Required Supreme Court cases
This case unanimously held that the racial segregation of children in public schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
What is Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)
Prohibited state-sponsored recitation of prayer in public schools by virtue of 1st Amendment's establishment clause.
What is Engel v. Vitale (1962)
Abortion rights fall within the privacy implied in the 14th amendment
What is Roe v. Wade (1973)
Letters written by MLK; In it, he argues that he and his fellow demonstrations have a duty to fight for justice. Explains the four steps of nonviolent protest: fact finding, negotiation, self-purification, and direct action.
What is Letter from a Birmingham Jail
"All men are created equal."
The Declaration of Independence.
the Supreme Court upheld the power of the national government and denied the right of a state to tax the federal bank. (Necessary and Proper and Supremacy Clauses)
What is McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
Extends to the defendant the right of counsel in all state and federal criminal trials regardless of their ability to pay.
What is Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
Commerce clause of Constitution does not give Congress the power to regulate guns near state-operated schools
What is United States v. Lopez (1995)
1st Constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788 (weaknesses-no executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade)
What is The Articles of Confederation
This document replaced the Articles of Confederation.
What is the Constitution?
Established judicial review; "midnight judges;" John Marshall; power of the Supreme Court.
What is Marbury v. Madison (1803)
The Court ruled that states could not require Amish parents to send their children to public school beyond the eighth grade because it violated the Free Exercise clause.
What is Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)
Incorporated the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms to the states
What is McDonald v. Chicago (2010)
Hamilton argues for the necessity of a single president (rather than an executive committee). Hamilton states that Americans should not fear the president becoming a tyrant because a single person would be easier to control. Additionally, a single president could act with more energy, efficiency, and secrecy than a committee.
What is Federalist No. 70
The document written in 1787 and ratified in 1789 that sets forth the institutional structure of the U.S. government and the tasks these institutions perform. It replaced the Articles of Confederation.
What is The Constitution of the United States
Court-enforced redistricting based on the principle of "one-person-one-vote" ensured that urban constituencies were represented proportionally equal to rural area constituents
What is Baker v. Carr (1961)
In this Supreme Court case, the court ruled that First Amendment did protect the New York Times' right to print the Pentagon Papers and ruled against Nixon's use of prior restraint.
What is New York Times Company v. United States (1971)
Public school students may wear armbands to class protesting against America's war in Vietnam when such display does not disrupt classes
What is Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969)
An essay written by James Madison that warned against factions due to their tyrannical structure and said a larger United States is better for the diversity of politics.
What is Federalist No. 10
written by Alexander Hamilton; talks about the federal judiciary; judiciary must depend on other two branches to uphold its decisions
What is Federalist No. 78
Allows limits to speech based on the "clear and present danger" principle
What is Schenck v. United States (1919)
Legislative redistricting must be conscious of race and ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965
What is Shaw v. Reno (1993)
Holding that independent expenditures are free speech protected by the 1st Amendment and so cannot be limited by federal law. Leads to creation of SuperPACs & massive rise in amount of third party electioneering (Citizens for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow)
What is Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)
This work by a prominent Anti-Federalist argued that that the new federal government would be too powerful. In particular, he pointed to the necessary-and-proper clause and the supremacy clause. In addition, he objected to Congress's power to tax and raise a standing army and to the vast size of the proposed republic. He felt this powerful new government would supplant the states.
What is Brutus No. 1
Argues that separation of powers within the national government is the best way to prevent the concentration of power in the hands of one person or a single group.
What is Federalist No. 51