Supreme Court Cases

Question 1

Who was the first Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court?

Answer 1

John Jay

Question 2

What was John Marshall’s impact as. Chief Justice?

Answer 2

Established Judicial Review and strengthened the federal government’s authority with cases such as McCulloch v Maryland

Question 3

When was Marshall the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?

Answer 3

1801-1835

Question 4

What was Roger B. Tandy’s significance as a Supreme Court Justice?

Answer 4

Declared Missouri Compromise unconstitutional and significantly heightened sectional tensions leading up to the Civil War

Question 5

When was William Howard Taft Supreme Court Chief Justice?

Answer 5

1921-1930

Question 6

What was William Howard Taft’s interpretation of the constitution?

Answer 6

Strict

Question 7

What was Charles Evan Hughe’s impact as a Supreme Court justice?

Answer 7

Striking down many New Deal policies such as the AAA

Question 8

What was Earl Warren’s legacy as a Supreme Court Justice?

Answer 8

He significantly impacted civil rights in cases such as Brown v Board of Education and expanded the rights of criminal defendants in cases like Miranda v Arizona

Question 9

What was Warren Burger’s impact as a Supreme Court Justice?

Answer 9

Shaped legal interpretations and influenced debates such as abortion and affirmative action

Question 11

What was the significance of Marbury v. Madison?

Answer 11

The court established its role as the decider of constitutionality of federal laws with the principle of judicial review

Question 12

What was the significance of Fletcher V. Peck? (1810)

Answer 12

The decision stems from the Yazoo land cases, 1803, and upholds the sanctity of contracts

Question 13

What was the significance of McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)? (2 keys)

Answer 13

• The court ruled that states cannot tax the federal government, the Bank of the US
• The Bank of the US was constitutional

Question 14

What was significant about Dartmouth College v. Woodward (1819)?

Answer 14

The court upheld the sanctity of contracts when New Hampshire tried to take over Dartmouth College

Question 15

What was the significance of Gibbons v. Ogden?

Answer 15

Clarified the commerce clause and affirmed Congressional power over interstate commerce

Question 16

What was the significance of Johnson V. McIntosh (1823)? (2 keys)

Answer 16

-Established that Native tribes had rights to tribal lands that preceded all other American law
- Only the federal government could take land from tribes

Question 17

What was the significance of Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831)?

Answer 17

• Established that Natives were a domestic dependent nation
• Established a “trust relationship” with tribes directly under federal authority

Question 18

What was the significance of Worcester v. Georgia (1832)

Answer 18

Established tribal autonomy within their boundaries

Question 19

What was the significance of Scott v. Sanford? (3 keys)

Answer 19

• Ruled that Dred Scott was not a citizen
• Congress had no power to prohibit slavery in a territory thus voiding the Missouri Compromise
• Ruled that slaves were property

Question 20

What was the significance of Ex Part Milligan?

Answer 20

Ruled that a civilian cannot be tried in military courts when civil courts are available

Question 20

What was the significance of the Civil Rights Cases of 1883?

Answer 20

Legalized segregation with regards to private property

Question 21

What was the significance of Wabash and the Pacific Railroad Company v. Illinois? ( 3 keys)

Answer 21

• States should not be permitted to impose restraints on the freedom of commerce
• The right of continuous transportation from one end of the country to the other is essential
  -The power to regulate interstate railroad rates is a federal power

Question 22

What was the significance of U.S. vs E.C. Knight Co. (1895)?

Answer 22

Due to a narrow interpretation of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, the Court undermined the authority of the federal government to act against monopolies

Question 23

What was Plessy V. Ferguson in 1896?

Answer 23

The court decided that segregation was legal if equal facilities are provided

Question 24

What was the significance of the Insular Cases/ Downes v. Bidwell in 1901?

Answer 24

Confirmed the right of the federal government to place tariffs on goods entering the US from US territories on the grounds “the Constitution does not follow the flag”

Question 25

What was the significance of Lochner v. New York in 1905?

Answer 25

Declared unconstitutional a New York act limiting the working hours of bakers due to a denial of the 14 Ammendemnt rights

Question 26

What was the significance of Muller V. Oregon?

Answer 26

Recognized a 10-hour work day for women laundry workers on the grounds of health and community concerns

Question 27

What was the significance of Schenck v. U.S. in 1919?

Answer 27

- Upheld the Espionage Act and declared that people who interfered with the war effort were subject to imprisonment -Declared that the 1st Amendment guarantee of free speech was not absolute and can be limited if it presents a clear and present danger.

Question 28

What was Debs v. United States in 1919?

Answer 28

Convicted well-known socialist Debs for speeches that hindered the war efforts on the grounds that his words presented a clear and present danger to the US.

Question 29

What was the significance of the US v. Butler?

Answer 29

- Declared that a tax may not be used to transfer wealth directly from one person to another - Struck down the AAA

Question 30

What was the significance of Schechter v. US?

Answer 30

Declared NRA unconstitutional because it expanded the executive power too much and that there was no constitutional authority for such legislation

Question 31

What was the ruling of Korematsu v. US in 1941?

Answer 31

The court upheld the constitutionality of detention camps for Japanese-Americans during WW2.

Question 32

What was the ruling of Ex parte Endo in 1944?

Answer 32

The court forbade the interment of Japanese-Americans born in the US

Question 33

What was the significance of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas inn 1954?

Answer 33

Declared “separate but equal” unconstitutional

Question 34

What was Gideon v. Wainwright 1963)?

Answer 34

- Extends to the defendant the right of a counsel regardless of pay - Inreased “welfare state”

Question 35

What was Escobedo v. Illinois 1964?

Answer 35

Ruled that a defendant must be allowed access to a jury before questioning by a police

Question 36

What was Miranda v. Arizona?

Answer 36

The court ruled that those subjected to in-custody interrogation be advised of their constitutional right to an attorney and to remain silent

Question 37

What was the significance of Tinker v Des Moines in 1969?

Answer 37

The court protected symbolic speech in schools and that students retain their constitutional rights at school

Question 38

What was Roe v Wade 1973?

Answer 38

Legalized abortion based on the 4th Ammendment f a person to be secure in their persons

Question 39

What was US vs Richard Nixon 1974?

Answer 39

The court rejected Nixon’s claim to an absolutely unqualified privelage against any judicial process

Question 40

What was Bakke v Regents of the University of California?

Answer 40

Upheld affirmative action