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Marbury v. Madison
Supreme Court formed the basis for judicial review. William Marbury was appointed as justice of peace in DC by President John Adams, and he wanted to force Sec. of State James Madison to deliver the documents. John Marshall and the Supreme Court denied the petition and did not make Madison hand over the papers (by writ of mandamus) because the Judiciary Act of 1789 that enabled him to bring his case to the Supreme Court was unconstitutional itself. -
Fletcher v. Peck
First time S.C. ruled a state law unconstitutional.Georgia state legislature passed a land grant to private speculators. The following year, the legislature voided the law and declared all rights and claims under it to be invalid. In 1800, John Peck acquired land that was part of the original legislative grant. He then sold the land to Robert Fletcher later, claiming past sales of the land had been legitimate. Fletcher said original sale was invalid, so Peck could not sell the land legally. -
Dartmouth v. Woodward
President of Dartmouth College was deposed by its trustees, so New Hampshire legislature tried to make Dartmouth a public institution and the governor could appoint trustees. The SC upheld the sanctity of the original charter of the college, which pre-dated the creation of the State. The decision settled the nature of public versus private charters and resulted in the rise of the American business corporation and the free American enterprise system -
McCulloch v. Maryland
Maryland imposed a tax on all out-of-state banks, targeting the Second Bank of the United States. The SC invoked the Necessary and Proper Clause. The case established 2 principles in constitutional law: The Constitution grants Congress implied powers, and state action cannot overrule federal action. -
Gibbons v. Ogden
NY law gave 2 steambaoters the exclusive right to operate within state jurisdiction. Laws like these caused friction because out-of-state boaters would pay fees for navigation privileges, but NY granted a monopoly to some steamboaters. The question: Did the State of NY exercise Congress' authority (regulation of interstate commerce)? They ruled the NY law invalid (Supremacy Clause), regulation of steamboat navigation related to interstate matters was a power reserved to Congress. -
Worcester v. Georgia
This case ruled that a Georgia law prohibiting Native Americans from residing within the state without a license was unconsitutional. Relative to Andrew Jackson's Trail of Tears, the Supreme Court decided that Georgia, as a state, could not involve itself in the federal role of managing Native American affairs. -
Dred Scott v. Sandford
Dred Scott, a slave, lived in Illinois & Louisiana territory (free territory, slavery banned). Returned to Missouri, sued unsuccessfully for freedom. Issue: Was Scott a freed slave? The Supreme Court ruled Dred Scott was not an American citizen, so he could not sue in the first place. Taney (Chief) also ruled the Missouri Comprimise unconstitutional, hoping to ultimately end the question of slavery. -
Ex Parte Milligan
This case, argued immediately after the end of the Civil War, stated that applying military tribunals, or courts instituted by the military to try enemies, to civilians was unconstitutional. Specifically, trying civilians within a military tribunal was unscontituional when civilian courts were in operation. Essentially, the role of military jurisdiction within the United States was clarified in this case. -
Munn vs. Illinois
As farmers continued to fight for their rights within America during the late eighteen-hundreds, some of the legislation they helped to pass came under fire with various corporations. In this case, a law passed in Illinois that set maximum grain storage rates was questioned by the railroads, and eventually made its way to the Supreme Court. ,ultimately, the Supreme Court decided that the law would be upheld, defying the corporations and supporting the masses. -
United States v. Reynolds
Despite the Constitution's declaring that all citizens had freedom of religion, the Supreme Court edited this concept to their own use against the Mormons in United States v. Reynolds. In this case, the Supreme Court stated that polygamy was illegal and that although there was freedom of religion, it did not extend to protect religious practices. -
Civil Rights Cases
Decided during Reconstruction, this case stated that the federal government did not have the Constitutional authority to outlaw racial discrimination in private organizations. Clearly, this was a major setback for the Civil Rights movement, losing ground that would not be fully recovered until the 1960s. -
Wabash v. Illinois
Although the agriculturous found support in their cause in Munn v. Illinois, this is not the case for Wabash v. Illinois. Instead, the Supreme Court ruled that states (Illinois) could not regulate interstate commerce, regarding railroads. However, they did, in response to the protests of farmers, pass the Interstate Commerce Act and established the Interstate Commerce Commission, which experienced some minor successes. -
United States v. E.C. Knight Company
Although the Sherman Anti-Trust Act outlawed trusts and monopolies, the Supreme Court was able to manipulate the act in favor of the large corporations. When it was brought to the attention of the court that the E.C. Knight Company was operating in restraint of trade by owning more than 90% of the sugar industry, the Supreme Court claimed that their manufacturing did not restrain interstate trade, and thus was not in their jurisdiction. This made the Sherman Anti-Trust act essentially void. -
Pollock v. Farmers Loan and Trust Co.
