Required SCOTUS Cases (Unit 3)

A freedom of speech case, answering the question of whether students can be punished for symbolic speech that could be controversial, and therefore disruptive to the education process. Students do not give up their rights when they come to school, the court ruled.

• Shaw v. Reno (1993)

• Schenck v. US. (1919)

• Engel v. Vitale (1963)

• Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

A 14th amendment EQUAL PROTECTION clause case, this case ignored the principle of "stare decisis", overturning an exiting precedent that said segregation with equal treatment is not unconstitutional. Segregating schools based on race violates the Constitution.

• Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

• Baker v. Carr (1961)

• Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

• Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

Feds ask for PRIOR RESTRAINT (ability to censor something before it is published) to stop publishing the Pentagon Papers. This freedom of the press case led to a ruling that the government may not censor information unless it revels secrets involving national security.

• NY Times v. U.S. (1971)

• Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

• Baker v. Carr (1961)

• Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Members of the Amish faith challenged a state law requiring all children be educated until the age of 16. Their use of the Free Exercise clause of the 1st amendment succeeded, allowing them to choose to leave school after the 8th grade.

• NY Times v. U.S. (1971)

• Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

• Baker v. Carr (1961)

• Engel v. Vitale (1962)

A security guard is banned by law from bringing his handgun home with him. SCOTUS rules a ban on handgun ownership violates the 2nd amendment. This case is an INCORPORATION case, meaning it extended the 2nd amendment onto states and cities with its decision.

• Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

• Engle v. Vitale (1962)

• Baker v. Carr (1961)

• McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

Determined that keeping people separate based on the color of their skin was not acceptable.

• Miranda v. Arizona
• Brown v. Board of Education
• Bush v. Gore
• Plessy v. Ferguson

Determined that individuals must be told of their rights. Confessions can be thrown out if not.

• In re Gault
• Gideon v. Wainwright
• Miranda v. Arizona
• D. C. v. Heller

A Freedom of Speech case, with a new SCOTUS standard/precedent claiming that words present a "clear and present danger" of criminal action can be punished by law. A man claiming "free speech" protection for telling others to avoid the draft loses and his conviction stands.

• Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

• Schenck v. US. (1919)

• Engel v. Vitale (1963)

• Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

Teachers begin each day by leading students in prayer, and parents object. They claim the school is violating the establishment clause of the first amendment. The SCOTUS agrees, ruling that since attendance in school is compulsory, kids are being subjected to undue influence to promote religion.

• Shaw v. Reno (1993)

• Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

• Engel v. Vitale (1963)

• McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

Determined that everyone was entitled to legal counsel regardless of their ability to pay.

• U.S. v. Nixon
• Bush v. Gore
• D.C. v. Heller
• Gideon v. Wainwright