Supreme Court Cases

Facts

100

1. MARBURY V. MADISON (1803)

2. MCCULLOCH V. MARYLAND (1819)

3. SCHENCK V. UNITED STATES (1919)

In deciding this case about judicial appointments, the court established the principle of judicial review,
empowering the Supreme Court to declare an act of the legislative or executive branch unconstitutional.

In deciding this case about a national bank and state taxes, the court established the supremacy of the U.S.
Constitution and federal laws over state laws.

Speech creating a “clear and present danger” was not protected by the First Amendment and could be
limited.  

200

4. BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION (1954)
5. BAKER V. CARR (1962)
6. ENGEL V. VITALE (1962)
 

Race-based school segregation violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
 

This case held that redistricting did not raise political questions, allowing federal courts to hear other
cases that challenge redistricting plans that may violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth
Amendment.

School sponsorship of religious activities violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

300

7. GIDEON V. WAINWRIGHT (1963)
8. TINKER V. DES MOINES INDEPENDENT
9. NEW YORK TIMES CO. V. UNITED STATES (1971)

In this case, the Sixth Amendment’s right to an attorney extends procedural due process protections to
felony defendants in state courts.

COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT (1969)
A prohibition against public school students wearing black armbands in school to protest the Vietnam
War violated the students’ freedom of speech protections in the First Amendment.

This case bolstered the freedom of the press protections of the First Amendment, establishing a “heavy
presumption against prior restraint” even in cases involving national security.

400

10. WISCONSIN V. YODER (1972)
11. SHAW V. RENO (1993)
12. UNITED STATES V. LOPEZ (1995)
 

Compelling Amish students to attend school past the eighth grade violates the Free Exercise Clause of
the First Amendment.

Under the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause, majority-minority districts, created under
the Voting Rights Act of 1965, may be constitutionally challenged by voters if race is the only factor used
in creating the district.

Congress exceeded its power under the Commerce Clause when it made possession of a gun in a
school zone a federal crime.

500

13. MCDONALD V. CHICAGO (2010)14. CITIZENS UNITED V. FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION (2010)
14. CITIZENS UNITED V. FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION (2010)
Political spending by corporations, associations, and labor unions is a form of protected speech under
the First Amendmen

The Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms for self-defense is applicable to the states.

Political spending by corporations, associations, and labor unions is a form of protected speech under
the First Amendment.

Issue

100

• Marbury v. Madison (1803):

  • Issue: The central issue was whether William Marbury, who was appointed to a judicial position by outgoing President John Adams, had a right to receive his commission and whether the Supreme Court had the authority to compel its delivery.
  • 
    

• McCulloch v. Maryland (1819):

  • Issue: The main issue was whether the state of Maryland had the power to tax the Second Bank of the United States, and more broadly, whether Congress had the authority to create such a bank under the Constitution.
  • 
    

• Schenck v. United States (1919):

  • Issue: The issue was whether Charles Schenck’s distribution of anti-draft leaflets during World War I constituted a criminal act under the Espionage Act of 1917, and if so, whether his conviction violated his First Amendment right to free speech.
  • 
    

• Resolution: The Court found that Marbury had a right to the commission but concluded that the specific legal remedy he sought (a writ of mandamus) was unconstitutional. This decision established the principle of judicial review, affirming that it is the duty of the judicial branch to review and invalidate actions by the other branches of government if they are unconstitutional.
• Resolution: The Supreme Court held that Congress had the authority to establish the bank under the Necessary and Proper Clause, and that Maryland could not tax the bank. This decision reinforced the supremacy of federal laws over state laws and affirmed the broad interpretation of Congress’s powers.
• Resolution: The Court ruled that Schenck’s actions created a "clear and present danger" to national security and public order, which justified restrictions on his free speech rights. This decision introduced the "clear and present danger" test to determine when speech could be limited without violating the First Amendment.

