Important Court Cases

Question 1

Miranda v. Arizona

Answer 1

Established the requirement for police to inform arrested individuals of their rights (Miranda Rights).

Question 2

Wickard v. Filburn

Answer 2

Expanded the scope of the Commerce Clause, allowing federal regulation of even local, non-commercial activities that affect interstate commerce.

Question 3

McCulloch v. Maryland

Answer 3

Affirmed Congress’s implied powers and ruled that states cannot tax federal institutions.

Question 4

US v. Lopez

Answer 4

Limited the scope of the Commerce Clause, ruling that non-economic activities like gun possession near schools are beyond federal regulation.

Question 5

South Dakota v. Dole

Answer 5

Upheld the use of federal financial incentives to encourage states to adopt certain policies.

Question 6

Mapp v. Ohio

Answer 6

Applied the Exclusionary Rule to state courts, barring illegally obtained evidence.

Question 7

Terry v. Ohio

Answer 7

Allowed “stop and frisk” searches based on reasonable suspicion.

Question 8

Gibbons v. Ogden

Answer 8

Established federal authority over interstate commerce, including navigation.

Question 9

Engel v. Vitale

Answer 9

Ruled that state-sponsored prayer in public schools violates the Establishment Clause.

Question 10

Lemon v. Kurtzman

Answer 10

Created the “Lemon Test” to evaluate laws under the Establishment Clause, requiring secular purpose and non-entanglement with religion.

Question 11

Marbury v. Madison

Answer 11

Established judicial review, allowing courts to declare laws unconstitutional.

Question 12

Kelo v. New London

Answer 12

Affirmed the use of eminent domain for economic development as a public purpose.

Question 13

Obergefell v. Hodges

Answer 13

Legalized same-sex marriage nationwide under the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses.

Question 14

Miranda v. Arizona

Answer 14

Required police to inform individuals of their rights (Miranda Rights) before interrogation.

Question 15

D.C. v. Heller

Answer 15

Recognized an individual’s right to possess firearms under the Second Amendment, independent of militia service.

Question 16

Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization

Answer 16

Overturned Roe v. Wade, eliminating the federal constitutional right to an abortion and returning the issue to the states.

Question 17

Matal v. Tam

Answer 17

Ruled that the government cannot refuse trademark applications based on disparaging or offensive content under the First Amendment.

Question 18

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

Answer 18

Allowed unlimited campaign contributions by corporations and unions, deeming such contributions a form of free speech under the First Amendment.

Question 19

Hamdi v. Rumsfeld

Answer 19

Held that U.S. citizens detained as enemy combatants must have the right to challenge their detention in court.

Question 20

Berghuis v. Thompkins

Answer 20

Ruled that a suspect must explicitly invoke the right to remain silent under Miranda rights for it to apply.

Question 21

Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L

Answer 21

Ruled that public schools cannot discipline students for off-campus speech that does not disrupt school activities.

Question 22

Google LLC v. Oracle America, Inc.

Answer 22

Ruled in favor of Google, determining that its use of Oracle’s Java code in Android was fair use under copyright law.

Question 23

NCAA v. Alston

Answer 23

Ruled that the NCAA cannot limit education-related benefits for athletes, which violates antitrust laws.

Question 24

Biden v. Nebraska

Answer 24

Blocked the Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness program, citing that it was an overreach of executive power.

Question 25

Loper v. Raimondo

Answer 25

Ruled that courts cannot second-guess agency interpretations of laws, reaffirming the Chevron deference doctrine.