Hi I'm Google! I will be your tour guide through all the cases. 

Marbury v. Madison 

1803

For some background information, Thomas Jefferson beat John Adams in the presidential election so Adams decided to make the Judiciary Act of 1901.

Background & Facts...

- The Judiciary Act of 1901 added new courts and judges that the president had control over

- William Marbury was appointed but he never got his commission so he petitioned the Supreme Court

Majority Opinion...

Unanimous decision for Marbury

Majority Opinion by John Marshall

Enduring Legacy...

- Judicial Review was created

- Checks an act of Congress as unconstitutional through the Supremacy Clause

McCulloch v. Maryland

1819

This Supreme Court case is important to learn about the power of the federal government over state governments!

Background & Facts...

Majority Opinion...

Enduring Legacy...

- Maryland passed a law to place taxes on the federal bank

- Maryland argued that any business within its borders could be taxed

- McCulloch, the head of the bank, refused to pay the tax

Unanimous Decision for McCulloch

Majority Opinion by John Marshall

- Congress has implied constitutional powers

- National supremacy over the state

- The federal government had the right to set up the bank

Schenck v. U.S

1919

F.Y.I - The 13th Amendment basically states that involuntary servitude is illegal in the U.S

Background & Facts...

Majority Opinion...

Enduring Legacy...

- During WWI, Charles Schenck said the draft went against the 13th amendment and protested against it through leaflets

- The leaflets advised people to go against the draft peacefully

- Schenck was convicted under the Espionage Act and claimed that his freedom of speech in the 1st amendment was being violated

Unanimous decision for United States

Majority Opinion by Oliver W. Holmes Jr.

- The 1st amendment does not protect speech that creates danger or significant evil that Congress is preventing

Brown v. board

     1954

This case was based on Plessy v. Ferguson which allowed racially segregated schools as long as they were equal.

Background & Facts...

Majority Opinion...

Enduring Legacy...

- African American students were being denied from schools

- They argued it denied their 14th amendment Equal Protection Clause

Unanimous Decision for Brown

Majority Opinion by Earl Warren

- The "separate but equal" facilities for racial minorities does violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment

Engel v. Vitale

       1962

Even though the prayer was voluntary and not connected towards a specific religion it cannot be held at public schools.

Background & Facts...

Majority Opinion...

Enduring Legacy...

- New York state board of regents authorized a prayer before school

- Organizations went against this claiming it violated the Establishment Clause in the 1st amendment and were rejected

A 6-1 decision for Engel

Majority Opinion by Hugo L. Black

- The state cannot hold prayers in public schools regardless of religion and voluntary participation

baker v. carr

     1962

This allows federal courts to to listen to state boundary drawings

Background & Facts...

Majority Opinion...

Enduring Legacy...

- Charles W. Baker claimed a 1901 law designed to apportion seats for state's General Assembly was ignored

- detailed how Tennessee's reapportionment efforts ignored economic growth and population shifts

A 6-2 Decision for Baker

Majority Opinion by William J. Brennan Jr.

- This established the right of federal court to review redistricting issues

Gideon v. Wainwright

     1963

Also Gideon filed a habeas corpus petition arguing the court violated his rights to be represented by a counsel but was denied relief

Background & Facts...

Majority Opinion...

Enduring Legacy...

- Clarence Earl Gideon was charged in FLorida State COurt with felony breaking and entering

- He requested a lawyer but never got one

- He represented himself and was found guilty

Unanimous decision for Gideon

Majority Opinion by Hugo L. Black

- All defendants who cannot afford to retain counsel will be appointed attorneys

       Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community District

       1969

The students sued the school district claiming they violated the student's rights of expression!

Background & Facts...

Majority Opinion...

Enduring Legacy...

- Students wore armbands to promote truce in the Vietnam War

- principals created policies that students wearing an armband would have to remove it or result in suspension

A 7-2 decision for Tinker

Majority Opinion by Abe Fortas

- The armbands represented the student's pure speech and are separated from actions or conducts of the participants

New York Times v. U.S

      1971

The "Pentagon Papers" , highly classified documents were leaked to the press in this Supreme Court Case

Background & Facts...

Majority Opinion...

Enduring Legacy...

- The Nixon administration prevented New York Times and Washington Post from publishing papers about U.S activity in Vietnam

- The president argued prior restraint was necessary to protect national security

Decision for New York Times

Per Curiam Opinions

- The court ruled that the government did not overcome "heavy presumption against" prior restraint of the press

Wisconsin v. Yoder

      1972

This Supreme Court case goes over the practice of free exercise where education interferes with religion