200

• Brown v. Board of Education (1954):

  • Issue: The issue was whether racial segregation in public schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment,
  • 
    

• Baker v. Carr (1962):

  • Issue: The issue was whether federal courts had the authority to intervene in and adjudicate cases involving legislative redistricting, which had traditionally been considered a political question outside the reach of the judiciary.
  • 
    

• Engel v. Vitale (1962):

  • Issue: The issue was whether the state-sponsored recitation of a prayer in public schools violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from establishing an official religion or unduly favoring one religion over another.
  • 
    

 

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  • Resolution: The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. The Court found that "separate but equal" facilities were inherently unequal, thereby overturning the earlier precedent established in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and establishing that segregation in public education violated the Equal Protection Clause.
• 
  
  • Resolution: The Supreme Court decided that redistricting issues did not constitute purely political questions and were thus justiciable, meaning that federal courts could hear cases challenging redistricting plans. This decision established the principle of "one person, one vote" and allowed federal courts to ensure that legislative districts were fairly apportioned in accordance with the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
  • Resolution: The Supreme Court ruled that the state-sponsored prayer in public schools was unconstitutional. The Court held that even non-denominational and voluntary prayers, when endorsed by the state, violated the Establishment Clause because it represented an improper government involvement with religion. This decision reinforced the principle of separation of church and state.

 

300

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963):

• Issue: The issue was whether the Sixth Amendment's guarantee of the right to counsel, which had been applied to federal cases, also extended to felony defendants in state courts who could not afford an attorney.
• Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969):
  • Issue: The issue was whether a public school’s prohibition against students wearing black armbands to protest the Vietnam War violated the students' First Amendment rights to freedom of speech.
  • New York Times Co. v. United States (1971):
    • Issue: The issue was whether the government could impose prior restraint on the New York Times and the Washington Post, preventing them from publishing the Pentagon Papers, which were classified documents relating to the Vietnam War, on the grounds of national security.

 

• 
  
  • Resolution: The Supreme Court ruled that the Sixth Amendment’s right to counsel is a fundamental right that is essential to a fair trial and thus must be provided to defendants in state courts who cannot afford an attorney. This decision required states to provide legal representation to indigent defendants in felony cases, thereby extending procedural due process protections.
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  • 
    
    • Resolution: The Supreme Court held that the prohibition was unconstitutional. The Court found that students do not lose their First Amendment rights at the schoolhouse gate and that the wearing of armbands was a form of symbolic speech protected by the First Amendment. The ruling emphasized that school officials could not censor student speech unless it materially and substantially disrupted the educational environment.

  • 
    

    7. 
       
       • Resolution: The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the newspapers, holding that the government did not meet the heavy burden of proof required to justify prior restraint. The Court established a “heavy presumption against prior restraint,” reinforcing that freedom of the press is protected under the First Amendment, even in matters of national security, unless the government can demonstrate an immediate and dire threat to the country.

  • 
    

400

10. Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972):

• Issue: The issue was whether Wisconsin's compulsory school attendance law, which required children to attend school until age 16, violated the Amish community's rights under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, given their religious beliefs that oppose formal education beyond the eighth grade.
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  11. Shaw v. Reno (1993):
• 
  
  • Issue: The issue was whether the creation of a majority-minority congressional district, which was drawn primarily based on racial considerations, violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
  • 
    
    12. United States v. Lopez (1995):
  • 
    
    • Issue: The issue was whether Congress exceeded its authority under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution when it enacted the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990, which made it a federal crime to possess a gun in a school zone.

 

Resolution: The Supreme Court ruled that compelling Amish students to attend school past the eighth grade violated their First Amendment right to freely exercise their religion. The Court found that the state's interest in compulsory education did not outweigh the Amish community's right to practice their religion, which includes the decision to withdraw children from formal education after the eighth grade.

Resolution: The Supreme Court held that while race can be considered in redistricting, districts drawn predominantly based on race may be subject to strict scrutiny and constitutional challenge. The Court found that the unusually shaped district in question, which was drawn to ensure minority representation, was so racially motivated that it raised constitutional concerns and required further judicial review to ensure compliance with the Equal Protection Clause.

