Supreme Court Cases Flashcards
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
facts
Congress tried to create the “Bank of the United States” (a federal bank). The bank tried to create other branches in various states…including Maryland. Since the state of Maryland wasn’t happy abt this, they tried to tax the bank (basically tried to tax it out of existence). The tax was so huge, the head of the bank sued.
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
holding
- Congress can’t establish a national bank
- States can not tax the federal gov
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
Constitutional Principle
- Necessary and proper clause
- Supremacy clause
Also: implied powers and expressed powers
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
impact
- federalism (now in the balance of the federal government)
- expanded the power of the federal government
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
decision
It was 6-0 in favor of McCulloch. Chief justice John Marshall stated that the bank was unconstitutional within the necessary and proper clause. It established the precedent that when state and federal laws come into conflict, the federal laws win
United States v. Lopez (1995)
facts
Alonso Lopez was arrested for bringing a unloaded gun to school, violating the Gun Free Zones Act (fed. law). His state charges were dropped and the federal ones were brought on
this is a federalism case
United States v. Lopez (1995)
holding
- not everything is under the commerce clause
United States v. Lopez (1995)
Constitutional Principle
10th amendment creates a federal system that protects state power. The commerce clause doesn’t grant congress unlimited power
United States v. Lopez (1995)
impact
- shrank federal power
- federalism case
United States v. Lopez (1995)
decision
federal law is unconstitutional because possession of a gun doesn’t affect interstate commerce
Engel v. Vitale (1962)
facts
In New York, there was a prayer(non denominal) being said after the pledge of allegiance. The kids wouldn’t have to do it as long as they had written consent from their parents.
Engel v. Vitale (1962)
holding
States cannot hold prayers in public schools, even if participation is voluntary and the prayer isn’t tied to a specific religion
Engel v. Vitale (1962)
Constitutional principle
1st amendment establishment clause
Engel v. Vitale (1962)
impact
- court ruled in individual liberties
- Precedent for further cases involving religion in schools
- Separation of church and state
Engel v. Vitale (1962)
decsion
6-1, the prayer did violate the establishment clause of the first amendment
Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)
facts
Amish parents didn’t want to send their kids to school past 8th grade, which was against Wisconsion law
Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)
holding
requiring the kids to be sent to school past 8th was unconstitutional. It was the individuals free exercise clause was more powerful than the federal interest in school attendance
Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)
Constitutional principle
Free exercise clause of the 1st amendment
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commissions
- Facts: The bipartisan campaign reform act of 2002 banned companies from political spending and direct contributions to campaigns or parties
- Principle: first amendment freedom of speech - whether companies are considered to be “people”. If they are “people” then their first amendment right was violated.
- Holding: it (the movie) was considered a form of political speech which is protected under the 1st amendment
led to super pacs
Baker v. Carr
- facts: Tennessee didn’t redraw their districts in a long time, which lead them not being accurate relative to population
- Principle: The 14th amendment’s equal protection clause the case was heard
- Holding and issue: they weren’t sure if SCOTUS should hear the case in the first place, but they did due to the issue violating the equal protections clause
Shaw v. Reno
- facts: in NC there weren’t any black reps in congress, so they added a black district. To make the district it had to be severely gerrymandered
- issue: whether racial gerrymandering took place and if the district violated the Equal Protections Clause
- Principle and holding: the district was indeed gerrymandered which technically violated the equal protections clause. BUT racial gerrymandering was ok as long as race isnt the only factor
McDonald v. Chicago
- facts: chicago basically banned hanguns
- Principle: 2nd amendment right to bear arms was incorporated via the 14th amendment
- Holding: the 2nd amendment applies to the states
