Supreme Court Cases

Question 1

What was the Constitutional Provision that was debated in Marbury v. Madison?

Answer 1

Article III, Section 2. Supreme Court Jurisdiction

Question 2

What was the case of Marbury v. Madision about?

Answer 2

• Congress passed a law expanding Supreme Court jurisdiction and refuses to pay marbury’s commission
• Marbury uses that law to sue in the Supreme court

Question 3

What was the holding in Marbury v. Madision?

Answer 3

Established the power of judicial review, or the power of the Supreme Court to declare uncontitutional laws void.

Question 4

What case established Judicial Review?

Answer 4

Marbury v. Madison

Question 5

What case said that state laws cannot contradict federal laws?

Answer 5

McCulloch v. Maryland

Question 6

What case said that race cannot by the primary factor in created congressional distrcits?

Answer 6

Shaw v. Reno

Question 7

What case allowed congressional district lines to be reviewed by federal courts and said that congressional districts must have equal population?

Answer 7

Baker v. Carr

Question 8

What was the constitutional provision McColloch v. Maryland fell under? What was the case and ruling?

Answer 8

• Article 1 Section 8, Necessary and Proper clause; Article 6, Supremacy clause
• Maryland tried to tax the 2nd bank of the United states
• The ruling was that it was illegal because it actively interfered with federal law

Question 9

What constitutional provision did Baker v. Carr (1961) discuss?

Answer 9

• 14th amendment’s equal protection clause
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Question 10

What was the case and holding of Baker v. Carr?

Answer 10

• Tennessee had not redistricted in 60 years despite growing population
• Federal courts could review congressional district maps to ensure equal representation

Question 11

Describe the provision, facts, and ruling of Shaw v. Reno.

Answer 11

• 14 Amendment’s equal protection cluase
• SC created a snake-like district to have a majority black district
• Congressional distrcits could not be made purely on race

Question 12

What were the facts of Schenck v. United States

Question 13

What was the Constitutional provision of Schenck v. United States?

Answer 13

freedom of speech under the first amendment

Question 14

What was the story of Schenck v. United States?

Answer 14

• Charles Schenk is the General Secretary of the Philidelphia Socialist Party
• They mail 15,000 leaflets to people who have been drafted that the draft is unconstitutioinal and they don’t have to go.
• Schenck is arrested under the Espionage Act of 1917, which forbids undermining the war effort.

Question 15

What was the ruling of Schenck v. United States?

Answer 15

• Schenck could be prosecuted, and was not protected under free speech
• Created the idea that free speech was not protected under “clear and present danger”
• Free speech could be restricted in time, place, and manner, but not in content

Question 16

Why is Schenck v. United States still important?

Answer 16

It established the idea that the circumstances under what something is said changes its protection under the free speech clause of the first amendment.

Congress cannot restrict what someone says.
Congress can restrict, when, how, and where people say it.

Question 17

What does the establishment clause mean?

Answer 17

It means to have a religion become the official religion of the country or give it special privilleges. It represents the right to a religious neutral government.

The federal government may not favor any particular religion.

Question 18

What does the free excercise clause mean?

Answer 18

The government cannot punish you for the way you excercise your religion.

Question 19

What constitutional provision was engel v. vitale about?

Answer 19

The establishment clause

Question 20

What was the context of engel v. vitale?

Answer 20

it was 1951 and the height of the red scare. the soviet union was anti-theist.

Question 21

Give facts for engel v. vitale.

Answer 21

1. Recitation of the prayers was not required
2. Did not authorize any punishments
3. Tried not to promote any religious tradition

Question 22

What was the ruling of Engel v. Vitale?

Answer 22

The state prayer program officially established the religious beliefs of

Question 23

What is the provision, facts and ruling for Wisconsin v. Yoder?

Answer 23

• Free excercise clause
• Three amish families refused to send their children to any school after the age of 13 due to their religion. However, the Wisconsin law stated the kids must go to school until 16.
• The Amish are not required to go to school, and they win. This is because they do contribute to society. States; interest in universal education must be balanced with Free excercise rights.