15 Required Supreme Court Cases

New York Times Co V. U.S (1971)

History: Private Pentagon Papers were leaked and posted in the media. Conclusion: Published information is protected under the First Amendment (freedom of press)

U.S. v. Lopez (1995)

History: A boy was punished under the Gun-Free School Zones Act for bringing a concealed firearm to school Conclusion: The act was not commerce related and therefore constitutional

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

History: A man felt it was his right to carry a firearm as means of protecting his family and himself in an unsafe neighborhood regardless of a state ban Conclusion: A person has the right to carry and bear arms under the Second Amendment and the state must follow under the Fourteenth Amendment (privileges and immunities clause)

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

History: A state authorized students in its public schools to recite a short, voluntary prayer Conclusion: Public schools mandating prayer is unconstitutional under the First Amendment (freedom of religion)

Roe V. Wade (1973)

History: A woman in the state of Texas wanted an abortion, but it was illegal when it wouldn't save the women's life Conclusion: Women have an absolute right to an abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy under the Fourteenth Amendment (equal protection clause)

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

History: An attempt was made to create a district by connecting two minority populations using an interstate highway Conclusion: Redistricting based on race is unconstitutional under the Fourteenth Amendment (equal protection clause)

Schenck v United States (1919)

History: Anti-WWI pamphlets were handed out to public Conclusion: Government may limit free speech under the Clear-and-Present danger principle

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)

History: Corporations and unions were prohibited from participating in political expenditures Conclusion: Corporations and unions are allowed unlimited participation in political expenditures through "super pacs" as long as they're not working with any campaign under the First Amendment (freedom of speech)

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

History: Defendant could not afford an attorney Conclusion: States must provide attorneys for those who cannot afford one under the Sixth Amendment (right to an attorney)

Baker v. Carr (1961)

History: Districts were distributed based on geography rather than population Conclusion: The one man, one vote principle was established under the Fourteenth Amendment (equal protection clause)

Tinker V. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969)

History: Students wore anti-Vietnam War armbands to school Conclusion: Symbolic speech is protected under the First Amendment (freedom of speech)

Brown V. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)

History: The "separate, but equal" doctrine segregated the public education system Conclusion: Schools (and other public institutions) cannot be segregated since the "separate, but equal" doctrine is unconstitutional under the Fourteenth Amendment (equal protection clause)

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

History: The Amish said it was against their religion to force their children to go to school past the eighth grade Conclusion: The children were allowed to leave school as a religious practice under the First Amendment (freedom of religion)

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

History: The U.S. no longer had a national bank Conclusion: Congress had the power to establish America's Second National Bank under the Constitution (necessary and proper/elastic clause)

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

History: The judicial branch has little to no power in government Conclusion: Courts have the power of judicial review under the Constitution