In response to the Wilson-Gormon tariff, which was the first to introduce an income tax on the population, the Supreme Court ruled this portion of the legislation unconstitutional. They stated that the federal government could only impose this direct a tax on personal property if it were apportioned to the population of each state. -
In Re Debs
After the United States government arrested strike organizer Eugene V. Debs in relation to the Pullman strike, the Supreme Court decided to uphold this arrest in the case In Re Debs. Also, the Supreme Court made legal the use of injunctions against labor union, providing large corporations with yet another tool to utilize against the working class. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Standing as a landmark Supreme Court case, the result of Plessy v. Ferguson would resonate long throughout the first half of the 20th century. In this case, the Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation was Constitutional after an African American man questioned the status on seating of railroad cars. Although the court ruled against him, this case was beneficial to fueling racism further, with a "seperate but equal" policy enacted towards African Americans well throughout the nation. -
Insular Cases
Searching for guidance in how to responsed to the territories gained in the aftermath of the Spanish-America War, the United States sought out the Supreme Court for help. With a variety of cases regarding this issue, the Supreme Court was able to help guide America in their treatment of these territories. Essentially, these cases were criticial in determining the government's reaction to the gaining of these new lands. -
Northern Securities Co. v. United States
The Supreme Court upheld an antitrust suit against the Northern Securities Company, which was a railraod conglomerate. The leader was forced to disband his holding company and manage each railroad independently. This supports the "trust busting" attitude of the time. -
Lochner v. New York
This Supreme Court case overturned the New York law setting maximum working hours for bakery workers. The law said bakers could only work 10 hours a day and 60 hours a week. The Supreme Court rejected the argument that it was necessary to protect the health bof bakers, instead saying that it interfered with the right to contract. -
Muller vs. Oregon
With the intention of protecting women in the workforce, this Oregon law was upheld by the Supreme Court as completely Constitutional. It introduced a ten-hour workday for female workers in the state, and although it would later be overruled by the same Supreme Court that approved it, the law would prove crucial in future strides towards workers' rights. -
Loewe v. Lawlor
Also known as the Danbury Hatter's case, this case concerned application of antitrust laws to unions. the ruled that boycotts in support of strikes were a conspiracy in restraint of trade, and thus a violation of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. It also said that individual unionists could be held personally liable for damages incurred by their union. -
Standard Oil Co. v. United States
The Supreme Court finally ordered the dissolution of Standard Oil. They found Standard Oil guilty of monopolizing the petroleum industry through a series of anticompetitive and abusive actions. They geographically separated parts of the company to eventually become different firms. -
Hammer vs. Dagenhart
This Supreme Court case pertained to previously passed Keating-Owen Act, which banned child labor on interstate products. Unforunately, the Supreme Court overturned this act, proving a set back for those against child labor. Although they stated that states could pass laws against child labor, the federal government could not, frustrating anti-child labor advocates. -
Schenck v. United States
Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. justified repression in cases where a person's speech posed a "clear and present danger" to the nation. This supported convictions of war critics despite the First Amendment guarantee of free speech. -
Abrams vs. United States
In this case, Jacob Abrams and associates were arrested under the Sedition Act for their distribution of leaflets criticizing America's foreign policy. With the United States at war, the Supreme Court naturally decided against Abrams and his companions, using the Schenck case as the grounds for the decisions. -
Ozawa v. United States
Supreme Court denied citizenship to a Japanese-born university student. This court ruling underscored the nativist message, that they wanted immigrant restriction and only the "good" Europeans and some Latin Americans to be let through. -
Adkins vs. Children's Hospital
Decided in a pro-business, conservative time period, this case ultimately proved a set back for labor reform. Although minimum wage had been previously approved for women within the United States, this case overturned prior rulings and determined that minimum wage for women was unconstitutional. -
Buck v. Bell
The Supreme Court (Judge Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.) upheld Virginia's sterilization law, ruling that a state statute permitting compulsory sterilization of the unfit (including the mentally retarded) did not violate any laws. This decision is seen as supporting negative eugenics, the attempt of improving the human gene pool by eliminating 'defectives" -
Powell v. Alabama
Known as "The First Scottsboro" case, nine illiterate and young black men were charged with raping two white girls on a freight train passing through Alabama, and they were convicted by Alabama. The Supreme Court decided that due process was denied due process because they had little time to talk to their lawyers, surrounded by public hostilty, and in deadly peril of their lives. -
Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States
Schechter was indicted for disobeying one of the NIRA's codes of fair competition. The issue was whether or not the National Industrial Recovery Act, which gave the President the authority to regulate certain aspects of commerce during the Depression, was an unconstitutional delegation of presidential power. delegation of power made by the NIRA was unconstitutional. The Court held that Congress has the power to regulate interstate commerce, not the President. The NIRA was declared unconstitution -
United States v. Butler
Part of the 1933 Agricultural Adjustment Act included Congress implementing a tax on the processing of agricultural commodities, from which money could be redistributed to farmers who promised to reduce production. This intended to solve the crisis of overproduction and no market. The issue was whether Congress exceeded its power to tax for the general welfare by enacting the AAA. The Court decided the act was unconstitutional because it attempted to regulate and control agricultural production, -
National Labor Relations Board v. Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp.
