Ap Government Supreme Court Cases Quizlet

In the realm of American government, the Supreme Court stands as a towering figure, its decisions shaping the very fabric of society and impacting the lives of every citizen. Understanding the landmark cases that have come before this esteemed body is crucial for anyone seeking a comprehensive grasp of the American political landscape. This article delves into the world of AP Government Supreme Court cases, offering a detailed exploration of key rulings, their historical context, and their lasting significance.

Landmark Supreme Court Cases: Shaping American Government

The Supreme Court's power lies in its ability to interpret the Constitution, and its decisions serve as precedents for future cases. These landmark rulings often address fundamental questions about individual rights, the balance of power between the federal government and the states, and the very nature of American democracy. For students of AP Government, mastering these cases is essential for success on the exam and for developing a deeper understanding of the American legal system.

Marbury v. Madison (1803): Establishing Judicial Review

Marbury v. Madison is arguably the most important case in Supreme Court history. It established the principle of judicial review, which gives the Court the power to declare acts of Congress or the President unconstitutional.

• Background: In the final days of his presidency, John Adams appointed William Marbury as a justice of the peace. However, the commission was not delivered before Adams left office. When Thomas Jefferson became president, he ordered his Secretary of State, James Madison, not to deliver the commission. Marbury sued, asking the Supreme Court to issue a writ of mandamus forcing Madison to deliver the commission.
• Ruling: Chief Justice John Marshall, in a brilliant legal maneuver, ruled that while Marbury was entitled to his commission, the section of the Judiciary Act of 1789 that gave the Supreme Court original jurisdiction in such cases was unconstitutional.
• Significance: By declaring a law of Congress unconstitutional, the Court established its power of judicial review, making it a co-equal branch of government.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819): Implied Powers and National Supremacy

McCulloch v. Maryland affirmed the implied powers of Congress and the supremacy of the federal government over the states.

• Background: The state of Maryland attempted to tax the Second Bank of the United States, a national bank chartered by Congress. The bank's cashier, James McCulloch, refused to pay the tax.
• Ruling: The Supreme Court, again under Chief Justice John Marshall, ruled that Congress had the power to establish a national bank under the Necessary and Proper Clause of the Constitution. The Court also held that states could not tax the federal government, as "the power to tax involves the power to destroy."
• Significance: This case solidified the concept of implied powers, allowing Congress to enact laws that are "necessary and proper" for carrying out its enumerated powers. It also affirmed the principle of national supremacy, meaning that federal laws are supreme to state laws when the two conflict.

Schenck v. United States (1919): Free Speech and the "Clear and Present Danger" Test

Schenck v. United States addressed the limits of free speech during wartime.

• Background: Charles Schenck, a socialist, distributed leaflets urging men to resist the draft during World War I. He was convicted of violating the Espionage Act of 1917.
• Ruling: The Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision written by Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, upheld Schenck's conviction. The Court held that free speech is not absolute and can be restricted if it presents a "clear and present danger" to the country.
• Significance: This case established the "clear and present danger" test, which allowed the government to restrict speech that posed an immediate threat to national security. While this test has been modified over time, it remains an important part of free speech jurisprudence.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954): Ending Segregation in Schools

Brown v. Board of Education is a landmark case that declared state-sponsored segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

• Background: Several cases challenged the "separate but equal" doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), which allowed for segregation as long as facilities were equal. Linda Brown, an African American student, was denied admission to a white school in Topeka, Kansas.
• Ruling: The Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, overturned Plessy v. Ferguson and declared that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." The Court held that segregation violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
• Significance: This case was a major victory for the Civil Rights Movement and paved the way for the desegregation of schools across the country.

Engel v. Vitale (1962): School Prayer and the Establishment Clause

Engel v. Vitale addressed the issue of school prayer and the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

• Background: The New York State Board of Regents authorized a short, voluntary prayer to be recited at the beginning of each school day. A group of parents sued, arguing that the prayer violated the Establishment Clause, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion.
• Ruling: The Supreme Court ruled that the school prayer was unconstitutional, even though it was voluntary and non-denominational. The Court held that the prayer constituted government endorsement of religion, which violated the Establishment Clause.
• Significance: This case established a strict separation of church and state in public schools and has been the subject of much debate ever since.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963): Right to Counsel

Gideon v. Wainwright affirmed the right to counsel for indigent defendants in criminal cases.

• Background: Clarence Earl Gideon was charged with a felony in Florida. He was too poor to afford a lawyer and requested that the court appoint one for him. The court refused, citing Florida law that only provided counsel in capital cases. Gideon was convicted and sentenced to prison.
• Ruling: The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the Sixth Amendment's right to counsel applies to state courts through the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause. The Court held that the state must provide counsel to indigent defendants in felony cases.
• Significance: This case ensured that all defendants, regardless of their ability to pay, have the right to legal representation in criminal cases.

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969): Student Free Speech Rights

Tinker v. Des Moines addressed the free speech rights of students in public schools.

