Supreme Court Cases

Question 1

Marbury v. Madison - Key Finding

Answer 1

Found that Congress’s action was unconstitutional, establishing judicial review.

Question 2

Marbury v. Madison - Impact

Answer 2

Strengthened the judiciary by giving the Supreme Court the final say on constitutional interpretation.

Question 3

Marbury v. Madison - Constitutional Provision

Answer 3

Article III - Judicial Powers

Question 4

United States v. Lopez - Key Finding

Answer 4

Ruled that the Gun-Free School Zones Act exceeded Congress’s authority under the Commerce Clause.

Question 5

United States v. Lopez - Impact

Answer 5

Limited the scope of the Commerce Clause and reasserted state powers.

Question 6

United States v. Lopez - Constitutional Provision

Answer 6

Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8)

Question 7

Engel v. Vitale - Key Finding

Answer 7

Ruled that state-sponsored prayer in public schools violates the Establishment Clause.

Question 8

Engel v. Vitale - Impact

Answer 8

Banned state-sponsored religious activities in public schools.

Question 9

Engel v. Vitale - Constitutional Provision

Answer 9

First Amendment - Establishment Clause

Question 10

Wisconsin v. Yoder - Key Finding

Answer 10

Held that Amish families could not be forced to send their children to school past 8th grade.

Question 11

Wisconsin v. Yoder - Impact

Answer 11

Expanded religious freedom in education.

Question 12

Wisconsin v. Yoder - Constitutional Provision

Answer 12

First Amendment - Free Exercise Clause

Question 13

Tinker v. Des Moines - Key Finding

Answer 13

Students have the right to free speech in school as long as it is not disruptive.

Question 14

Tinker v. Des Moines - Impact

Answer 14

Protected symbolic speech rights of students.

Question 15

Tinker v. Des Moines - Constitutional Provision

Answer 15

First Amendment - Free Speech Clause

Question 16

New York Times Co. v. United States - Key Finding

Answer 16

The government cannot censor the press unless publication would cause a “grave and irreparable” danger.

Question 17

New York Times Co. v. United States - Impact

Answer 17

Strengthened protections against prior restraint of the press.

Question 18

New York Times Co. v. United States - Constitutional Provision

Answer 18

First Amendment - Freedom of the Press

Question 19

Schenck v. United States - Key Finding

Answer 19

Speech that presents a “clear and present danger” is not protected by the First Amendment.

Question 20

Schenck v. United States - Impact

Answer 20

Created the “clear and present danger” test for speech limitations.

Question 21

Schenck v. United States - Constitutional Provision

Answer 21

First Amendment - Free Speech Clause

Question 22

Gideon v. Wainwright - Key Finding

Answer 22

States must provide attorneys to defendants who cannot afford them in criminal cases.

Question 23

Gideon v. Wainwright - Impact

Answer 23

Incorporated the right to counsel to the states.

Question 24

Gideon v. Wainwright - Constitutional Provision

Answer 24

Sixth Amendment - Right to Counsel; Fourteenth Amendment - Due Process Clause

Question 25

McDonald v. Chicago - Key Finding

Answer 25

States can't prevent the owning of arms.

Question 26

McDonald v. Chicago - Impact

Answer 26

Incorporated the individual right to bear arms to the states.

Question 27

McDonald v. Chicago - Constitutional Provision

Answer 27

Second Amendment; Fourteenth Amendment - Due Process Clause

Question 28

Brown v. Board of Education - Key Finding

Answer 28

Racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional.

Question 29

Brown v. Board of Education - Impact

Answer 29

Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, began the process of desegregation.

Question 30

Brown v. Board of Education - Constitutional Provision

Answer 30

Fourteenth Amendment - Equal Protection Clause

Question 31

Citizens United v. FEC - Key Finding

Answer 31

Corporate funding of independent political broadcasts in candidate elections cannot be limited.

Question 32

Citizens United v. FEC - Impact

Answer 32

Allowed unlimited independent expenditures by corporations and unions.

Question 33

Citizens United v. FEC - Constitutional Provision

Answer 33

First Amendment - Free Speech Clause

Question 34

Baker v. Carr - Key Finding

Answer 34

Redistricting must be proportional

Question 35

Baker v. Carr - Impact

Answer 35

Allowed federal courts to intervene in redistricting cases.

Question 36

Baker v. Carr - Constitutional Provision

Answer 36

Fourteenth Amendment - Equal Protection Clause

Question 37

Shaw v. Reno - Key Finding

Answer 37

Racial gerrymandering is unconstitutional when race is the predominant factor without compelling interest.

Question 38

Shaw v. Reno - Impact

Answer 38

Restricted racial gerrymandering practices in redistricting.

Question 39

Shaw v. Reno - Constitutional Provision

Answer 39

Fourteenth Amendment - Equal Protection Clause

Question 40

McCulloch v. Maryland - Key Finding

Answer 40

Congress has implied powers under the Necessary and Proper Clause to create a national bank. NO taxation on it.

Question 41

McCulloch v. Maryland - Impact

Answer 41

Strengthened federal power over states.

Question 42

McCulloch v. Maryland - Constitutional Provision

Answer 42

Necessary and Proper Clause; Supremacy Clause (Article VI)