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Key Supreme Court Cases for AP Government

May 3, 2025

Required Supreme Court Cases for AP Government Notes

Cases Involving Federalism

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

  • Background:

    • Congress chartered the Second Bank of the US in 1816.
    • Maryland imposed taxes on the bank; James McCulloch refused to pay.
    • Maryland courts claimed the Bank was unconstitutional.
    • Key Question: Could Congress establish a national bank, and could Maryland tax it?
  • Constitutional Basis:

    • Necessary and Proper Clause (Article I, Section 8): Allows Congress to make laws to execute its powers.
    • Supremacy Clause (Article VI): Federal law overrides state law.
  • Decision:

    • Supreme Court ruled in favor of McCulloch, Congress had implied powers, and Maryland couldn't tax the bank (Supremacy Clause).
  • Impact:

    • Expanded federal power; established doctrine of implied powers.

United States v. Lopez (1995)

  • Background:

    • Alfonzo Lopez brought a gun to school, violating the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990.
    • Lopez argued Act exceeded Congress's power.
  • Constitutional Basis:

    • Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8): Basis for the Act.
  • Decision:

    • 5-4 ruling against the Act; carrying a gun in a school zone doesn't affect interstate commerce.
  • Impact:

    • Reasserted state sovereignty, limited federal power.

Cases Involving the First Amendment

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

  • Background:

    • New York authorized a voluntary prayer in schools.
  • Constitutional Basis:

    • Establishment Clause: Prohibits government establishment of religion.
  • Decision:

    • 6-1 ruling: school-sponsored prayer unconstitutional.
  • Impact:

    • Enforced separation of church and state.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

  • Background:

    • Amish parents refused to send children to school past 8th grade.
    • Wisconsin law required school until age 16.
  • Constitutional Issue:

    • Free Exercise Clause: Does law violate Amish beliefs?
  • Decision:

    • 7-0 ruling for Yoder; law unconstitutional as applied to Amish.
  • Impact:

    • Expanded religious liberty; established strict scrutiny for laws affecting religion.

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

  • Background:

    • Students wore black armbands to protest Vietnam War.
  • Constitutional Basis:

    • Freedom of Speech: Includes symbolic speech.
  • Decision:

    • 7-2 ruling for students, symbolic speech protected.
  • Impact:

    • Affirmed student rights.

New York Times Co. v. United States (1971)

  • Background:

    • Nixon administration tried to prevent publication of Pentagon Papers.
  • Constitutional Basis:

    • Freedom of the Press: Protects against prior restraint.
  • Decision:

    • 6-3 ruling against the government.
  • Impact:

    • Reinforced press freedom.

Schenck v. United States (1919)

  • Background:

    • Schenck distributed anti-draft leaflets during WWI.
  • Constitutional Issue:

    • Freedom of Speech: Limited during wartime.
  • Decision:

    • Upheld Schenck's conviction; speech restrictions possible during war.
  • Impact:

    • Established "clear and present danger" test.

Cases Involving Selective Incorporation

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

  • Background:

    • Gideon denied court-appointed attorney in Florida.
  • Constitutional Issue:

    • Sixth Amendment: Right to counsel.
    • Fourteenth Amendment: Incorporates rights to states.
  • Decision:

    • Unanimous ruling for Gideon; right to counsel applies to states.
  • Impact:

    • Expanded rights for indigent defendants.

Roe v. Wade (1973)

  • Background:

    • Texas law prohibited abortions; challenged by "Jane Roe."
  • Constitutional Issue:

    • Right to Privacy: Balances with state regulation.
  • Decision:

    • Established abortion rights under privacy; introduced trimester framework.
  • Impact:

    • Established reproductive rights precedent.

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

  • Background:

    • Challenged Chicago's handgun ban post-Heller decision.
  • Constitutional Issue:

    • Second Amendment: Incorporation through Fourteenth Amendment.
  • Decision:

    • 5-4 ruling: Second Amendment applies to states.
  • Impact:

    • Incorporated Second Amendment rights.

Cases Involving the Equal Protection Clause

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

  • Background:

    • Challenged school segregation.
  • Constitutional Issue:

    • Equal Protection Clause: Does segregation violate?
  • Decision:

    • Unanimous ruling: Segregation unconstitutional.
  • Impact:

    • Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson; ended racial segregation in schools.

Cases Involving Federal Policy

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

  • Background:

    • BCRA restricted corporate funding of electioneering communications.
  • Constitutional Issue:

    • First Amendment: Free speech rights for corporations.
  • Decision:

    • 5-4 ruling for Citizens United; spending is protected speech.
  • Impact:

    • Expanded corporate political spending rights.

Cases Involving Districting and Representation

Baker v. Carr (1962)

  • Background:

    • Tennessee's districts hadn't been reapportioned, unfair representation.
  • Constitutional Issue:

    • Equal Protection Clause: Legislative apportionment justiciable?
  • Decision:

    • 6-2 ruling: Court can address redistricting; established "one person, one vote."

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

  • Background:

    • Challenged racial gerrymandering in North Carolina.
  • Constitutional Issue:

    • Equal Protection Clause: Racial gerrymandering constitutional?
  • Decision:

    • 5-4 ruling: Race cannot be the predominant factor in districting.

Cases Involving Judicial Review

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

  • Background:

    • Marbury's commission not delivered; challenged under Judiciary Act.
  • Constitutional Basis:

    • Judiciary Act of 1789: Questioned constitutionality.
  • Decision:

    • Established judicial review; Judiciary Act unconstitutional.
  • Impact:

    • Confirmed judiciary's role in government.