• Resolution: The Supreme Court ruled that Congress had indeed exceeded its powers under the Commerce Clause. The Court held that possession of a gun in a school zone did not substantially affect interstate commerce, and therefore, the federal government did not have the authority to regulate such activities. This decision marked the first time in decades that the Court placed limits on the scope of Congress's power under the Commerce Clause.

500

13. McDonald v. Chicago (2010):

• Issue: The issue was whether the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms for self-defense, as recognized in District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), is applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause.
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  14. Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010):
• 
  
  • Issue: The issue was whether restrictions on political spending by corporations, associations, and labor unions were unconstitutional under the First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech.

• Resolution: The Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment does indeed apply to the states. The Court held that the right to keep and bear arms for self-defense is a fundamental right that is incorporated through the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause, thereby extending the protections of the Second Amendment to state and local governments. This decision built on Heller and affirmed that individual self-defense is a constitutional right at both the federal and state levels.

14. 
    
    • Resolution: The Supreme Court ruled that political spending by corporations, associations, and labor unions is a form of protected speech under the First Amendment. The Court struck down provisions of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) that restricted such spending, arguing that these restrictions constituted an infringement on free speech rights. The decision allowed for unlimited independent political expenditures by these entities, fundamentally altering the landscape of campaign finance and political speech.

Holding

100

• Marbury v. Madison (1803):

• McCulloch v. Maryland (1819):

• Schenck v. United States (1919):

• Holding: The Supreme Court established the principle of judicial review, holding that it is the duty of the judiciary to review and invalidate laws and executive actions that are unconstitutional.
• Holding: The Court held that the federal government has implied powers under the Necessary and Proper Clause and that federal laws have supremacy over state laws. Consequently, Maryland could not tax the Second Bank of the United States.
• Holding: The Court determined that speech creating a “clear and present danger” to national security or public order is not protected by the First Amendment and can be restricted.

200

• Brown v. Board of Education (1954):

• Baker v. Carr (1962):
  Engel v. Vitale (1962):

• Holding: The Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Court declared that "separate but equal" facilities were inherently unequal.
• 
  
  • Holding: The Court held that redistricting issues are justiciable and do not raise political questions, allowing federal courts to adjudicate cases where legislative redistricting plans may violate the Equal Protection Clause.
    • Holding: The Supreme Court ruled that school-sponsored prayer in public schools violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, as it constituted an impermissible government involvement with religion.

300

• 
  

  • Gideon v. Wainwright (1963):

    • Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969):
    • 
      
    • New York Times Co. v. United States (1971):
    • 
      

• 
  
  • Holding: The Court held that the Sixth Amendment’s right to counsel is a fundamental right applicable to felony defendants in state courts, requiring states to provide an attorney to indigent defendants.
    • Holding: The Supreme Court decided that public school students do not lose their First Amendment rights at the schoolhouse gate and that wearing black armbands as a form of protest was protected speech unless it caused a substantial disruption.
    • Holding: The Court ruled that the government did not meet the burden necessary to justify prior restraint, thereby reinforcing the heavy presumption against censorship even in cases involving national security.

400

• Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972):

  • Shaw v. Reno (1993):
  • United States v. Lopez (1995):
    • 
      

• 
  
  • Holding: The Supreme Court held that compelling Amish students to attend school past the eighth grade violated their right to freely exercise their religion under the First Amendment.
  • Holding: The Court held that racial gerrymandering, where race is the predominant factor in drawing legislative districts, can be challenged under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
  • Holding: The Supreme Court ruled that Congress had exceeded its power under the Commerce Clause by making the possession of a gun in a school zone a federal crime, as it did not substantially affect interstate commerce.

500

• McDonald v. Chicago (2010):

  • Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010):
• 
  
  • 
    

• 
  
  • Holding: The Court held that the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms for self-defense is applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause.
  • Holding: The Supreme Court ruled that political spending by corporations, associations, and labor unions is a form of protected free speech under the First Amendment and that restrictions on such spending are unconstitutional.

