Supreme Court Cases

Question 1

Supreme Court case in 1803; first time ever SC struck down an act of Congress as unconstitutional; Chief Justice John Marshall established judicial review (“checks and balances”) and strengthened the federal judiciary branch

Answer 1

Marbury v. Madison

Question 2

Supreme Court ruling that let Dartmouth remain a private institution and not a state university; confirmed the Contracts Clause of the Constitution that prohibits states from impairing a contract or private corporations; court ruled that the charter was a contract and protected by constitution

Answer 2

Dartmouth College v. Woodward

Question 3

Supreme Court ruling decided that the Second Bank of the U.S. couldn’t be taxed by the state of Maryland; defined Congress’ legislative power and how state legislatures couldn’t tax the federal government

Answer 3

McCulloch v. Maryland

Question 4

Supreme Court case 1824 that famously granted Congress the power to “regulate interstate commerce” and federal law takes precedence over state laws, also encompasses the power to regulate navigation

Answer 4

Gibbons v. Ogden

Question 5

Supreme Court case that ruled that states didn’t have right to regulate Native American land; Georgia’s extension laws were unconstitutional and violated previous treaties

Answer 5

Worcester v. Georgia

Question 6

Supreme Court ruling upheld slavery in U.S. territories, denied legality of black citizenship in America, and declared the Missouri Compromise to be unconstitutional

Answer 6

Dred-Scott Decision