US History Landmark Supreme Court Cases
United States v. Nixon (1974)
By an 8-0 vote, the Court ruled in this case that Nixon had to turn over the Watergate Tapes to the Special Prosecutor. It established the principle that no president was above the law and that executive privilege (confidentiality) was not absolute. Separation of powers does not protect a president from judicial review of executive privilege, nor from from the needs of the judicial process.
14th amendment
In 1954, the Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka advanced the civil rights movement by declaring that racial segregation in public schools violated the _______ _____________.
Korematsu v. United States
In the 1944 case ___________________________, the supreme court ruled that wartime conditions justified the limitations placed on civil liberties. judicial action.
individuals
In the 1950's and 1960's, the decisions of the United States supreme court under Chief Justice Earl Warren tended to expand the rights of ________________.
schools
In the Supreme Court cases New Jersey v. T.L.O. and Tinker v. Des Moines School District, the Court ruled that civil liberties can be both protected and limited in ___________.
Supreme Court
In the late 1800s, the Homestead steel strike and the Pullman railcar strike were unsuccessful because the _______________ ruled both strikes were illegal
New York Times Co. v. United States (1971)
In this case the Court narrowly upheld the 1st Amendment right to Freedom of the Press. It ruled that the government had not met the heavy burden of prior restraint i.e not made a strong enough case to stop publication of The Pentagon Papers on the grounds that national security would be hurt.
New Jersey v. T.L.O. (1985)
In this case the Court reaffirmed the 4th Amendment prohibition on unreasonable searches and seizures applied to school officials. However, the necessity of maintaining discipline allowed for searches when there are reasonable grounds that the law or school rules have been broken compared to the stricter police requirement of probable cause.
Roe v. Wade (1973)
In this case the Court ruled state laws making abortions illegal unconstitutional while setting certain limits and conditions. The basis of this decision was the right to privacy, citing primarily the due process clause of the 14th Amendment.
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
In this case the Supreme Court determined that no state could tax a federally chartered bank because the power to tax involves the power to destroy. This ruling established the principle of national supremacy-that the Constitution and federal laws overrule state laws when the two conflict. It expanded national power by supporting the use of the necessary and proper clause to carry out constitutional powers.
Mapp v. Ohio (1961)
In this case the Supreme Court ruled that the 4th and 14th Amendments protected citizens from illegal searches. It applied the exclusionary rule to state courts, i.e. evidence obtained unconstitutionally - in this case without a search warrant - could not be used in federal or state courts.
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
In this case the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the 6th Amendment right to an attorney, which was applied to the states by the 14th Amendment, required that a state provide lawyers for poor people accused of felony crimes, not just capital crimes.
Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
In this school segregation case, the Court overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson separate but equal doctrine. It established that separate educational facilities are inherently UNEQUAL and violate the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause.
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
In which case did the United States Supreme Court rule that segregated public facilities were constitutional?
increase
Many of the decisions made by the supreme court while John Marshall was Chief Justice led directly to an ___________ in the power of the federal government over the states. d. a limitation on slavery in the states
Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857)
Most Southern political leaders praised the supreme court decision in _________________________ because it protected the property rights of slave owners in the territories.
Vernonia School District v. Acton
The Court rule in this case that a school's practice of testing athletes randomly for drug use did not violate their rights under the 4th and 14th Amendments. It cited that schools need to maintain student safety and fulfill their educational mission.
big business
The Supreme Court cases of Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific R.R. v. Illinois (1886) and United States v. E. C. Knight Co. (1895) were based on laws that were intended to limit the power of ________ ______.
national security
The Supreme Court decision in Schenck v. United States (1919) and the USA Patriot Act of 2001 both dealt with the power of the federal government to limit civil liberties for reasons of ____________ __________.
freedom of speech
The Supreme Court decision in Schenck v. United States (1919) stated that ________ __ ________ is not absolute.
people accused of crimes
The Supreme Court decisions in Mapp v. Ohio (1961) and Miranda v. Arizona (1966) directly expanded the rights of ______ _________ ___ _________.
National
The Supreme Court decisions in McCulloch v. Maryland, Gibbons v. Ogden, and Wabash v. Illinois dealt with the supremacy of the __________ Government.
student's
The Supreme Court decisions in New Jersey v. T.L.O. (1985) and Vernonia School District v. Acton (1995) show that a ____________ right to privacy is limited under certain conditions d. a student has no guaranteed rights while in school
law
The Supreme Court decisions in New York Times Co. v. United States (1971) and United States v. Nixon (1974) reinforced the principle that the president of the United States is not above the _____.
Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)
The Supreme Court ruled in this case that African Americans were not citizens (this decision was overturned by the 14th Amendment). It declared that enslaved people were property of their owners. As property, they were protected by the 5th Amendment and could not be taken anywhere without due process of law. Therefore, the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional. This ruling in this case led to the Civil War.
executive privilege
The Supreme Court ruling in United States v. Nixon (1974) was significant because it directly limited the president's power of _____________ ____________.
privacy
The Supreme Court rulings in Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania, et al v. Casey (1992) are similar in that both cases dealt with a woman's right to ________.
legal counsel
The United States Supreme Court decisions in Gideon v. Wainwright and Miranda v. Arizona extended the rights of the accused to __________ ___________.
interstate commerce
The decision in Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) and the decision in Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad v. Illinois (1886) addressed the issue of regulation of ________ ________.
