Landmark Supreme Court Cases (Chapters 7-12)

Front

Congress must consider present-day, rather than historical, discrimination when determining which states and localities require federal permission to change their voting laws.

Back

Shelby County v Holder, 2013

Front

Held that a law limiting contributions to political campaigns was constitutional but that one restricting candidates' expenditures of their own money was not.

Back

Buckley v Valeo, 1976

Front

Overturned part of a 2002 law that had prohibited corporate and union funding of campaign ads.

Back

Citizens United v Federal Election Commission, 2010

Front

The Constitution protects lobbying of Congress, but the government may require information from groups that try to influence legislation.

Back

United States v Harriss, 1954

Front

Upheld 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (popularly known as the McCain-Feingold law) prohibiting corporations and labor unions from running ads that mention candidates and their positions for 60 days before a federal general election.

Back

McConnell v Federal Election Commission, 2002

Front

Held that issue ads may not be prohibited before a primary or general election.

Back

Federal Election Commission v Wisconsin Right to Life, Inc., 2007

Front

Overturned aggregate limits on individual contributions to candidates and national parties.

Back

McCutcheon et al. v Federal Election Commission, 2014

Front

Freedom of the press applies to state governments, so that they cannot impose prior restraint on newspapers.

Back

Near v Minnesota, 1931

Front

A newspaper cannot be required to give someone a right to reply to one of its stories.

Back

Miami Herald v Tornillo, 1974

Front

Public officials may not win a libel suit unless they can prove that the statement was made knowing it to be false or with reckless disregard of its truth.

Back

New York Times v Sullivan, 1964