review - supreme court cases

Question 1

Marbury v. Madison (1803, Marshall)

Answer 1

The court established the principle of judicial review, allowing them to judge the constitutionality of federal laws.

Question 2

Fletcher v. Peck (1810, Marshall)

Answer 2

Stemmed from Yazoo land cases of 1803, upheld the sanctity of contracts.

Question 3

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819, Marshall)

Answer 3

The court ruled that states cannot tax the federal government (Bank of the US); Marshall said “the power to tax is the power to destroy,” confirmed constitutionality of Bank of the United States.

Question 4

Dartmouth College v. Woodward (1819, Marshall)

Answer 4

New Hampshire attempted to take over Dartmouth College by revising its colonial charter. Court ruled that charter was protected under contract clause of US Constitution, sanctity of contracts.

Question 5

Johnson v. McIntosh (1823, Marshall)

Answer 5

Established that Indian tribes had rights to tribal lands that preceded all other American law; only the federal government can take land from tribes.

Question 6

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824, Marshall)

Answer 6

Clarified the commerce clause and affirmed Congressional power over interstate commerce.

Question 7

Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831, Marshall)

Answer 7

Established a “trust relationship” with tribes directly under federal authority. They are a domestic independent nation.

Question 8

Worcester v. Georgia (1831, Marshall)

Answer 8

Established tribal autonomy within their boundaries.

Question 9

Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge (1837, Taney)

Answer 9

Declared that interests of the community were more important than the interests of business.

Question 10

Commonwealth v. Hunt (1842, Taney)

Answer 10

Said that labor unions were lawful and that strike was a lawful weapon.

Question 11

Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857, Taney)

Answer 11

Taney ruled that slave Dred Scott was not a citizen and had no standing in court. Scott’s residence in a free state had not made him free. Slaves are property. Voided Missouri Compromise of 1820.

Question 12

Ex Parte Milligan (1866)

Answer 12

Ruled that a civilian cannot be tried in military courts when civil courts are available.

Question 13

Civil Rights Cases of 1883

Answer 13

Legalized segregation in regard to private property.

Question 14

Wabash, St. Louis, and St.Paul Railroad Co. v. Minnesota (1890)

Answer 14

Found that Granger law regulations were violations of the 5th Amendment right to property.

Question 15

Pollock v. Farmers’ Loan & Trust (1895)

Answer 15

Declared income taxes unconstitutional.

Question 16

U.S. v. E.C. Knight Co. (1895)

Answer 16

Narrow interpretation of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, undermined the authority of the federal government to act against monopolies.

Question 17

Plessy V. Ferguson (1896)

Answer 17

Legalized segregation in public facilities, “separate but equal.” Also, “the Constitution does not follow the flag.”

Question 18

Northern Securities Co. v. US (1904)

Answer 18

Re-established authority of federal government to fight monopolies under Sherman Anti-Trust Act.

(weakened the act in U.S. v. E.C. Knight Co.)

Question 19

Lochner v. New York (1905)

Answer 19

NY act limiting working hours of bakers deemed unconstitutional based on 14th amendment rights.

Question 20

Muller v. Oregon (1908)

Answer 20

Recognized 10-hr workday for women laundry workers on grounds of health and community concerns.

Question 21

Hammer v. Dagenhart (1918)

Answer 21

Declared Keating-Owen Act (child labor act) unconstitutional on grounds that it was an invasion of state authority.

Question 22

Schneck v. U.S. (1919)

Answer 22

Upheld Espionage Act of 1917, declared that people who interfered with the war effort were subject to imprisonment; declared that 1st amendment freedom of speech was not absolute, could be limited when it presented a “clear and present danger.”

Schneck had handed out leaflets saying the draft violated 13th amendment right against involuntary servitude (WW1); resist the draft.

Question 23

Adkins v. Children’s Hospital (1923)

Answer 23

Minimum wage law for women ruled unconstitutional because it denied women freedom of contract.

Question 24

Schechter v. U.S. (1936)

Answer 24

National Industrial Recovery Act (part of FDR ND) declared unconstitutional on three grounds: (1) delegated legislative power to the executive, (2) lack of constitutional authority for such legislation, (3) sought to regulate business that were wholly interstate (Gibbons v. Ogden, congress has authority over interstate commerce).

Question 25

Korematsu v. U.S. (1941)

Answer 25

Upheld constitutionality of concentration camps for Japanese-Americans during WWII.

Question 26

Ex Parte Endo (1944)

Answer 26

Forbade internment of Japanese-Americans born in the US.

Question 27

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas (1954, Warren)

Answer 27

Unanimous decision ruling “separate but equal” unconstitutional.

Question 28

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Answer 28

Right of counsel in all state and federal criminal trials, regardless of ability to pay.

Question 29

Escobedo v. Illinois (1964)

Answer 29

Defendant must be allowed to access a lawyer before questioning by the police.

Question 30

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

Answer 30

Ruled that those subjected to in-custody interrogation must be advised of their right to remain silent and to an attorney.

Question 31

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Answer 31

Legalized abortion by ruling that state laws couldn’t restrict access during first three months of pregnancy. Based on 4th amendment rights.

Question 32

U.S. v. Richard Nixon

Answer 32

Rejected Nixon’s claim to absolute “executive privilege” against any judicial process, made him hand over the tapes.

Question 33

Bakke v. Regents of the university of California (1978)

Answer 33

Ambiguous ruling by a badly divided court that dealt w/ Affirmative Action programs using race as basis for selecting participants. Generally upheld Affirmative Action.