Important Supreme Court Decisions

Question 1

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Answer 1

Established the principal of judical review, which allowed the Supreme Court to strike down laws found unconstitutional

Question 2

Fletcher v. Peck (1810)

Answer 2

Contracts cannot be voided and are still legally enforceable even if obtained illegally

Question 3

Dartmouth College v. Woodward (1819)

Answer 3

Contracts made by private corporations are protected and the state may not alter them (doesn’t have power over private entities)

Question 4

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Answer 4

States cannot tax the federal government; Bank of United States is constitutional

Question 5

Cohens v. Virginia (1821)

Answer 5

Right to review state cases and decisions and citizens can appeal their case to the supreme court

Question 6

Gibbons v. Ogden (1821)

Answer 6

The federal government only is able to regulate interstate commerce

Question 7

Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831)

Answer 7

Couldn’t stop Georgia from making Cherokee laws void; shattered some native sovereignty

Question 8

Ex Parte Merryman (1861)

Answer 8

Wasn’t allowed to suspend habeas corpus during Civil War (Lincoln ignored him)

Question 9

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Answer 9

“separate but equal” legalized segregation

Question 10

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Answer 10

Court ruled against mandatory prayer

Question 11

Korematsu v. U.S. (1944)

Answer 11

stated internment of Japanese-Americans an’t second military decisions

Question 12

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Answer 12

Ended segregation in schools

Question 13

Prigg v. Pennyslvannia

Answer 13

States can’t deny the return of fugitive slaves

Question 14

Dred Scott v. Sandford

Answer 14

Stated African Americans aren’t citizens; slaves aren’t allowed to refute

Question 15

Commonwealth v. Hunt (1842)

Answer 15

Striking tactics were legal as long as they were peaceful

Question 16

Wabash v. Illinois (1886)

Answer 16

Only federal government could regulate interstate commerce

Question 17

Schneck v. U.S. (1919)

Answer 17

First Amendment didn’t apply during war time (because of socialists)

Question 18

U. S. v. Butler (1936)

Answer 18

Ruled the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) unconstitutional

Question 19

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Answer 19

Legal counsel must be given to anyone who did a felony

Question 20

Escobedo v. Illinois (1964)

Answer 20

Police can’t use extortion to obtain a confession from criminals