court cases Flashcards
(42 cards)
What is the significance of Marbury v. Madison?
Established the principle of judicial review
What was the main issue in Tinker v. Des Moines?
Students’ right to free speech in schools
What did the Dred Scott v. Sanford decision rule?
African Americans could not be considered citizens
What principle was upheld in Plessy v. Ferguson?
Separate but equal doctrine
What was the outcome of Brown v. Board of Education?
Declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional
What right was at issue in Gideon v. Wainwright?
Right to counsel for defendants in criminal cases
What did Mapp v. Ohio establish regarding evidence?
Exclusionary rule applied to state courts
What was the key issue in Miranda v. Arizona?
Rights of the accused during police interrogation
What is the significance of Marbury v. Madison (1803)?
Established the principle of judicial review, allowing courts to determine the constitutionality of laws.
This case marked the first time the Supreme Court struck down a law for being unconstitutional.
Who was the Chief Justice during the Marbury v. Madison case?
Chief Justice John Marshall
Marshall’s opinion laid the groundwork for the judiciary’s role in the American government.
What did the Judiciary Act of 1789 entail in relation to Marbury v. Madison?
It included provisions that were deemed unconstitutional as they expanded the Court’s original jurisdiction.
Marbury’s request for a writ of mandamus was based on this act.
In McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), what clause did the Supreme Court use to justify Congress’s authority to create a national bank?
The Necessary and Proper Clause of Article I
This clause allows Congress to exercise powers not explicitly outlined in the Constitution.
What was the Supreme Court’s ruling regarding Maryland’s ability to tax the national bank in McCulloch v. Maryland?
Maryland had no right to tax federal institutions like the national bank.
The ruling emphasized the principle of national supremacy.
What was the outcome of United States v. Lopez (1995)?
The Supreme Court struck down the Gun-Free Schools Act for exceeding Congress’s power under the Commerce Clause.
This case set limits on congressional authority to regulate non-economic activities.
What constitutional principle did the Engel v. Vitale (1962) case address?
The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment
The case involved the constitutionality of state-sponsored prayer in public schools.
What was the Supreme Court’s decision in Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)?
The Court ruled that the Amish families were entitled to a religious exemption from compulsory education laws.
The ruling highlighted the balance between state interests and individual religious rights.
What was the key issue in Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969)?
The protection of students’ free speech rights in public schools.
The case involved students wearing armbands to protest the Vietnam War.
What principle did the New York Times Co. v. United States (1971) case establish regarding prior restraint?
Almost all attempts to stop publications before they occur are unconstitutional.
This case is often referred to as the ‘Pentagon Papers’ case.
What test did Schenck v. United States (1919) establish regarding free speech?
The clear and present danger test.
This test evaluates whether speech is protected under the First Amendment based on the potential for harm.
True or False: The Constitution explicitly mentions the power of judicial review.
False
Judicial review is inferred from the Constitution’s text and history.
Fill in the blank: The Supreme Court’s ruling in _______ established limits on Congress’s power under the Commerce Clause.
United States v. Lopez
What did the Tinker case emphasize about student speech rights?
Students retain their First Amendment rights as long as their speech does not materially interfere with school operations.
This case set a precedent for how schools can regulate student expression.
What did the Espionage Act make illegal?
Conveying information with the intent of interfering with U.S. armed forces or obstructing military recruitment
The Espionage Act was upheld by the Supreme Court in Schenck v. United States.
Who wrote the opinion in Schenck v. United States?
Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes
Holmes established the ‘clear and present danger test’ in this case.
