United States Court Cases 15

Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District

A U.S. Supreme Court decision that allows students to practice symbolic speech protected under the First Amendment. The court found that the First Amendment applied to public schools, and school officials could not censor student speech unless it disrupted the educational process. Because wearing a black armband was not disruptive, the court held that the First Amendment protected the right of students to wear them.

Citizens United v. FEC

A decision by the U.S. Supreme Court holding that independent expenditures are protected under freedom of speech of the First Amendment and so cannot be limited by federal law. This case led to the creation of SuperPACs and a massive rise in amount of third party electioneering. This is known as political speech.

McDonald v. Chicago

A landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court that found that the right of an individual to "keep and bear arms" is protected under the Second Amendment is incorporated by the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment against the states.

Gideon v. Wainwright

A person who cannot afford an attorney may have one appointed by the government, incorporated the Sixth Amendment to the states.

Wisconsin v. Yoder

Basically, compelling Amish students to attend school past the eighth grade violates the free exercise clause under the First Amendment.

Shaw v. Reno

Basically, redistricting based on race MUST be held to a standard of strict scrutiny under the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment while bodies doing redistricting must be conscious of race to the extent that they must ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Schenck v. United States

Set the "clear and present danger" standard for restricting free speech, especially applicable during wartime; upheld the Espionage Act (1917). This applies the limitations of the First Amendment.

Marbury v. Madison

The 1803 case in which Chief Justice John Marshall and his associates first asserted the right of the U.S. Supreme Court to determine the meaning of the U.S. Constitution. The decision established the Court's power of judicial review over acts of Congress, (the Judiciary Act of 1789). Judicial review is an example of checks and balances.

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas

The Supreme Court overruled Plessy v. Ferguson, declared that racially segregated facilities are inherently unequal and ordered all public schools desegregated under the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. (i.e. expanded civil rights)

U.S. v. Lopez

The U.S. Supreme Court held that the U.S. Congress had exceeded its commerce clause power by prohibiting guns in schools. This limited the power of the federal government in relation to the states. Congress may not use the commerce clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution) to make possession of a gun in a school zone a federal crime.

Roe v. Wade

The decision forbade state control over abortions during the first trimester of pregnancy, permitted states to limit abortions to protect the mother's health in the second trimester, and permitted states to protect the fetus during the third trimester. The case argued the notion of a person's right to privacy that is incorporated under the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

McCulloch v. Maryland

U.S. Supreme Court decision that established the supremacy clause (supreme law of the land) and elastic clause (necessary and proper clause and implied powers), which broadened/expanded Congressional powers.

Engel v. Vitale

U.S. The Supreme Court case that struck down state-sponsored prayers in public schools as it violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. (i.e. Separation of church and state, secular state)

New York Times v. United States

Was a landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court on the First Amendment. The ruling made it possible from newspapers to publish the then-classified Pentagon Papers without risk of government censorship or punishment. The U.S. government cannot claim "prior restraint" to censor information from the press as this violated the First Amendment under freedom of the press.

Baker v. Carr

"One man, one vote." Ordered state legislative districts to be as near equal as possible in the population. This incorporated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to ensure all states have an equal voice in voting and representation. This gave the Court the power to ensure comply with the principle of "one man, one vote."