Supreme Court Cases 1-11

Question 1

What was the issue discussed in Marbury v. Madison

Answer 1

Judicial Review

Question 2

What was the decision of Marbury v. Madison

Answer 2

Marbury (unanimous); however, Madison was not required to deliver the commission because the Court ultimately ruled the provision in the Judiciary Act to be unconstitutional (establishing the Court’s judicial review power)

Question 3

What was the issue discussed in McCulloch v. Maryland

Answer 3

Elastic Clause

Question 4

What was the decision of McCulloch v. Maryland

Answer 4

McCulloch (unanimous); the Court defined the “necessary and proper clause” to mean “appropriate and legitimate,” allowing Congress to expand its powers beyond what is explicitly stated in Constitution

Question 5

What issue was discussed in United States v. Nixon

Answer 5

Executive Privilege

Question 6

What was the decision of United States v. Nixon

Answer 6

US (unanimous); executive privilege is not unlimited and is superseded by due process of law (unless sufficient justification is provided)

Question 7

What was the issue discussed in United States v. Lopez

Answer 7

Commerce Clause

Question 8

What was the decision of United States v. Lopez

Answer 8

Lopez (5-4). Congress may not use the commerce clause to make possession of a gun in a school zone a federal crime because it is not an economic activity that could affect interstate commerce

Question 9

What was the issue discussed in Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier

Answer 9

Freedom of speech (in schools)

Question 10

What amendment relates to Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier

Answer 10

1st

Question 11

What was the decision of Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier

Answer 11

Hazelwood (5-3); the Court ruled freedom of speech is not unlimited, and that schools have the right to refuse to sponsor speech published under its name if it’s inconsistent with its standards

Question 12

What was the issue discussed in Schenck v. United States

Answer 12

Freedom of speech (in protesting government)

Question 13

What amendment relates to Schenck v. United States

Answer 13

1st

Question 14

What was the decision of Schenck v. United States

Answer 14

US (unanimous); the Court ruled that the Espionage Act did not violate the 1st Amendment and was an appropriate use of Congress’s wartime power

Question 15

What was the issue discussed in Tinker v. Des Moines

Answer 15

Freedom of speech (in schools)

Question 16

What amendment relates to Tinker v. Des Moines

Answer 16

1st

Question 17

What was the decision of Tinker v. Des Moines

Answer 17

Tinker (7-2); “School dress codes are not in violation of the First Amendment’s guarantee of the freedom of expression.” In this case, students wore black armbands in protest of the Vietnam War

Question 18

What was the issue discussed in Texas v. Johnson

Answer 18

Freedom of speech (flag burning)

Question 19

What amendment relates to Texas v. Johnson

Answer 19

Johnson (5-4); “The Constitution protects desecration of the flag as a form of symbolic speech.”

Question 20

What was the issue discussed in Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission

Answer 20

Freedom of speech (in political spending)

Question 21

What amendment relates to Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission

Answer 21

1st

Question 22

What was the decision of Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission

Answer 22

Citizens United (5-4); Political spending by corporations, associations, and labor unions is a form of political speech and cannot be limited by law

Question 23

What was the issue discussed in Engel v. Vitale

Answer 23

Freedom of religion (establishment clause)

Question 24

What amendment relates to Engel v. Vitale

Answer 24

1st

Question 25

What was the decision of Engel v. Vitale

Answer 25

Engel (6-1); prayer in public schools, even if participation is not required and the prayer is not tied to a particular religion, violates the establishment clause’s separation of church and state

Question 26

What was the issue discussed in Wisconsin v. Yoder

Answer 26

Freedom of religion (free exercise clause)

Question 27

What amendment relates to Wisconsin v. Yoder

Answer 27

1st

Question 28

What was the decision in Wisconsin v. Yoder

Answer 28

Yoder (unanimous); requiring Amish students to attend school past the 8th grade violates free exercise of religion