Court Cases
In which case did the U.S. Supreme Court first declare an act of Congress unconstitutional, thus establishing the doctrine of judicial review
What was Marbury v. Madison (1803)
A case where it ruled that state law banned abortion was unconstitutional.
What is the Roe v. Wade Case
A case where a group of students decided to wear black armbands to school to protest the war in Vietnam that cemented students' rights to free speech in public schools
The principal mission of the legislative branch is to make laws. It is split into two different chambers
What is Article I – The Legislative Branch
The candidate or party that wins more than half the votes cast in an election.
What is Majority Vote
A case where the States Supreme Court case in which the Court ruled that it is unconstitutional for state officials to compose an official school prayer and encourage its recitation in public schools, due to violation of the First Amendment.
What is the Engel v. Vitale Case
A case where the Supreme Court ruled that Congress had implied powers under the Necessary and Proper Clause of Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution to create the Second Bank of the United States and that the state of Maryland lacked the power to tax the Bank.
What is the Mcculloch v. Maryland case
The case where Supreme Court established that the Fourteenth Amendment creates a right for criminal defendants who cannot pay for their own lawyers to have the state appoint attorneys on their behalf.
What is the Gideon v. Wainwright Case
The article states that the court of last resort is the U.S. Supreme Court and that the U.S. Congress has the power to determine the size and scope of those courts below it. All judges are appointed for life unless they resign or are charged with bad behavior. Those facing charges are to be tried and judged by a jury of their peers.
What is Article III - The Judicial Branch
Constitutional grant of powers that enables each of the three branches of government to check some acts of the others and therefore ensure that no branch can dominate.
What is Checks and Balances
A case where the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that racial segregation in public schools violated the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution.
What is the Brown v. Board of Education Case
A case where the Supreme Court of the United States defended the First Amendment right of free press against prior restraint by the government.
What is the NY Times Co. v. United States Case
The Case where it preserved the system of federalism, which delegates certain powers to states and certain powers to the federal government. It upheld the principle that states have control of local issues, like gun possession on school grounds.
What is the United States v. Lopez Case
Future generations can amend the Constitution if the society so requires it. Both the states and Congress have the power to initiate the amendment process.
What is Article V – Amendment
The power of a court to refuse to enforce a law or a government regulation that in the opinion of the judges conflicts with the U.S. Constitution or, in a state court, the state constitution.
What is Judicial Review
A case in which the United States Supreme Court found that Amish children could not be placed under compulsory education past 8th grade.
What is Wisconsin v. Yoder Case
A case where the Supreme Court invented the famous "clear and present danger" test to determine when a state could constitutionally limit an individual's free speech rights under the First Amendment.
What is the Schenck v. the United States case
The case where Supreme Court asserted that corporations are people and removed reasonable campaign contribution limits, allowing a small group of wealthy donors and special interests to use dark money to influence elections.
What is the Citizens United V. Federal Election Commission case
This branch of the government manages the day-to-day operations of government through various federal departments and agencies, such as the Department of Treasury. At the head of this branch is the nationally elected president of the United States.
What is Article II - The Executive Branch
An economic and governmental system based on public ownership of the means of production and exchange.
What is Socialism
A case in which the Court held that the redistricting of North Carolina was evidence of an attempt to separate voters based on race
What is the Shaw V. Reno Case
The U.S. Supreme Court case that had held that federal courts could hear cases alleging that a state's drawing of electoral boundaries, i.e. redistricting, violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution.
What is the Baker v. Carr case
The case where the supreme court that the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms,” applies to state and local governments as well as to the federal government.
What is the McDonald v. City of Chicago Case
This article details all those people who signed the Constitution, representing the original 13 states.
What is Article VII – Ratification
It is unlimited amounts of money that political parties previously could raise for partybuilding purposes. Now largely illegal except for limited contributions to state and local parties for voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts.
What is Soft Money