Landmark Supreme Court Cases Flashcards
Marbury v. Madison, (4-0 decision)
Established the Supreme Court’s power of judicial review over Congress
1803
McCulloch v. Maryland, (7-0 decision)
Established the federal government’s implied powers over the states.
1819
Dred Scott v. Sandford, (7-2 decision)
Denied citizenship to African American slaves.
1857
Plessy v. Ferguson, (7-1 decision)
Upheld “separate but equal” segregation laws in states.
1896
Korematsu v. United States, (6-3 decision)
Upheld internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
1944
Brown v. Board of Education, (9-0 decision)
Separating black and white students in public schools is unconstitutional.
1954
Gideon v. Wainwright, (9-0 decision)
Criminal defendants have a right to an attorney even if they cannot afford one
1963
New York Times v. Sullivan, (9-0 decision)
Lawsuits based on libel or defamation must show intent or recklessness.
1964
Miranda v. Arizona, (5-4 decision)
Prisoners must be advised of their rights before being questioned by police.
1966
Loving v. Virginia, (9-0 decision)
Invalidated state laws prohibiting interracial marriage.
1967
Roe v. Wade, (7-2 decision)
Women have a constitutional right to an abortion during the first two trimesters.
1973
United States v. Nixon, (8-0 decision)
President cannot use executive privilege to withhold evidence from criminal trial.
1974
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, (5-4 decision)
University’s use of racial “quotas” in its admissions process was unconstitutional, but a school’s use of “affirmative action” to accept more minority applicants was constitutional in some circumstances.
1978
Bush v. Gore, (5-4 decision)
No recount of the 2000 presidential election was feasible in a reasonable time period.
2000
Lawrence v. Texas, (6-3 decision)
Struck down state laws that prohibited sodomy between consenting adults.
2003
District of Columbia v. Heller, (5-4 decision)
Citizens have a right to possess firearms at home for self-defense.
2008
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, (5-4 decision)
Corporations and unions can spend unlimited amounts in elections.
2010
National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, (5-4 decision)
Upheld the mandate that most Americans have health insurance.
2012
Shelby County v. Holder, (5-4 decision)
States and localities do not need federal approval to change voting laws.
2013
United States v. Windsor, (5-4 decision)
Federal government must provide benefits to legally married same-sex couples.
2013
Obergefell v. Hodges, (5-4 decision)
Same-sex marriage is legalized across all 50 states.
2015
