APGOPO - Landmark Cases

Overview

This document is a guide to significant Supreme Court cases that are essential for AP Government and Politics (APGOPO) students. It lists 15 landmark cases with links to detailed summaries on Oyez, a legal resource website.

Key Landmark Cases

1. Marbury v. Madison (1803)

   • Established the principle of judicial review.

2. McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

   • Confirmed the supremacy of federal over state law through the necessary and proper clause.

3. Schenk v. U.S. (1919)

   • Addressed freedom of speech and established the "clear and present danger" test.

4. Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

   • Declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

5. Baker v. Carr (1961)

   • Established the principle of "one person, one vote," addressing districting issues.

6. Engel v. Vitale (1962)

   • Ruled that mandatory prayer in public schools violates the Establishment Clause.

7. Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

   • Guaranteed the right to free legal counsel for defendants in criminal cases.

8. Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

   • Protected students' rights to free speech in schools unless it causes disruption.

9. New York Times v. U.S. (1971)

   • Strengthened freedom of the press, limiting prior restraint by the government.

10. Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

    • Supported religious freedom by allowing Amish children to leave school after 8th grade.

11. Roe v. Wade (1973)

    • Legalized abortion, based on a woman's right to privacy.

12. Shaw v. Reno (1993)

    • Addressed racial gerrymandering, deciding it can violate the Equal Protection Clause.

13. U.S. v. Lopez (1995)

    • Limited Congress's power under the Commerce Clause, striking down the Gun-Free School Zones Act.

14. McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

    • Incorporated the Second Amendment right to bear arms to states.

15. Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission (2010)

    • Allowed unlimited independent political expenditures by corporations and unions under free speech.

Additional Resources

• Street Law Summaries: More extensive summaries of these cases are available.
• SCOTUS Cases One-Pager: A concise document summarizing these landmark cases.
• Required Cases Poster: A visual representation of these essential cases.

Study Aids

• Various links to presentations and documents provide detailed information and summaries for students.
• TikTok video for AP Gov study tips and extra credit opportunities.