National Labor Relations Board found that the Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation had violated the National Labor Relations act by firing ten employees because of union membership. The NLRB demanded the company stop discriminating against union members, the company refused. The issue was whether or not the National Labor Relations Act overstepped its means to regulate interstate commerce, and the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the NLRB. -
Smith vs. Allwright
Attitudes towards racial injustice were swiftly changing throughout much of the mid-twentieth century, with Smith vs. Allwright a clear example of this. In this case, the Supreme Court ruled against all-white primaries in Texas, lessening the obstacles blacks faced to vote. Decided while Amerca was heavily involved in World War Two, this case is a direct represenation of the response of the government to the pressure of promoting equality domestically, much to the benefit of oppressed blacks. -
Korematsu vs. United States
Korematsu vs. United States personalized the struggles of many Japanese facing internment during World War Two. Despite being a patriotic citizen, Korematsu, a Japanese-American, was arrested for refusing internment and would go on to plead his case to the Supreme Court. In response, the court ruled that in times of war, basic rights of citizens can be violated for security purposes. However, the decision, and the internment itself, was undoubtedly racially charged against the Japanese. -
Morgan v. Virginia
Irene Morgan boarded a bus and refused to give up her seat, insisting Virginia law did not apply to the interstate bus. Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP took on the case, and the Supreme Court agreed that since it was illegal for a state to forbid segregation, then it was likewise illegal for a state to require it. The ruling, while another defeat for segregation in law, did not have an immediate impact. -
Mendez vs. Westminster
Another case involving discrimination against Mexican Americans, the result of this ruling was similar to the Delgado case. Once again, segregation within public education was questioned, and the Supreme Court stated that "seperate but equal" facilities for Mexican Americans were unconstitutional. Clearly, African Americans were not the only ehtnic group fighting for their rights, but Mexican Americans were as well. -
Shelley v. Kraemer
The Supreme Court held that courts could not enforce racial covenants on real estate. The (black) Shelley family moved to a neighborhood where the majority signed a restrictive covenant saying no home would be sold to a black family, and this majority wanted to undo the sale. The Court held that the (racially) restrictive covenant was legal, but the enforcement by state court injunctions constitute state action in violation of the 14th Amendment. -
Delgado vs. Bastrop ISD
The Supreme Court decided within this case that segregation of children of Mexican descent throughout the public school system was illegal. Not only would this ruling establish a precedent for cases involving segregation in the future, but also highlighted the struggle of other ehtnic groups for their rights. -
Dennis v. United States
THe Supreme Court upheld the Smith Act's constitutionality, delcaring that Congress could curtail freedom of spech if national security required such restriction. The Smith Act of 1940 outlawed any conspiracy advocating the overthrow of the government. This case is significant because this justification of restriction of speech was used to prosecute 11 top leaders of the American Communist Party during the Second Red Scare. -
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
The Supreme Court declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional. It reversed the "Plessy v. Ferguson" case which allowed "separate but equal" segregation. The Warren Court decided that separate was actually unequal, and de jure segregation was ruled a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This decision was a major victory of the Civil Rights movement, leading the way to integration. -
Yates v US
the Supreme Court held that the 1st Amendment protected radical and reactionary speech unless it posed a "clear and present danger." 14 lower officials of the Communist Party USA (CPUSA) were charged w/ violating the Smith Act (made it unlawful to advocate/organize destruction of any US gov't). Court ruled to overturn convictions, construing Smith Act by stating organize" meant to form an organization, not take action on behalf of an organization. -
Watkins v US
The Supreme Court decided that the power of the United States Congress is not unlimited in conducting investigations, and that nothing in the U.S. Constitution gives it the authority to expose individuals' private affairs. Watkins, a labor organizer, agreed to describe his connections with the Communist Party (to HUAC), but refused to give info concerning individuals who left the party, claiming it was beyond HUAC's authority. The Due Process Clause invalidated tWatkin's conviction. -
Baker v Carr
Plaintiff Baker lived in Tennessee, whose Constitution required legislative districts be redrawn every 10 years to provide for idstricts of equal population, but they had not redistricted since 1901. The Court retreated from its political question doctrine, deciding that redistricting (attempts to change the way voting districts are delineated) issues present justiciable questions, enabling federal courts to intervene & to decide reapportionment cases. -
Engel v Vitale
