Key Supreme Court Cases

Question 1

Established the principle of judicial review, which gave the Supreme Court the authority to declare acts of congress unconstitutional.

Answer 1

Marbury v. Madison

Question 2

Clarified the commerce clause and affirmed congressional power over interstate commerce

Answer 2

Gibbons v. Ogden

Question 3

Court ruled states cannot tax the federal government; “the power to tax is the power to destroy”

Answer 3

McCullough v. Maryland

Question 4

Established a “trust relationship” with the tribes directly under federal authority

Answer 4

Cherokee Nation v. Georgia

Question 5

The interest of community are more important than the interests of business

Answer 5

Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge

Question 6

Upheld segregation by approving “separate but equal” accommodations for African Americans

Answer 6

Plessy v. Ferguson

Question 7

“The Constitution does not follow the flag”

Answer 7

Downes v. Bidwell “Insular Cases”

Question 8

African-Americans were not citizens and therefore cannot petition the court, slaves could not be taken from their masters, regardless of the territories “free” or “slave” status, a major issue during the Lincoln-Douglas debates, the judge ruled that national legislation cannot limit the spread of slavery in the territories, invalidated the Northwest ordinance and the Missouri compromise

Answer 8

Dred Scott v. Sandford

Question 9

The Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution protected contracts from state encroachments; the ruling safeguarded business enterprises from interference by state governments

Answer 9

Dartmouth College v. Woodward

Question 10

Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of internment as a wartime necessity

Answer 10

Korematsu v. United States

Question 11

The ruling reversed the principle of “separate but equal” established in Plessy v. Ferguson; declared racially segregated public schools inherently unequal, declare that public school segregation is a denial of equal protection of the laws under the 14th amendment

Answer 11

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka

Question 12

Court upheld the right of silent protest on a school campus

Answer 12

Tinker v. Des Moines

Question 13

The court ruled that no confession could be admissible unless the suspect had been made aware of his or her rights and the suspect had then waived those rights

Answer 13

Miranda v. Arizona

Question 14

Freedom of speech was not absolute; free speech could be limited it its exercise presents a “clear and present danger”

Answer 14

Schenk v. U.S.