Supreme Court Cases

Question 1

Schenck v. United States (1919)

Answer 1

The first amendment does not protect speech that creates a “clear and present danger” (Espionage Act was violated due to interference with military draft)

Question 2

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

Answer 2

Students can wear black armbands to school as a means of protesting the Vietnam War and are protected by the first amendment’s freedom of symbolic speech

Question 3

New York Times v. United States (1971)

Answer 3

The newspapers could publish the Pentagon Papers because the government did not have enough proof to enact prior restraint. (This expands freedom of the press)

Question 4

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Answer 4

School prayer violates the first amendment’s establishment clause.

Question 5

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

Answer 5

Amish families taking their children out of school after 8th grade is protected by first amendment’s free exercise clause

Question 6

McDonald v Chicago (2010)

Answer 6

The 14th amendment was used to incorporate the 2nd amendment to the states, which struck down gun control laws in cities.

Question 7

United States v. Lopez (1995)

Answer 7

A federal law on gun control in schools was unconstitutional because this issue does not relate to interstate commerce, and therefore only the states can control this

Question 8

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Answer 8

Florida violated Gideon’s right to an attorney

Question 9

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Answer 9

Abortion is protected by the right to privacy and state bans on abortion are unconstitutional

Question 10

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Answer 10

School segregation is unconstitutional due to 14th amendment’s equal protection clause

Question 11

Marbury v Madison (1803)

Answer 11

Established judicial review

Question 12

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Answer 12

Federal government can establish a national bank. States cannot interfere with implied powers of federal government

Question 13

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Answer 13

Racial gerrymandering is unconstitutional (race cannot be the deciding factor in redistricting)

Question 14

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Answer 14

The federal government can force states to redistrict every 10 years after the national census. Federal courts can hear cases on legislative redistricting (this also developed one man, one vote)

Question 15

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)

Answer 15

Corporations, associations, and labor unions that spend money on their speech have the freedom of political speech.