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.