Facts
What caused Shaw v. Reno?
A redistricting plan drawn up after the 1990 census by the state legislature of North Carolina created a second majority-black district
What was Shaw's claim?
That drawing districts based on race violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment
What did the SCOTUS rule?
In a 5-4 decision, it was ruled in favor of Shaw, finding that it was unlawful to gerrymander based on race
Why did the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Shaw?
It violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment
What was the importance of Shaw v. Reno?
Redistrcting could no longer be done based on race, but now has a standard of justification
What led to United States v. Lopez?
Alphonso Lopez was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon into his high school and was charged under the Gun-Free School Zones Act which banned people from bringing guns into school zones
What was the issue underlining United States v. Lopez?
He was charged the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 a congressional law that banned people from bringing guns into school zones
What did the SCOTUS rule?
They ruled (5–4) that the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 was unconstitutional
Why did SCOTUS rule in favor of Lopez?
Because the U.S. Congress had exceeded its authority under the commerce clause of the Constitution
Why was the this decision important in US v. Lopez?
The Commerce Clause was used to curb the power of Congress
What caused McDonald v. Chicago to happen?
A retired custodian named Otis McDonald filed against a 1982 Chicago law which banned the new registration of handguns and made registration a requirement for the possession of a firearm
What was the issue underlining McDonald v. Chicago?
People such as McDonald and soon the NRA were challenging the Chicago firearm law which banned possession of some firearms outside of the home
What did the Supreme Court rule in McDonald v. Chicago?
In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of McDonald
Whst was the reasoning behind the ruling in McDonald v. Chicago?
The SC held that the Second Amendment right to bear arms is applicable to state and local governments through the 14th Amendment's Due Process Clause
What did McDonald v. Chicago signify?
The SCOTUS decided that the 2nd Amendment guarantees an individual right to gun ownership
What was the cause of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission?
A conservative nonprofit group Citizens United challenged campaign finance rules after the FEC stopped it from promoting and airing a film criticizing Hillary Clinton (during presidential primaries).
What was the case Citizens United v. FEC addressing?
Was political spending by corporations, associations, and labor unions protected speech under the 1st Amendment?
Who did SCOTUS ruled in favor of?
A 5–4 majority of the Supreme Court sided with Citizens United, ruling that corporations and other outside groups can spend unlimited money on elections
Why did SCOTUS ruled in favor of Citizens United?
Limiting “independent political spending” from corporations and other groups violates the 1st Amendment right to free speech
What was the significance of Citizens United v. FEC?
SCOTUS overruled an earlier decision, Austin v. Michigan State Chamber of Commerce, that allowed prohibitions on independent expenditures by corporations