1. Supreme Court Cases

2. In your group, you will.. Read your court case individually Examine the case as a group Present your findings to the class

3. Find the Following State the issue before the Supreme Court in this case.  What’s being decided? What facts were presented to the Court?  What details/arguments are presented? What was the decision of the Court? What was the rationale?  Who won? Why? What was the effect of the decision?  Why does this matter?

4. Marbury v. Madison (1803) Issue: Should the court order the Secretary of State to deliver the commission to Marbury and others? Facts: Marbury argues he was entitled to his position b/c the Senate approved him, the President signed it, and the S.o.S. had placed the seal of the U.S. on it. Madison says b/c it wasn’t delivered before Adams went out of office, the document is no longer valid. Decision: In favor of Madison. Agrees Marbury is entitled to his position and the Court could issue an order, but the power to issue such an order came from an act which was unconstitutional. Effects: First time the Court declared an act of Congress void on the grounds of constitutionality. Establishes power of judicial review.

5. Find the Following State the issue before the Supreme Court in this case. What facts were presented to the Court? What was the decision of the Court? What was the rationale? What was the effect of the decision?

6. United States v. Judge Peters (1809) Issue: Can a state legislature legally pass a law that overrules a decision of the United States? Facts: A committee appointed by Congress and a state court disagreed on what should happen to proceeds from a seized ship. PA State legislature passed a law giving governor power to use force to resist Judge Peters decision. Decision/Rationale: Court upholds ruling of committee. Enforced decisions of a nat’l govt. agency and federal courts over an act passed by a state legislature. Effects: State legislatures do not have the right to pass laws that overrule decisions of federal courts.

7. McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) Issue: Does any state possess the right to tax an agency of the U.S. government? Also, can Congress constitutionally create a nat’l bank? Facts: State argues they can tax b/c only restriction in Const. is on imports/exports. Also questions ability to place branches of nat’l bank in states w/o legislative approval. McCulloch argues ability to tax makes states sovereign, and Congress can create a bank using “implied power” clause. Decision/Rationale: Unanimously in favor of McCulloch. Effects: National law is superior to state laws, and broadens the definition of “implied powers.”

8. Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) Issue: Do laws passed by NY legislature violate Constitution by attempting to regulate interstate commerce? Facts: Ogden argues he has exclusive rights to navigate waters in question b/c they were in territory of state of NY, who can regulate trade w/ in it’s boundaries. Gibbons argues NY cannot interfere b/c he got his license from the national government to operate in any coastal waters of the U.S. Decision: Unanimously in favor of Gibbons. Commerce means transport of goods and services, as well as actual sale of goods. Congress can regulate transportation across state lines for purposes of commerce. Effects: Allowed for westward expansion b/c Congress can now create roads, canals, etc. between states.

9. Dartmouth College v. Woodward (1824) Issue: Did acts of the state legislature, placing Dartmouth under state control, violate the Constitution? Facts: Dartmouth had been chartered in 1769, and control was given to it’s trustees. In 1816, NH regards the school as public, and passed a law reorganizing it as a state university. College sues on the grounds that the state ignored the contract b/t them and the king, which was protected by the Const. Decision: NH had violated Article I, section 10. No state shall impair the legal obligation of a contract. Effects: Protected all types of contracts from government actions.

10. Worcester v. Georgia (1832) Issues: Are the Georgia statues relating to the Cherokee Nation in violation of the Constitution of the U.S.? Facts: U.S. govt. had made several treaties with the CN, treating it as a sovereign power. State of GA passed laws taking over Cherokee lands. Worcester is arrested and convicted for living on Cherokee lands. He appeals in hopes that the Supreme Courts ruling would protect the CN rights to their land. Decision: Upholds validity of Cherokee’s treaty rights and said GA law was not valid in Cherokee territory. Only the nat’l govt. could deal with natives; federal treaties took precedence over state laws. Effects: Court upholds supremacy of the Const. and federal treaties.