Landmark Supreme Court Cases

Verse

Marbury v. Madison (1803): Established judicial review; Article III.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819): Confirmed federal supremacy and implied powers (Necessary & Proper Clause).

Schenck v. United States (1919): Speech can be limited if it creates a "clear and present danger".

Brown v. Board of Education (1954): School segregation violates 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause.

Baker v. Carr (1962): "One person, one vote" doctrine; redistricting is justiciable.

Engel v. Vitale (1962): School-sponsored prayer violates Establishment Clause.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963): Incorporated 6th Amendment right to counsel to states.

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969): Student speech is protected unless it causes substantial disruption.

New York Times Co. v. United States (1971): Bolstered freedom of the press; restricted prior restraint.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972): Free Exercise Clause outweighs state interest in education (Amish).

Roe v. Wade (1973): Extended privacy right to abortion (Note: Overturned 2022, but still required for historical AP context).

Shaw v. Reno (1993): Redistricting based on race must hold to strict scrutiny.

United States v. Lopez (1995): Gun Free School Zones Act exceeded Congress’s Commerce Clause power.

Citizens United v. FEC (2010): Corporate funding of independent political broadcasts cannot be limited.