The Court determined it is unconstitutional for state officials to compose an official school prayer and encourage its recitation in public schools. New York plaintiffs argued that opening the school day with such a prayer (contradicting their religious beliefs) violates the Establishment Clause of the 1st Amendment (no law should respect an establishment of religion). The Court ruled that gov't-written prayers were not to be recited in public schools. -
Gideon v. Wainwright
This liberal ruling yet again favored the rights of criminals under the law. The decision stated that, if a person cannot afford an attorney, then states are required to provide attorneys, financed by taxes, to the defendant. Regardless of the subject matter of the case, the Supreme Court ruled that Constitutional law granted the right to an attorney to all citizens, and financial status or other issues should not prevent someone from legal defense. Clearly, criminals' rights were extended. -
New York Times Co. v. Sullivan
Another liberal ruling, this case established a "malice standard" for public figures to be able to win law suits against the press for libel. This case strengthened the freedom of the press, in a time where previous restrictions had been placed on publications. -
Miranda vs. Arizona
Another extremely consequential case, Miranda vs. Arizona greatly expanded the rights of criminals within the United States. The ruling declared that the police must inform a suspect of their constitutional right to remain silent, as well as their right to have a counsel present during interrogation. Clearly, this case presented rights to criminals, a group usually ignored under the law. -
Loving v. Virginia
Loving v. Virginia would prove to be one of the most radical decisions of the time, considering it made the prohibtion of interracial marriages unconstitutional. No longer could people be barred from marriage on account of conflcting races, granting both whites, blacks, and other ethnicities the freedom to marry who they please. Not only did this case have significance for its time, but has also been applied to arguments made for same-sex marriage. -
Green v. County School Board of New Kent County
Within this case, which served as one of the multiple follow-ups to the momentous Brown vs. Board of Education ruling, the Supreme Court ruled New Kent County's "freedom of choice" desegregation plan unconstitutional. The Supreme Court ordered that this plan was unrealisitc and further strides must be made to defeat racial discrimination. -
Katzenbach v. Morgan
This case deeply impacted the rights of minorities within America, loosening the previously instated discrimnatory practices. Specfically, this case outlawed state requirements for English literacy for voters, allowing citizens with a limited background in English the opportunity to contribute to the United States' government. -
Roe v. Wade
Roe v. Wade is perhaps one of the most famous Supreme Court cases ever decided within American history, legalizing abortion throughout the United States. An incredible gain for the women's rights movement, this case allowed for women to make their own decisions regarding pregnancy and defied the previous norms for having children within society. Clearly, Roe v. Wade is one of the most influential Supreme Court rulings. -
Nixon vs. United States
Nixon v. United States would not only define Nixon's future presidency, but also contribute to his resignation from office. By refusing to turn over recordings of Oval Office conversations, Nixon forced the issue into the Supreme Court, which ultimately decided against him. They ruled that no president was entitled to "executive privilege", and despite their power, presidents were not above the law and expected to hand over evidence if required. -
University of California Regents v. Bakke
Bakke, a white man, was rejected both times he applied to the University of California Medical School at Davis. He was much better qualified than the minorities who were accepted because of the affirmative action program. The Court was divided in deciding that race could be one of the factors considered in choosing a diverse student body in university admissions decisions. However, the Court also held that the use of quotas in such affirmative action was discriminating against Bakke. -
Planned Parenthood v. Casey
Planned Parenthood v. Casey marked a conservatice shift in abortion rights; although a woman's right to an abortion was upheld, the court also determined restrictions on abortion as Constitutional. Clearly, the liberal tendencies of the Supreme Court had faded within the early nineties. -
Bush v. Gore
With the 2000 presidential election outcome having uncertain results, the government sought the Supreme Court's guidance in resolving the issue. The conflict stemmed from Gore's winning of the popular vote and Bush's "winning" of the Electoral College; although recounts had been conducted, the results still remained unclear. Ultimately, the Supreme Court decided to have Bush remain the elected President despite protests of unfair counting and manipulation of the political system. -
Hamdi v. Rumsfeld
This Supreme Court case, decided rather recently, ruled that while the government can detain enemy combatants, if the detainees are United States citizens, they have the right to due process of law. Also, they are allowed to challenge their status as an enemy combatant. This case was initiated after an American citizen native to Saudi Arabia (Hamdi) had been detained as an "illegal enemy combatant" after capture in Afghanistan.
