* - denotes one of the 14 required SCOTUS cases expected to be known and understood for the AP course and exam.
Hylton v. United States (1796)
ruled on taxation power; first time SCOTUS upheld constitutionality of a congressional law
established judicial review; ruled a congressional law unconstitutional
Fletcher v. Peck (1810)
first time SCOTUS ruled a state law unconstitutional
Martin v. Hunter's Lessee (1816)
first time SCOTUS asserted authority over state courts to rule on federal law
Dartmouth College v. Woodward (1819)
held New Hampshire's effort to rescind the Dartmouth College's charter as a private institution and convert it to a state university violated the Contracts Clause
Cohens v. Virginia (1821)
asserts SCOTUS authority over state laws in criminal law cases
Scott v. Sandford (1857)
ruled the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional under right to property through Fifth Amendment Due Process Clause; denied citizenship to Black Americans
Ashwander v. Tennessee Valley Authority (1936)
upheld the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) ; established parameters for judicial review
Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer (1952)
limited President's power by overturning seizure of private property
Clinton v. Jones (1997)
held the President does not possess immunity to civil litigation unrelated to the office
Trump v. United States (2024)
upheld absolute immunity of the President within use of powers
Chisolm v. Georgia (1793)
first significant SCOTUS cases ; upheld federal court jurisdiction in cases involving a state and citizen of another state
Ware v. Hylton (1796)
held the Treaty of Paris (1783) and other federal treaties take precedence over conflicting state laws (reinforced Supremacy Clause)
held the Bank of the United States as "necessary and proper" and Maryland cannot tax a federal institution per Supremacy Clause
Worcester v. Georgia (1832)
held Georgia's laws regulating intercourse between its citizens and the Cherokee Nation conflicted with federal jurisdiction and treaty power (reinforced Supremacy Clause)
Prigg v. Pennsylvania (1842)
upheld Fugitive Slave Act relative to state law (reinforced Supremacy Clause)
Ableman v. Booth (1859)
state courts cannot issue rulings contradictory to federal courts (reinforced Supremacy Clause)
Texas v. White (1869)
held the legislative acts and actions of Texas as part of the Confederacy were null and void in violation of the Supremacy Clause ; ruled states cannot unilaterally secede from the union in violation of the Admissions Clause ; determined Texas had remained a state of the Union during the period of insurgency
Missouri v. Holland (1920)
upheld federal power relative to states per treaty power (reinforced Supremacy Clause)
Cooper v. Aaron (1958)
held states must enforce Supreme Court decisions (reinforced Supremacy Clause)
Arizona v. United States (2012)
held Arizona state laws empowering local police to enforce federal immigration laws to deter undocumented immigration violated preemption of federal law (reinforced the Supremacy Clause) ; ruled Arizona law enforcement may inquire on legal status in lawful encounters
Printz v. United States (1997)
overturned Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act provision requiring chief law enforcement officer to conduct background checks (limited Necessary and Proper Clause)
United States v. Comstock (2010)
upheld federal civil commitment of a dangerous person beyond conclusion of sentence (reinforced Necessary and Proper Clause)
United States v. Kebodeaux (2013)
upheld Sex Offender Notification and Registration Act (reinforced Necessary and Proper Clause)
United States v. Butler (1936)
upheld Spending power of federal government for general welfare ; overturned Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) as violation of Tenth Amendment
Helvering v. Davis (1937)
upheld Social Security Act as part of Taxing and Spending power for the general welfare
South Dakota v. Dole (1987)
upheld federal conditions on funding to states ; upheld federal requirement for minimum drinking age for federal highway funding
Gibbons v. Ogden (1819)
ruled Congress has exclusive power to regulate interstate commerce ; broadened interstate commerce power to include navigation
United States v. E.C. Knight Company (1895)
ruled congressional regulation of manufacturing not part of interstate commerce power
Champion v. Ames (1903)
ruled trafficking lottery tickets subject to interstate commerce regulation
Hammer v. Dagenhart (1918)
Congress cannot regulate labor conditions through interstate commerce power ; overturned federal law regulating child labor
National Labor Relations Board v. Jones and Laughlin Steel (1937)
