1. Landmark Supreme Court Cases

2. For each case…
Which or elements of the Constitution or Amendment(s) are clarified by the decision?
What future disputes or cases might use this case as precedent?
Does the decision uphold states’ rights or undermine them?

3. Marbury v. Madison (1803) The Vote: 5-0 Chief Justice John Marshall—
John Adams—
Appointed Marbury
to the bench just before
he left office
Thomas Jefferson- New president told new Secretary of State James Madison not to deliver commission
Chief Justice John Marshall—
Used this opportunity to assert
Supreme Court’s authority to
declare laws unconstitutional
(power of judicial review)
William Marbury-
Appointed to federal
Judgeship by Adams
The Vote: 5-0
James Madison—didn’t
Deliver commission

4. McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
Maryland placed a tax on transactions made
by the Bank of the U.S.
John Marshall’s court ruled that
a) Congress had the IMPLIED power to set
up a bank as part of its taxing power (Necessary
And Proper Clause)
b) The National Govt is Supreme over the States
Second Bank of the United States
The Vote: 5-1
James McCulloch—
Cashier at Baltimore
Branch of 2nd Bank of U.S.;

5. Brown v. Board of Education Topeka (1954)
The Court dramatically overturned
Plessy, declaring that “segregation is
a violation of the equal protection of the
Laws.”
This was the beginning of the end of
legal segregation.
10-year old Linda Brown could not
attend her local public school based
on her race.
The court revisited the Issue of whether “separate
but equal” was a violation of the Equal Protection
Clause.
The Vote: 9-0
Thurgood Marshall,
et al celebrate
Linda Brown on 1st day of school Fall 1954

6. Wisconsin v. Yoder (1971) The Vote: 7-0 Court ruled:
School beyond 8th grade
Is not more valuable than
Religious teachings
Aspects of education do
Contradict Amish teachings
Did Wisconsin's requirement that all parents send their children to school
at least until age 16 violate the First Amendment by criminalizing
the conduct of parents who refused to send their children to school for
religious reasons?
The Vote: 7-0
Court questions compulsory
Education and power of states
In this area.

7. Roe v. Wade (1973)
Norma McCorvey, known by the pseudonym Jane Roe, challenged a Texas state
Law forbidding abortion, claiming she had a “fundamental right to privacy”
Norma McCorvey a.k.a. Jane Roe
The Vote: 7-2
The Court affirmed that a woman
has a constitutional right to choose
to have an abortion during the first
trimester based on
“the 14th Amendment’s
concept of personal liberty and
restrictions upon state action”

8. United States v.Nixon (1974)
During the Watergate scandal, Nixon refused to turn over tapes that he had
made of conversations in the White House.
He claimed “executive privilege”, that as president he had special rights to
confidentiality
The Court overruled the president and ordered
him to surrender the tapes, thereby limiting the
scope of presidential powers.
The Vote: 8-0

9. University of California Regents v. Bakke (1978)
First challenge of “Affirmative Action”
Allan Bakke not admitted to U.C.Davis Medical School
his test scores/qualifications were higher than several
students admitted through a special quota system
Bakke argued the policy violated the equal protection
policies of both the California and Federal constitutions
Allan Bakke
Court ruled that Bakke must be given admission
Court did NOT say affirmative action was unconstitutional
Court said that quotas could not be used, but that race/
gender could be used as ONE AMONG MANY FACTORS
in admissions/hiring decisions
The Vote: 5-4
U.C. Davis

10. Texas v. Johnson (1989) The Vote:5-4 Cartoon re: Case
Johnson participated in a demonstration at the 1984 Dem Convention
Johnson was charged with violating the Texas law that prohibits vandalizing
respected objects.
He was convicted, sentenced to one year in prison, and fined $2,000.
Supreme Court: ruled in favor of Johnson and said his burning of the flag was
Protected by the First Amendment because it was expressive speech.
The Vote:5-4