes.
What was the ruling in the case of McCulloch v. Maryland?
The court ruled in favor of the federal government, concluding it had both the right and power to set up a Federal Bank, meaning states did not have the power to tax the Federal government.
What is the context surrounding the case of Schenck v. United States?
During WW1, the Espionage Act was passed which made it a crime to convey information intending to interfere with the war effort. In this case, Schenck was charged under the act for mailing leaflets encouraging men to resist the military draft.
What was the decision in the case of Schenck v. United States?
Although Schenck argued that the charge was violating his First Amendment rights, the Justice upheld his conviction and ruled the freedom of speech protection under the First Amendment could be restricted if the words spoken or printed represented to society 'clear and present danger.'
What is the significance of the Brown v. Board of Education case?
The case unanimously declared the 'separate but equal' doctrine unconstitutional and violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
What is the background surrounding the case Marbury v. Madison?
In a last-minute attempt to frustrate his successor, Adams appointed several judges. Although they were approved by the Senate, they had to wait until their commissions were delivered by the Secretary of State. Madison refused to deliver the commissions.
What was the ruling in the case of Shaw v. Reno?
Shaw argued that the district violated the Equal Protection Clause under the Fourteenth Amendment. The court ruled that redistricting based on race must be held to a standard of strict scrutiny under the equal protection clause.
What is the context surrounding the case of Brown v. Board of Education?
Five lawsuits were filed against various states and presented against the Board of Education in this case. The attorneys representing the Black families argued that the 14th Amendment was being violated upon the use of the 'separate but equal' doctrine. The infamous doll experiment played a crucial role in demonstrating the harmful impact of segregation on black children in this case.
What was the decision in the case of Marbury v. Madison?
Although the court deemed Madison's refusal illegal, they also held that the Judiciary Act of 1789 that enabled Marbury to bring his case forward was unconstitutional. In so, Marshall established the principle of judicial review, which is the power to declare a law unconstitutional. This was an important system adding to 'checks and balances.'
What is the significance of the case Baker v. Carr?
The court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs by stating that federal courts could hear cases alleging apportionment. The Supreme Court then went on to create the political question doctrine, which cites a series of factors, that have to have at least one be present for the case to be a non-justiciable political question.
What caused the case of Shaw v. Reno?
When submitting a new plan for a majority-minority district, upon compliance with the Voting Rights Act, the proposed district had only a Black population in common. After the legislation for the second district was passed, a group of White voters from North Carolina sued on the basis that the district was an unconstitutional gerrymander.
What was the ruling in the case of United States v. Lopez?
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Lopez and struck down the law. The court used this case to force back against some of the broadest assertions of congressional power under the Commerce Clause- restating that the Constitution creates a national government with limited powers.
What is the context surrounding the case of Baker v. Carr?
This case was first brought to a federal court by Tennessee voters who argued that the apportionment of Tennessee's legislature failed to account for a fair amount of population variations between districts. Additionally, they asserted that Tennessee law required districts to be redrawn every ten years. The lower court dismissed their concerns as they held it was a political question and lacked jurisdiction.
What was the decision made in New York Times Co. v. United States?
The court found that Nixon's demand to stop publishing the Pentagon Papers was a violation of the First Amendment for press freedom. Furthermore, they held it was not the intent of the publication to put the US in danger but to educate people about the Vietnam War.
What is the significance of Wisconsin v. Yoder?
This case demonstrated the violation of the First Amendment Free Exercise Clause. The court ruled that the Amish families were protected under the free exercise of religion, thus outweighing the State's interests.
What is the background on the New York Times Co. v. The United States?
During the 1970s, when the US was faced with the concerning implications of Communism, former President Nixon continued to withdraw information from the public to decrease chaos. When the Pentagon Papers were released in the New York Times, President Nixon used his executive authority to prevent the New York Times from publishing top secret documents pertaining to US involvement in the Vietnam War.
What is the context behind the case United States v. Lopez?
In this case, certain limits on congressional power were reaffirmed. When Alphonso Lopez was arrested for bringing a concealed weapon to school, he was charged under the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990. However, Lopez challenged his conviction by arguing that the law surpassed Congress's power under the Commerce Clause.
What was the decision in the case of McDonald v. Chicago?
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of McDonald and held that the Second Amendment right to bear arms applies to both state and local governments through the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause. By applying the right to bear arms to both state and local governments, the Supreme Court limited the extent to which they can regulate firearms.
What is the significance of the case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission?
The court ruled that laws that prevented corporations and unions from using their treasury funds violated the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of speech.
What is the background of the case McDonald v. Chicago?
In this case, the City of Chicago's strict gun control laws which banned possessing them within city limits was brought under questioning. McDonald filed suit against the city for violating his Second Amendment rights because of this regulation.
The court ruling found New York's law unconstitutional, holding that allowing the school system to encourage the recitation was inconsistent with the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
What is the context behind the case of Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District?
During the Vietnam War, students in Iowa planned a silent protest against the violence. They chose to wear black armbands but the Principal found out and threatened suspension. The students still chose to do so and upon their suspension, the students' parents sued the school for violating their children's right to free speech.
What decision was upheld in the Gideon v. Wainwright case?
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Gideon which guaranteed the right to legal counsel for criminal defendants in federal and state courts.