Reasoning

100

• Marbury v. Madison (1803):

• McCulloch v. Maryland (1819):

• Schenck v. United States (1919):
• 
  

• 
  
  • Reasoning: The Court established that it is the judiciary’s role to review and invalidate unconstitutional actions of the other branches of government, ensuring adherence to the Constitution.
  • 
    
    • Reasoning: The Court held that federal laws are supreme over state laws and that Congress has implied powers necessary to carry out its enumerated functions.
    • Reasoning: The Court determined that speech posing a “clear and present danger” to national security or public order can be restricted without violating the First Amendment.

200

• Brown v. Board of Education (1954):

• Baker v. Carr (1962):

• Engel v. Vitale (1962):

• 
  
  • Reasoning: The Court found that racial segregation in public schools inherently violates the Equal Protection Clause because separate facilities are inherently unequal.
  • 
    
    • Reasoning: The Court decided that federal courts can review redistricting cases to ensure compliance with the Equal Protection Clause, addressing issues of unequal representation.
    • Reasoning: The Court ruled that state-sponsored prayer in public schools violates the Establishment Clause by representing an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion.

300

• Gideon v. Wainwright (1963):

• Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969):

• New York Times Co. v. United States (1971):
  
  

• 
  
  • Reasoning: The Court held that the Sixth Amendment’s right to counsel is a fundamental right essential to a fair trial and must be provided to indigent defendants in state courts.
    • Reasoning: The Court determined that students’ symbolic speech, such as wearing armbands, is protected under the First Amendment unless it causes substantial disruption in the school environment.
    • Reasoning: The Court ruled that prior restraint on publication is unconstitutional unless the government can show an immediate and significant threat to national security.

400

• Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972):

  • Shaw v. Reno (1993):
  • United States v. Lopez (1995):

• 
  
  • Reasoning: The Court found that compelling Amish students to attend school beyond the eighth grade imposes an undue burden on their religious practices, violating the Free Exercise Clause.
  • 
    
    • Reasoning: The Court held that racial gerrymandering, where race is the predominant factor in redistricting, is subject to strict scrutiny to ensure it does not violate the Equal Protection Clause.
    • Reasoning: The Court decided that Congress exceeded its Commerce Clause authority by criminalizing gun possession in school zones, which does not substantially affect interstate commerce.

500

1. McDonald v. Chicago (2010):

   • Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010):

• Reasoning: The Court ruled that the Second Amendment right to self-defense extends to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause, applying the same protections as recognized in Heller
• 
  
  • Reasoning: The Court held that political spending by corporations and unions is a form of protected free speech under the First Amendment and cannot be restricted by the government.

Decision/Opinion

100

• Marbury v. Madison (1803):

• McCulloch v. Maryland (1819):

• Schenck v. United States (1919):

• : Established the principle of judicial review, allowing the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional.
• Confirmed the supremacy of federal laws over state laws and upheld the constitutionality of the national bank.
• Held that speech creating a “clear and present danger” is not protected by the First Amendment.

200

• Brown v. Board of Education (1954):

• Baker v. Carr (1962): 

• Engel v. Vitale (1962): 

Declared that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause.

• Established that redistricting issues are justiciable, allowing federal courts to review and address challenges to redistricting.

• Ruled that school-sponsored prayer violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

300

• Gideon v. Wainwright (1963):

• Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969): 

• New York Times Co. v. United States (1971): 

 Extended the Sixth Amendment right to counsel to felony defendants in state courts, ensuring procedural due process.

Held that students' right to wear armbands in protest is protected by the First Amendment.

Reinforced press freedom by establishing a strong presumption against prior restraint, even for national security issues.

400

• Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972): 

• Shaw v. Reno (1993):

• United States v. Lopez (1995):

 Determined that requiring Amish students to attend school beyond the eighth grade infringes on their Free Exercise rights.

• Allowed constitutional challenges to majority-minority districts if race is the predominant factor in their creation.

• Held that Congress exceeded its Commerce Clause authority by making gun possession in school zones a federal crime.

500

• McDonald v. Chicago (2010): 

• Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010):

 Incorporated the Second Amendment right to bear arms for self-defense against state and local governments.

• Affirmed that political spending by corporations and unions is protected as free speech under the First Amendment.