Checks & Balances
Established judicial review
What is Marbury v. Madison?
Speech creating a “clear and present danger” was not protected by the First Amendment and could be limited.
What is Schenck v. United States?
State governments can’t bar people from having firearms as it violates the Second Amendment.
What is McDonald v. Chicago?
Ended race-based school segregation.
What is Brown v. Board of Education?
States must provide public defenders to poor defendants to guarantee they get a fair trial.
What is Gideon v. Wainwright?
Prevents the federal government from taking over local issues and policing what belongs under state authority.
What is United States v. Lopez?
School sponsorship of religious activities violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
What is Engel v. Vitale?
Protects the news outlets I read when they leak secret government documents that reveal official wrongdoing.
What is New York Times Co. v. United States?
Ensures that when I turn 18, my vote carries the exact same weight as anyone else's in my state.
What is Baker v. Carr?
Keeps state governments from shutting down or interfering with essential federal programs I rely on.
What is McCulloch v. Maryland?
Congress controls the national bank - implied powers exist.
What is McCulloch v. Maryland?
The government can’t censor information even if it hurts their reputation, unless it threatens national security.
What is New York Times Co. v. United States?
Shouting "fire!" in a crowded theater—is not protected by law.
What is Schenck v. United States?
Tinker Test: Schools can only ban student speech if it causes a substantial disruption to school discipline. Fear and suspicion alone isn’t enough.
What is Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District?
Protects my right to express political views at school through peaceful symbolic speech without getting suspended.
What is Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District?
Prevents politicians from drawing voting district maps purely based on race to manipulate election outcomes.
What is Shaw v. Reno?
Explains why my social media feeds and TV are flooded with election ads funded by corporate spending.
What is Citizens United v. Federal Elections Comission?
Protects my family's right to keep a handgun at home for self-defense, regardless of local city bans.
What is McDonald v. Chicago?
Guarantees that if I am ever arrested for a felony, the state must provide me with a free lawyer if I can’t afford one.
What is Gideon v. Wainwright?
Protects my family's right to practice their sincere religious beliefs over state mandatory school attendance laws, provided it is an equivalent alternative. Gives my parents more authority over me to bestow their beliefs, ideals, and culture onto me.
What is Wisonsin v. Yoder?
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.
What is Baker v. Carr?
Compelling Amish students to attend school past the eighth grade violates the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. The Amish also proved that their community had an alternative method of vocational education as well.
What is Wisconsin v. Yoder?
Congress exceeded its power under the Commerce Clause when it made possession of a gun in a school zone a federal crime. To fix this flaw, Congress modified the Gun-Free School Zones Act to ban guns that crossed state borders. Since most commercially manufactured firearms cross state lines at some point, this effectively fixed the flaw in the Act.
What is United States v. Lopez?
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.
What is Shaw v. Reno?
Ensures public schools can’t force me to recite official prayers or participate in religious activities.
What is Engel v. Vitale?