Essential Supreme Court Cases

McDonald v. Chicago

Court held that the right of an individual to "keep and bear arms" protected by the 2nd Amendment is incorporated by the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment and applies to the states.

United States v. Virginia

Court struck down the Virginia Military Institute's long standing male-only admission policy

New York Times Co. v. United States

On First Amendment right Freedom of the Press. The ruling made it possible for The New York Times and The Washington Post newspapers to publish the then-classified Pentagon Papers.

Brown v. Board of Education

Ruled that "separate educational facilities were inherently unequal." Desegregated schools

Schenck v. United States

Ruled that draft protesting could be suppressed during wartime, as it created a "clear and present danger."

Roe v. Wade

Ruled that it is a woman's constitutional right to privacy to determine whether to terminate a pregnancy

Engel v. Vitale

School-sanctioned prayer in public schools violates the First Amendment

Tinker v. Des Moines

Students wearing black armbands in protest of the Vietnam War was symbolic speech protected under the First Amendment.

McCulloch v. Maryland

Supreme Court confirmed the supremacy of national over state government. (Case about the national bank)

Shaw v. Reno

Supreme Court decision on a case involving redistricting and racial gerrymandering. Court found that when it comes to redrawing voting districts, race could not be the deciding factor.

Baker v Carr

Supreme Court held that federal courts could hear cases alleging that a state's drawing of electoral boundaries. 14th Amendment redistricting case.

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

Supreme Court ruled in 2010 that political spending is a form of free speech that's protected under the First Amendment.

United States v. Lopez

Supreme Court ruled that the federal Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 was unconstitutional because the U.S. Congress, in enacting the legislation, had exceeded its authority under the commerce clause of the Constitution.

Miranda v. Arizona

Suspects must be informed of their right to remain silent and their right to an attorney when under police custody.

Gideon v. Wainwright

Those who cannot afford an attorney will have one provided by the state.

Plessy v. Ferguson

Upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation, even in public accommodations, under the doctrine of "separate but equal."

Wisconsin v. Yoder

Wisconsin could not require Amish kids to attend public school beyond 8th grade since it went against their religion.

Marbury v. Madison

formed the basis for the power of judicial review in the under Article 3 of the Constitution