SCOTUS Court Cases PDF

Court Case - Winner Decision Year Constitutional Article/Amendment Facts FEDERALISM...

Court Case - Winner Decision Year Constitutional Article/Amendment Facts FEDERALISM Established Supremacy of Federal laws over state laws. McCulloch vs Maryland Supremacy Clause: Government has implied powers because of Necessary and Proper Clause that allow it to implement the ⚖National Bank constitutional vs Not National government is supreme to the states enumerated powers (written in the constitution - Article 1 Section 8) Constitutional Necessary and Proper Clause: Shifts power toward national government by enforcing that states cannot tax national entities (like a ⚖National government cannot be taxed by Government can create a national bank Laws national bank) states vs States ability to check national can be created that are necessary to implement government Unanimous 1819 enumerated powers Power to Tax = Power to Kill Commerce Clause Power to regulate commerce is an enumerated power. United State vs Lopez Necessary and Proper: In this case it was ruled that guns in school Congress may not use the commerce clause to make possessions of a gun in a school zone a federal crime ⚖Ability to control commerce vs No zones were not related to commerce and the Shows the Importance on state soverignty. Connection of Gun in school zone to necessary and proper clause had been commerce 5-4 1995 stretched too far. Shift powers toward the state and away from national government POWER OF GOVT VS CIVIL LIBERTIES School sponsorship of religious activities violates the establishment clause. Concerned Prayer in Schools 1st Amendment - Religion The prayer was not compulsory however it was established by a government institution (school board) Engel vs Vitale Establishment Clause ⚖ Freedom from Religion vs Required to say The government cannot set up its own religion sponsored prayer 6-1 1962 or encourage one over the other. Balance of Individual Liberty and Order Compelling Amish Students to attend school past the eighth grade violates the free exercise clause. Wisconsin vs Yoder Amish undergo vocational training (they were not just dropping out) 1st Amendment - Religion ⚖State laws requiring Education vs Right to Free Exercise Clause follow faith based beliefs Unanimous 1972 People are allowed to worship how they please. Reinforced that the 1st Amendment had been selectively incorporated Public school students have the right to wear black armbands in school to protest the Vietnam war. Students were originally suspended by the school Tinker vs Des Moines ⚖Student Free Speech vs Disruption to 1st Amendment - Speech (Symbolic) Protest can be limited in school if it causes a disruption to the learning environment Educational Environment 7-2 1969 It is protected by the 1st Amendment It was ruled that the black armbands did not disrupt learning.  Court Case - Winner Decision Year Constitutional Article/Amendment Facts This case bolstered the freedom of the press, establishing a “heavy presumption against prior restraint” even cases involving national security Government cannot censor stuff before it is published (that would be prior restraint) Per curiam: Concerned the Vietnam War and the US’ involvement. decided as a New York Times Co. vs United States group no main author. Government said National Security should take precedent, but since the papers were from nearly 6 years ⚖Right to Press vs Prior Restraint 6-3 1971 1st Amendment -Freedom of Press earlier the Court ruled for the New York Times. Speech creating a “clear and present danger” is not protected by the first amendment. The event took place during World War I, and in war time, the country is concerned with Order over Liberty. Concerned Pamphlets encouraging people to abstain from the draft 1st Amendment Speech Schenck vs United States ⚖Free Speech vs Wartime Limitations on Espionage Act: Law that prevented certain This prevents congress from carrying out one of their constitutional/enumerated roles (Raising an Army is Speech Unanimous 1919 speech from being exercised during war time. a rule of congress). SELECTIVE INCORPORATION This case guarantees the right on an attorney for the poor or indigent in a state felony case 6th Amendment : right to have “assistance of Remember the constitution was not always interpreted to provide counsel/lawyer/attorney to all people in counsel” all cases. 14th Amendment Gideon v Wainwright Due Process Clause (USED FOR SELECTIVE This made it so that if someone cannot afford a lawyer that they must have one appointed to them, even in ⚖Right to Counsel vs State Courts Unanimous 1963 INCORPORATION state cases (this is the selective incorporation part). The Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms for self defense is applicable to the states. Applies to Individuals - this case in not about the militia Says cities and states cannot make laws that infringe on an individual's right to keep and bear arms. Balance of Individual Liberty and Order McDonald v Chicago 2nd Amendment ⚖Individual Gun Ownership vs State Laws 14th Amendment: Due Process Clause for safety 5-4 2010 (SELECTIVE INCORPORATION) Federalism shifting power from states toward national EQUAL PROTECTION = EQUALITY Race-based school segregation violates the equal protection clause. Overturned Plessy V Ferguson precedent that said established “Separate but Equal” Brown vs Board of Education Established that Separate was inherently unequal. ⚖Equality of Education vs State Right to segregate people based on race Unanimous 1954 14th Amendment: Equal Protection Clause Applied Equality beyond facilities to outcomes in life  Court Case - Winner Decision Year Constitutional Article/Amendment Facts THE REPUBLICAN IDEAL IS MANIFEST IN THE STRUCTURE AND OPERATION OF THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH GERRYMANDERING This case opened the door to equal protection challenges to redistricting and the development of the “one person, one vote” doctrine by ruling that challenges to redistricting did not raise “political questions” that would keep federal courts from reviewing such challenges. 14th Amendment: Equal Protection Clause One person One vote - State legislative districts should be about the same size population wise. Baker v Carr ⚖Equality of State’s Citizens vs States Districts with uneven populations make the Powers to set up their own legislatures 6-2 1962 weight of voters unequal. Involved State Legislator of Tennessee Majority-Minority districts, created under the Voting Rights Act of 1965, may be constitutionally challenged by voters if race is the only factor used in creating the district. 14th Amendment: Equal Protection Clause Shaw v Reno NO RACIAL GERRYMANDERING! ⚖Racial Gerrymandering vs Minority While race can be used as a factor when Protections 5-4 1993 creating districts, it cannot be the only factor. Involved North Carolina’s representation in the House of Representatives. (National Legislator) SUPREME COURT AS INDEPENDENT BRANCH The case established the principle of judicial review, empowering the supreme court to nullify an act of the legislative or executive branch that violated the constitution. Increased the Power of the Judicial Branch Article III of the Constitution Established Judicial Branch Marbury v Madison Connect with checks and balances Judiciary Act of 1789 ⚖Law vs Constitution Unanimous 1803 Was invalidated by this court case Judicial review is the check the Judicial branch has on the others.