Constitutional Impact on Court Cases J. Worley Civics

Court Cases showing Implied Powers Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) Brown v. Topeka Board of Education (1954) Brown v. Topeka Board of Education (1954) Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education (1971) Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education (1971) Korematsu v. US (1944) Korematsu v. US (1944) Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. US (1964) Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. US (1964)

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) Homer Plessy was arrested for riding in a whites only rail car in Louisiana Homer Plessy was arrested for riding in a whites only rail car in Louisiana Sued the Court Judge in LA for finding him guilty Sued the Court Judge in LA for finding him guilty Supreme Court ruled that segregation is legal as long as the facilities provided for both races are “equal.” Supreme Court ruled that segregation is legal as long as the facilities provided for both races are “equal.” “Separate but equal” is legal “Separate but equal” is legal

Brown v. Topeka Board of Education (1954) Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson Linda Brown was denied enrollment into a elementary school in her neighborhood because it was an all white school Linda Brown was denied enrollment into a elementary school in her neighborhood because it was an all white school Father sued the school district Father sued the school district Supreme Court ruled that segregation was illegal on the grounds that “separate but equal” facilities were inherently unequal Supreme Court ruled that segregation was illegal on the grounds that “separate but equal” facilities were inherently unequal Minorities did not get the same opportunities as whites Minorities did not get the same opportunities as whites

Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education (1971) The practice of busing students to different school districts was challenged The practice of busing students to different school districts was challenged The Supreme Court agreed with a lower NC court’s decision of allowing busing as a means of integrating public schools The Supreme Court agreed with a lower NC court’s decision of allowing busing as a means of integrating public schools Extended the principles of the Brown decision and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Extended the principles of the Brown decision and the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Korematsu v. US (1944) A relocated Japanese American during WWII tested the 5 th Amendment right of due process (Sent to detention facilities) A relocated Japanese American during WWII tested the 5 th Amendment right of due process (Sent to detention facilities) The Supreme Court ruled the 5 th Amendment allowed the government the right to detain suspected enemies during wartime The Supreme Court ruled the 5 th Amendment allowed the government the right to detain suspected enemies during wartime Reinforced the power of Presidential Executive Orders Reinforced the power of Presidential Executive Orders

Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. US (1964) Motel refused to accept black patrons Motel refused to accept black patrons Supreme Court ruled that the US Congress could use its power to regulate interstate commerce to strike down segregation Supreme Court ruled that the US Congress could use its power to regulate interstate commerce to strike down segregation Said it could potentially hinder interstate business Said it could potentially hinder interstate business Also ruled that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was constitutional Also ruled that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was constitutional

Court Case showing Judicial Review Marbury v. Madison (1803) Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Marbury v. Madison (1803) President John Adams (Fed.) appoints several Federalist judges just before leaving office President John Adams (Fed.) appoints several Federalist judges just before leaving office Did not get a chance to deliver their commissions (Formal document appointing them) Did not get a chance to deliver their commissions (Formal document appointing them) Thomas Jefferson (A-Fed.) succeed him as president and refused to deliver the commissions because he did not want them Thomas Jefferson (A-Fed.) succeed him as president and refused to deliver the commissions because he did not want them Some of the Federalists judges sued Some of the Federalists judges sued Supreme Court agreed that the judges were due their commissions & ruled that they could not make a president deliver the commissions under the Constitution Supreme Court agreed that the judges were due their commissions & ruled that they could not make a president deliver the commissions under the Constitution Also declared part of the Judiciary Act unconstitutional & established power of Judicial Review Also declared part of the Judiciary Act unconstitutional & established power of Judicial Review

Court Cases showing Elastic Clause McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) Dealt with the question of whether Congress had the authority to establish a national bank Dealt with the question of whether Congress had the authority to establish a national bank In addition, if Congress could, could the state of Maryland tax the bank In addition, if Congress could, could the state of Maryland tax the bank Supreme Court ruled that Congress could establish a national bank because it was a “necessary and proper” action to carry out Supreme Court ruled that Congress could establish a national bank because it was a “necessary and proper” action to carry out Also ruled that Maryland could not tax a federal institution Also ruled that Maryland could not tax a federal institution Reinforced the principle of implied powers as well as the Supremacy Clause Reinforced the principle of implied powers as well as the Supremacy Clause

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) New York State gave a monopoly on steamboat transportation to Robert Fulton & Robert Livingston. New York State gave a monopoly on steamboat transportation to Robert Fulton & Robert Livingston. Aaron Ogden had a license with them but Charles Gibbons did not Aaron Ogden had a license with them but Charles Gibbons did not Gibbons sued saying he still had the right to navigate freely Gibbons sued saying he still had the right to navigate freely Supreme Court ruled against the monopoly as a violation of the rights of federal government Supreme Court ruled against the monopoly as a violation of the rights of federal government Also established that only the federal government could regulate interstate commerce Also established that only the federal government could regulate interstate commerce

Essential Questions 1. How has the Supreme Court used its power of judicial review to ensure equality for all citizens? 2. How has the Supreme Court changed its views to adjust to changing times? 3. Is the Supreme Court the most powerful of the three branches of gov’t?