Supreme Court Cases Flashcards
Marbury v. Madison
John Adams commissioned William Marbury as Just of the Peace, but new President Thomas Jefferson ordered secretary of state James not to deliver the commission.
Decision: Marbury had the legal right to his commission, but the court does not have the authority to grant the writ of mandamus (written statement compelling person to do their official duties)
Significance: Judicial review
McCulloch v. Maryland
Maryland approved legislation to tax the national bank.
Decision: states do not have power to tax the national bank
Significance: Supremacy Clause/Implied Powers
Schenck v. US
Pamphlets passed out during WWI encouraging people to dodge the draft were charged with espionage which violated their freedom of speech
Decision: convictions were valid due to clear and present danger
Significance: 1st amendment
Brown v. Board of Education
African American students were denied admittance to white public schools and claimed it went against the 14th amendment equal protection clause
Decision: separate but equal facilities were unconstitutional
Significance: 14th amendment, equal protection
Engel v. Vitale
NY board of regents had approved a voluntary prayer in school
Decision: public school sponsorship of religion is unconstitutional
Significance: 1st amendment, Establishment clause
Baker v. Carr
Tennessee had not redrawn its districts and Charles Baker felt urban voters had less weight when it comes to voting.
Decision: the federal government can force states to redraw their district laws every 10 years
Significance: 14th amendment, equal protection, 1 person 1 vote doctrine
Gideon v. Wainwright
After charged with a crime Florida, Earl Gideon requested a lawyer but was denied and filed habeas corpus.
Decision: the 6th amendment is applied to the states
Significance: 6th amendment
Tinker v. Des Moines
students wanted to wear black wristbands to protest Vietnam war
In order to suppress speech, it must interfere with school operations
Clause: First amendment, symbolic speech
New York Times Co. v. US
The Nixon administration tried to prevent the New York Times from publishing material that belonged to a Defense Department study, stating it was necessary to national security.
Decision: Heavily against prior restraint
Clause: First amendment, prior restraint
Wisconsin v. Yoder
Amish man Jonas Yoder refused to send his children to school after the 8th grade due to their religion. They were charged under a Wisconsin law that required students to attend school until age 16.
Decision: the requirement went against the first amendment
Clause: First amendment
Shaw v Reno
Suspicion that North Carolina was using racial gerrymandering to isolate the African American voters into the 12th Congressional District.
Decision: The court ordered that racial gerrymandering did occur, and North Carolina was forced to redraw its districts.
Clause: Equal Protection (14th amendment)
US v. Lopez
Challenge to the Gun-Free School Zones Act
Decision: The Commerce Clause did not extend to the regulation of the carrying of handguns
Clause: Commerce Clause, State sovereignty
McDonald v. Chicago
Chicago passed a handgun ban law
Decision: the right to bear arms was applied to the states
Clause: Second amendment
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission
The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act banned corporations from independent political spending and direct contributions. Citizens united was not allowed to show an anti-Hillary movie.
Decision: this is considered a form of free speech
Clause: First amendment, PACS