• Background: A group of students wore black armbands to school to protest the Vietnam War. The school district prohibited the armbands and suspended the students who wore them.
• Ruling: The Supreme Court ruled that the students' wearing of armbands was protected by the First Amendment's free speech clause. The Court held that students do not shed their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse gate, but that school officials can restrict speech that disrupts the educational environment.
• Significance: This case established the "Tinker test," which allows school officials to restrict student speech only if it causes a substantial disruption or invades the rights of others.

New York Times Co. v. United States (1971): Freedom of the Press and Prior Restraint

New York Times Co. v. United States, also known as the "Pentagon Papers" case, affirmed the freedom of the press and limited the government's ability to censor the news.

• Background: The New York Times and The Washington Post began publishing excerpts from a classified study about the Vietnam War, known as the Pentagon Papers. The Nixon administration sought a court order to stop the publication, arguing that it would harm national security.
• Ruling: The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the newspapers, holding that the government had not met the heavy burden of justifying prior restraint, which is the censorship of news before it is published.
• Significance: This case reaffirmed the importance of a free press in a democratic society and limited the government's power to censor the news.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972): Freedom of Religion and Compulsory Schooling

Wisconsin v. Yoder addressed the conflict between freedom of religion and compulsory schooling laws.

• Background: Amish parents in Wisconsin refused to send their children to school after the eighth grade, arguing that it violated their religious beliefs. Wisconsin law required children to attend school until age 16.
• Ruling: The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Amish parents, holding that the state's compulsory schooling law violated their right to freedom of religion under the First Amendment. The Court recognized the long-standing religious tradition of the Amish and the importance of preserving their way of life.
• Significance: This case recognized the importance of protecting religious freedom, even when it conflicts with state laws.

Roe v. Wade (1973): Abortion Rights and the Right to Privacy

Roe v. Wade established a woman's right to an abortion, based on the right to privacy.

• Background: Norma McCorvey (under the pseudonym "Jane Roe") challenged a Texas law that prohibited abortion except to save a woman's life.
• Ruling: The Supreme Court ruled that the right to privacy under the Fourteenth Amendment includes a woman's right to an abortion. The Court established a trimester framework, giving states more power to regulate abortions in the later stages of pregnancy.
• Significance: This case has been one of the most controversial Supreme Court decisions in history, sparking a national debate about abortion rights. Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022 by Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, returning the issue of abortion regulation to the states.

United States v. Nixon (1974): Executive Privilege and the Rule of Law

United States v. Nixon limited the scope of executive privilege and affirmed the rule of law.

• Background: During the Watergate scandal, President Richard Nixon refused to turn over tapes of conversations recorded in the Oval Office, claiming executive privilege, which is the right of the President to keep certain information confidential.
• Ruling: The Supreme Court ruled that Nixon had to turn over the tapes. The Court recognized the existence of executive privilege, but held that it was not absolute and could not be used to obstruct justice.
• Significance: This case affirmed the principle that no one, not even the President, is above the law.

Gregg v. Georgia (1976): Capital Punishment and the Eighth Amendment

Gregg v. Georgia addressed the constitutionality of the death penalty.

• Background: Following Furman v. Georgia (1972), which had effectively suspended the death penalty in the United States, Georgia revised its death penalty laws to include specific guidelines for sentencing. Troy Gregg was convicted of murder and sentenced to death.
• Ruling: The Supreme Court upheld Georgia's revised death penalty law, ruling that it was not cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment. The Court held that the death penalty could be constitutional if it was applied fairly and consistently.
• Significance: This case reinstated the death penalty in the United States, but also established safeguards to ensure that it is not applied arbitrarily or discriminatorily.

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978): Affirmative Action and Equal Protection

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke addressed the issue of affirmative action in college admissions.

• Background: Allan Bakke, a white man, was denied admission to the University of California, Davis Medical School. He argued that the school's affirmative action program, which reserved a certain number of spots for minority applicants, discriminated against him based on race.
• Ruling: The Supreme Court ruled that the school's quota system was unconstitutional, but that race could be considered as one factor in admissions decisions to promote diversity.
• Significance: This case established that affirmative action programs are constitutional as long as they do not use quotas, but can consider race as one factor in admissions decisions.

Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier (1988): Student Press Rights

Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier addressed the rights of student journalists in public schools.

• Background: A high school principal censored articles in the school newspaper about teen pregnancy and divorce. The student journalists sued, arguing that their First Amendment rights had been violated.
• Ruling: The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the school district, holding that school officials can censor student publications if they are reasonably related to legitimate pedagogical concerns.
• Significance: This case limited the free speech rights of student journalists and gave school officials more control over the content of school newspapers.

Texas v. Johnson (1989): Flag Burning and Symbolic Speech

Texas v. Johnson addressed the issue of flag burning as a form of symbolic speech.

• Background: Gregory Lee Johnson burned an American flag during a protest at the Republican National Convention in Dallas, Texas. He was convicted of violating a Texas law that prohibited the desecration of the flag.
• Ruling: The Supreme Court ruled that Johnson's flag burning was protected by the First Amendment's free speech clause. The Court held that flag burning is a form of symbolic speech that is inherently expressive and cannot be prohibited simply because it is offensive to some people.
• Significance: This case reaffirmed the importance of protecting even unpopular or offensive forms of speech.

Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992): Abortion Rights and Undue Burden

Planned Parenthood v. Casey reaffirmed the right to abortion established in Roe v. Wade, but also allowed states to impose some restrictions on abortion access.

• Background: Pennsylvania enacted several restrictions on abortion, including a 24-hour waiting period, parental consent for minors, and spousal notification.
• Ruling: The Supreme Court upheld the right to abortion, but replaced the trimester framework of Roe v. Wade with the "undue burden" standard. The Court held that states can regulate abortion as long as they do not place an "undue burden" on a woman's ability to obtain an abortion. The Court struck down the spousal notification requirement, but upheld the other restrictions.
• Significance: This case allowed states to impose some restrictions on abortion access, but also reaffirmed the fundamental right to abortion.

United States v. Lopez (1995): Limits on the Commerce Clause

United States v. Lopez limited the power of Congress to regulate under the Commerce Clause.

• Background: A high school student was convicted of violating the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990, which made it a federal crime to possess a gun in a school zone.
• Ruling: The Supreme Court ruled that the Gun-Free School Zones Act was unconstitutional because it exceeded Congress's power under the Commerce Clause. The Court held that possessing a gun in a school zone is not an economic activity that substantially affects interstate commerce.
• Significance: This case limited the scope of the Commerce Clause and reaffirmed the principle of federalism, which divides power between the federal government and the states.

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010): Campaign Finance and Corporate Speech

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission addressed the issue of campaign finance and corporate speech.

• Background: Citizens United, a conservative non-profit organization, produced a film critical of Hillary Clinton during the 2008 presidential election. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) argued that the film violated campaign finance laws that prohibited corporations and unions from using their general treasury funds to make independent expenditures for political advertising.
• Ruling: The Supreme Court ruled that corporations and unions have the same First Amendment rights as individuals and can spend unlimited amounts of money on political advertising, as long as it is independent of a candidate's campaign. The Court overturned portions of the McCain-Feingold Act, which had limited corporate and union spending in elections.
• Significance: This case has had a significant impact on campaign finance, leading to the rise of Super PACs and other independent expenditure groups that can spend unlimited amounts of money to influence elections.

National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius (2012): Affordable Care Act and the Commerce Clause

National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius addressed the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare.

• Background: Several provisions of the ACA were challenged, including the individual mandate, which required individuals to purchase health insurance or pay a penalty, and the Medicaid expansion, which required states to expand their Medicaid programs.
• Ruling: The Supreme Court upheld the individual mandate as a valid exercise of Congress's taxing power, but struck down the Medicaid expansion as unconstitutionally coercive.
• Significance: This case upheld the Affordable Care Act, but also limited the power of Congress to coerce states into expanding federal programs.

Obergefell v. Hodges (2015): Same-Sex Marriage and Equal Protection

Obergefell v. Hodges established the right to same-sex marriage nationwide.

• Background: Several same-sex couples sued state officials in Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and Tennessee, challenging state laws that prohibited same-sex marriage.
• Ruling: The Supreme Court ruled that the right to marry is a fundamental right and that same-sex couples have the same right to marry as heterosexual couples. The Court held that the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause and Equal Protection Clause require states to license and recognize same-sex marriages.
• Significance: This case was a landmark victory for the LGBTQ+ rights movement and established marriage equality nationwide.

Preparing for AP Government Exams: Mastering Supreme Court Cases

To succeed on the AP Government exam, you need to do more than just memorize the facts of these cases. You need to understand their:

• Historical context: What events led to the case? What were the social and political conditions at the time?
• Constitutional issues: What parts of the Constitution were at stake? How did the Court interpret those provisions?
• Significance: What was the impact of the case on American society and government? How does it continue to affect us today?

Effective Study Strategies

• Create flashcards: Use flashcards to memorize the key facts of each case, including the parties involved, the constitutional issues, the ruling, and the significance.
• Outline the cases: Create outlines that summarize the main points of each case. This will help you organize your thoughts and remember the key information.
• Practice essay questions: The AP Government exam includes essay questions that require you to analyze and evaluate Supreme Court cases. Practice writing essays that address common themes, such as the balance between individual rights and national security, or the relationship between the federal government and the states.
• Discuss the cases: Talk to your classmates and teachers about the cases. This will help you understand different perspectives and deepen your understanding of the issues.
• Use online resources: There are many online resources available to help you study Supreme Court cases, including websites, videos, and practice quizzes.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court plays a vital role in shaping American government and society. By understanding the landmark cases that have come before the Court, you can gain a deeper appreciation of the American legal system and the principles of democracy. Mastering these cases is essential for success on the AP Government exam and for becoming an informed and engaged citizen. Remember to study the historical context, constitutional issues, and significance of each case, and to practice your essay writing skills. With hard work and dedication, you can master the world of AP Government Supreme Court cases and achieve your academic goals.