Supreme Court Cases Flashcards
Roe v. Wade
women have an absolute right to an abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy based on a onstitutionally protected right of priaay, the state an impose restriction in the second and third trimesters
Engle v. Vitale
a state authorized students in its public schools to recite a short, voluntary prayer. The court found that prayer could not be mandated by public schools as it violated the establishment clause
Schenck v. US
Defendant mailed fliers to draftees during WWI urging them to protects the draft peacefully. Was convicted of violating a federal law against encouraging the disobedience of military orders. Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote in the opinion that such speech was not protected during wartime because it would create a clear and present danger, establishing a standard for measuring what would and would not be protected speech. The question before the Court was the line between the effect of freedom of speech and national draft orders.
Tinker v. Des Moines
The Court ruled that wearing black armbands in protest of the Vietnam War was symbolic speech, protected by the First Amendment. The question before the court was about the 1st Amendment.
Citizens United v. FEC
A landmark United States Supreme Court case in which the Court held that the First Amendment prohibited the government from restricting independent political expenditures by corporations and unions.
Baker v. Carr
Case that established the principle of one man, one vote. This decision created guidelines for apportionment, drawing up congressional districts to guarantee a more equitable system of representation to the citizens of each state. The case also decided the Supreme Court had jurisdiction over questions of legislative apportionment.
McCulloch v. Maryland
The court ruled that the states cannot tax the federal government, i.e. the Bank of the United States; the phrase “the power to tax is the power to destroy”; federal government is supreme to the states (supremacy clause); confirmed the constitutionality of the Bank of the United States (elastic clause)
Yoder v. Wisconsin
Case in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled (7-0) that compulsory school attendance law was unconstitutional when applied to the Amish, because it violated their rights under the First Amendment, which guaranteed the free exercise of religion.
Shaw v. Reno
A landmark case in the area of redistricting and racial gerrymandering. The court ruled in a 5-4 decision that redistricting based on race must be held to a standard of strict scrutiny under the decision that redistricting based on race must be held to a standard of strict scrutiny under the equal protection clause. On the other hand, bodies doing redistricting must be conscious of equal protection clause. on the other hand, bodies doing redistricting must be conscious of equal protection clause. On the other hand, bodies doing redistricting must be conscious of race to the extent that they must ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
McDonalds v. Chicago
A landmark decision of the Supreme court of the United States that determined whether the Second Amendment applies to the individual states. The Court held that the right of an individual to “keep an d bear arms” protected by the Second Amendment is incorporated by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and applies to the states. The decision cleared up the uncertainty left in the wake of District of Columbia v. Heller as to the scope of gun rights in regard to the states.
Brown v. Board of Education
The “separate but equal” doctrine as it applies to public education is unconstitutional; separate schools re inherently unequal. The court overturned Plessy v. Ferguson. The question before the court as if it was okay to ahve schools based on race, that were not equal. It integrated schools.
U.S. v. Lopez
In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeals. It held that while Congress had broad lawmaking authority under the Commerce Clause, the power was limited, and did not extend so far from “commerce” as to authorize the regulation of the carrying of handguns, especially when there was no evidence that carrying them affected the economy on a massive scale.
Marbury v. Madison
The court established its role as the arbiter of the constitutionality of federal laws, the principle is known as judicial review.
Gideon v. Wainwright
The Court ruled that in state trials, those who cannot afford an attorney will have one provided by the state, overturning Betts v. Brady. The question before the court was about Sovereignty immunity.
New York Times v. U.S.
The Court reaffirmed its position of prior restraint, refusing to stop the publication of the Pentagon Papers. The question before the court was about published work, it was tied into the freedom of speech.
