# McCulloch v. Maryland
Facts:
- Second bank of the united states - trying to establish parts of the blank
- law- tax of 15,000 on any branch of a bank not chartered by maryland
Constitutional Principle -
- Congress doesn't have the power to create a bank
- Lawyers said it was constitutional because of "necessary and proper"
Decision
unamouis for McCulloch
Established supremacy of national law
Why?
Talked about federlaisma nd power tiped in favor of federal level
# United States v. Lopez
Facts:
Alfonso Lopez brought a gun to school - next day charges were dropped and it was taken to a national level because there was a federal law against guns in schools
Constitutional Principle:
Commerce Clause - the guns issue was related to the ability of congress to regulate commerce
Decision:
Sided with Lopez
# Baker v. Carr
Facts:
1962 tennesse not redistricting when urban and rural populations changed over time- rural votes had more power than urban
Principle:
14th amendment - equal protection clause
Argument:
not all people were being treated equally because certain votes counted more
Decision:
agonizing
Issues of reapportionment were justiciable
Why:
established one vote on person
altered political representation - led to some states needed to redraw boundaries
had the supreme court beginning to get involved in political questions
# Shaw v. Reno
Facts:
1990 - had no North Carolina state reps black despite 20% of state was black
drew two majority black districts
gerrymandering - racial
Principle
equal protection clause
Argument:
its okay to favor the margin because they need to create a more equitable
Ruling
against reno - unconstitutional
Why
future cases concerning racial gerrymandering
# Marbury v. Madison -
Facts:
federalists v. democratic republicans - adams wanted to dilute power by packing the judiciary with federalsits - jeffereson said to leave some undelvered - marbury sued jefferson to be able to get his appointment with a writ of mandamus - court order for official to do what thueyre legally required to do
CP:
Jurisdriction! - must understand this
Arguemnts;
1 - does marbury have the right to do
2 - is the writ the proper means
3- does the court have authroity to grant this writ
Decision
1- yes
2- yes
3- NO! - within og juridistriction but Marshall said that article 13 of the judiciary act of 1789 conflicted with article 3 of the constitution - article 13 becoma unconsitutional and null and void
Why?
Invested the supreme court with the power of judicial review!
# Engel v. Vitale
Facts:
1962 - non demo prayer for after the pledge of allegiance
CP:
violation of the establishment clause
Argue:
14th - applies first amendment to the state
Decison:
yes, prayer violates first amendment
Why:
demonstration how the court ruled for individual liberty
established groundwork for future casees involving church and school
# Wisconsin v. Yoder
Facts:
3 amish families removed kids from school because of religion
CP:
free exercise of religion
Argument:
exercise of religion or state's interest in education
Decision:
favor of yoder - state interest in education should not trump exercise of religion
Why:
sets tone for future cases with state v free exercise of religion
# Tinker v. Des Moines
Facts:
Tinkers wanted to support the christman truce in vietname war
CP:
protection of free speech
Argument:
students don't shed their rights at school
Decision:
violation of students rights - created substantial disruption test - MUST ACTUALLY DISRUPT MATERIAL OR SUBSTANTIAL DISTURBANCE
Why:
set parameters on free speech on school grounds
# Schenck v. United States
facts:
1917- espionage act passed
schenck (a socialist) wrote pamphlet to discourage young men from entering the draft
CP:
violation of espionage act, but he argued that his first amendment right to free speech was violated and so that section of the espionage act was unconstitutional
decision-
ruled unanimously against Schenck
argument-
actively told men to avoid draft - not protected free speech
why?
created clear and present danger for silencing speech
- now superceded, not used anymore
# New York Times v. United States
Facts;
60-70s vietnam war happened - nixon uncovered bad details about the US handlement of the war, someone leaked the history
prior restraint- wanted to protect the documents
CP
freedom of the press
Decision
agreed with NYT, nixon restraining order was unconstitutional
Why?
victory for free press
made it hard to censor the press
# McDonald v. Chicago
Facts:
started with heller v district of columbia - restivtive government gun laws but distict of columbia was loosened because a federal territory
Mc Donald wanted to apply this to the states
CP:
second amendment- right to bear arms
Decision:
McDonald! gun laws were a violation of their rights
14th amendment - equal protection
Why:
selective incorporation
# Gideon v. Wainwright
Facts:
1963-
gideon broke into a place, florida didn't appoint a lawyer for him, appealed to supreme court
CP:
6th amendment- right to have counsel
14th amendment- applies it to the states
Decision:
gideons favor- right to lawyer applies to state
Why:
6th amendment incorporation
# Brown v. Board of Education
Facts:
series of cases consolidated - racial segregation in schools
came after plessy v ferguson
family tried getting their daughter in closer school with white people but was denied access
CP:
14th amendment
Decision:
overturned plessy v ferguson unanimously
Why:
massive judicial victory for civil right movement
# Citizens United v. FEC
Facts:
campaign finance laws- BCRA- illegal for companies or non-profits to engage in electioneering communications 60 days pre election or 30 days pre a primary
Citizens United made Hilary the Movie- challeneged this part of the law
CP:
freedom of speech
Decision:
favor of citizens united
Why:
most money, loudest voices?
yes with this case