1st Amendment
The decisions of the United States Supreme Court in Tinker v. Des Moines and New York Times Co. v. United States were based on interpretations of the rights guaranteed by the ___ _________________.
antitrust
The federal government enforced the ________ laws in court cases against Northern Securities Company, AT&T, and Microsoft in an effort to increase business competition
Mapp v. Ohio (1961)
The police enter an individual's home without invitation or a warrant and seize evidence to be used against the individual. Which Supreme Court decision may be used to rule this evidence inadmissible in court?
Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)
The ruling in this case determined that states may regulate only what is solely INTRAstate commerce (within a state) and that Congress has the power to regulate INTERstate commerce, including commerce that involves intrastate-interstate activity. The ruling established the basis of congressional regulation of interstate commerce.
Worchester v. Georgia (1832)
The ruling in this case determined that the Constitution gives the federal, not the state governments, exclusive jurisdiction over Native American nations. Treaties between the United States government and Native American nations are the Supreme Law of the Land therefore, Georgia laws taking jurisdiction of Cherokee people and land were void. President Andrew Jackson defied the ruling and the national policy of Indian Removal followed.
Schenck v. United States (1919)
The ruling in this case established limits on free speech; right is not absolute but dependent on circumstances, i.e. a person is not protected if she falsely shouts fire in a crowded theater. In this case, the Court saw the defendants' actions as a clear and present danger to the security of the nation in wartime.
Watkins v. United States (1957)
The ruling in this case established that congressional investigations must spell out their legislative purpose and jurisdiction and that the Bill of Rights is applicable to congressional investigations. Watkins was within his rights to refuse to testify to matters beyond the scope of the House Committee on Un-American Activities.
Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific RR v. Illinois (1886)
The ruling in this case invalidated state law setting railroad rates on the part of an interstate trip within state borders. By declaring it a federal power to regulate rates and by limiting state regulations, the Court strengthened the Constitution's interstate commerce clause. This ruling paved the way for the creation in 1887 of the Interstate Commerce Commission.
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
The ruling in this case upheld a Louisiana law providing for equal but separate accommodations for white and nonwhite races. It said that the law did not conflict with the 13th or 14th Amendments nor with the commerce clause. The Court ruled that the 14th Amendment was not intended to enforce what it called "social equality." This ruling provided legal justification for separate but equal segregation policy until it was overturned in 1954 by Brown v. Board of Education.
Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania et al v. Casey (1992)
The ruling in this case upheld the Roe v. Wade decision. It determined that a Pennsylvania law with provisions such as a 24 hour waiting period and paternal consent to a minor's abortion did not create undue burden or substantial obstacles to abortion. The ruling struck down a requirement that a women notify her husband before obtaining an abortion.
Korematsu v. United States (1944)
The ruling in this case upheld the power of the president in wartime to limit a group's civil liberties. It ruled that the forcible relocation of Japanese Americans to Wartime Relocation Agency Camps during World War II was legal.
minorities
The rulings of the Supreme Court in Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857), Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), and Korematsu v. United States (1944) all demonstrate that the Supreme Court has sometimes failed to protect the rights of ______________.
In Re Debs
This case established that the federal government under the commerce clause of the Constitution had the right to halt the 1894 Pullman strike. The Court determined that the strike hurt the general welfare of the nation by disrupting commerce and mail delivery.
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
This case established the Supreme Court's right of judicial review - the right to determine the constitutionality of laws. It strengthened the judiciary in relation to other branches of government.
Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
This case established the requirement prior to questioning to inform those accused of crimes that they have the right to remain silent, the right to a lawyer and that what they say can be used against them in court. Evidence obtained without this warning may not be used in court under the exclusionary rule.
Northern Securities Co. v. United States (1904)
This case was a Federal suit that was part of T. Roosevelt's trust-busting using the Sherman Anti-trust Act. The Court ruled that the Northern Securities Company was formed only to eliminate competition and ordered it to be dissolved. It established that Congress, under the commerce clause, had the authority to regulate any conspiracy to eliminate competition.
treaties
Unlike other minorities in the United States, Native American Indians can invoke rights guaranteed in ________ with the United States
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Which Supreme Court case best completes the partial outline below? I. __________________________________ A. Heard under Chief Justice John Marshall B. Established judicial review C. Strengthened the judiciary
Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)
Which Supreme Court decision created the need for a constitutional amendment that would grant citizenship to formerly enslaved persons?
ratification of a constitutional amendment
Which action could legally change a ruling of the United States Supreme Court?
equal protection of the law
Which constitutional principle was tested in the cases of Plessy v. Ferguson and Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka?
Cold War
Which heading is most appropriate for the partial outline below? I. The _______ ________ at Home A. The House Un-American Activities Committee B. Loyalty review boards C. Bomb shelters D. Watkins v. United States (1957)
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)
Which pair of Supreme Court cases demonstrates that the Supreme Court can change an earlier decision?
a. Gibbons v. Ogden — interstate commerce
Which supreme court case is correctly paired with the constitutional issue it addressed? a. Gibbons v. Ogden — interstate commerce b. Dred Scott v. Sanford — executive privilege c. Gideon v. Wainwright — voting rights d. Roe v. Wade — rights of the accused
Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969)
While recognizing the authority of schools to prescribe and control conduct in the schools, the court ruled that neither students nor teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate. The symbolic, silent expression of opinion in the absence of disorder (wearing of black armbands to protest the Vietnam War) is protected under the 1st Amendment.
Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney, and to have an attorney present during any questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be provided for you at government expense. — www.usconstitution.net This passage resulted from which Supreme Court decision?
