SCOTUS cases
1973 case affirming rights to abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Roe v. Wade (1973)
The first official constitution of the United States but was a failure due to the number of flaws it had.
Articles of Confederation
A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
checks and balances
The Court ruled that limits on corporate campaign spending amounted to prohibitions on free speech.
Citizens United vs. FEC
Guarantees the freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly and the right to petition government.
1st Amendment
1969 case that defines the speech/expression rights of public school students.
Tinker v. Des Moines School District
A document that was ratified in 1788 which took the mistakes of the Articles of Confederation and turned them into positive things.
US Constitution
a form of government in which power is divided between the federal government and the states
Federalism
Student initiated prayer violates the establishment clause under the first amendment.
Santa Fe Independent School District vs. Doe
Prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures.
4th Amendment
1954 case that overturned Separate but Equal standard of discrimination in education.
Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
A document ratified in 1791, this document included the first ten amendments to the Constitution. This outlined the rights of the people.
Bill of Rights
powers that congress has that are not stated explicitly in the constitution
Implied powers
Supreme Court interpreted the First Amendment to allow Congress to restrict speech that is "of such a nature as to create a clear and present danger that will bring about the substantive evils that Congress has a right to prevent."
Schenck vs. United States
Guarantees the right to bear arms.
2nd Amendment
1963 ruling that a defendant in a felony trial must be provided a lawyer free of charge if the defendant cannot afford one.
Gideon v. Wainwright
A collection of articles and essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay promoting the ratification of the United States Constitution.
Federalist Papers
Powers the Constitution is presumed to have delegated to the National Government because it is the government of a sovereign state within the world community
inherent powers
In order to exercise prior restraint, the Government must show evidence that the publication would cause a "grave and irreparable" danger.
New York Times vs. United States
Guarantees the right to a speedy, impartial public trial in criminal cases with counsel and the right to cross examine.
6th Amendment
1965 decision that the Constitution implicitly guarantees citizens' right to privacy.
Griswold v. Connecticut
1776 statement, issued by the Second Continental Congress, explaining why the colonies wanted independence from Britain.
Declaration of Independence
one type of federal grants-in-aid for some particular but broadly defined area of public policy
block grants
The Court voted to uphold the constitutionality of the University of Michigan Law School's affirmative action policy, which gave preference to minority students
Grutter vs. Bollinger
Prohibits excessive bail or fines or cruel or unusual punishment.
8th Amendment