held Congress can regulate labor relations under the Commerce Clause ; ruled labor relations substantially affect interstate commerce ; upheld the National Labor Relations Board established under the National Labor Relations Act (Wagner Act) providing the right of collective bargaining
United States v. Darby (1941)
Congress can regulate labor conditions through interstate commerce power ; upheld constitutionality of Fair Labor Standards Act (federal minimum wage, 40-hour work week) ; overturned Hammer v. Dagenhart (1918)
Wickard v. Filburn (1942)
upheld Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) farm crop production quotas ; expanded interstate commerce power
Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States (1964)
ruled Congress can regulate private businesses to prohibit racial discrimination and segregation in public accommodations; upheld Civil Rights Act of 1964 ; expanded interstate commerce power
Katzenbach v. McClung (1964)
ruled Congress can regulate private restaurants to prohibit racial discrimination and segregation ; upheld Civil Rights Act of 1964 ; expanded interstate commerce power
overturned Gun-Free School Zones Act ; prohibiting gun possession in a school zone is not economic activity and no substantial effect on interstate commerce ; limited interstate commerce power
United States v. Morrison (2000)
overturned provisions of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) as indirect economic activity ; limited interstate commerce power
Gonzalez v. Raich (2005)
upheld federal criminalization of production and use of marijuana under Controlled Substance Act despite legalization by state law
National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius (2012)
upheld the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare") under the Taxing and Spending Power ; individual mandate not acceptable under the Commerce Clause
United States v. Reese (1876)
overturned provisions of the Enforcement Act of 1870 since the Fifteenth Amendment did not guarantee the right to vote, only that it prohibited discrimination based on race in voting ; opened the door for literacy tests, poll taxes, and grandfather clauses
Minor v. Happersett (1875)
SCOTUS ruled women are United States citizens but right to vote is not a guaranteed right of national citizenship ; overturned by Nineteenth Amendment
Guinn v. United States (1915)
overturned disenfranchising grandfather clauses as a violation of Fifteenth Amendment
Smith v. Allwright (1944)
overturned all-White primary elections as a violation of the Fifteenth Amendment and Fourteenth Amendment Equal Protection Clause
Katzenbach v. Morgan (1966)
upheld Voting Rights Act of 1965 provision on prohibiting literacy test requirements for voting
South Carolina v. Katzenbach (1966)
upheld federal preclearance provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 as enforcement of the Fifteenth Amendment ; intended to prevent enactment of literacy tests
Oregon v. Mitchell (1970)
held Congress lowering the voting age requirement from 21 to 18 in federal elections is constitutional, but ruled lowering the age requirement in state and local elections is unconstitutional
Shelby County v. Holder (2013)
overturned Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 as an outdated formula, violating state reserved powers to regulate voting and elections ; weakened Section 5 preclearance provisions of the VRA and the previous South Carolina v. Katzenbach
Crawford v. Marion County (2008)
upheld Indiana law requiring federal or state photo identification to vote ; not an undue burden on the right to vote as state police power to prevent voter fraud
Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee (2021)
held Arizona laws authorizing the discarding of ballots cast in the wrong precincts and prohibiting ballot harvesting are not violations of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act
Williams v. Rhodes (1968)
overturned strict state ballot access laws ; expanded opportunities for minor parties
California Democratic Party v. Jones (2000)
overturned California's blanket primary law as a violation of freedom of association
Chiafalo v. Washington (2020)
held states could enforce laws requiring electors fulfill pledges to candidates per Article II, Section 1 of the United States Constitution and the Twelfth Amendment
Bush v. Gore (2000)
overturned Florida recount procedures as violation of Equal Protection Clause ; ruled recount could not be done in time remaining ; led to George W. Bush being certified as President
Buckley v. Valeo (1976)
upheld limits on direct individual contributions to candidates to secure election intergrity; overturned limits on independent expenditures and candidate personal contributions as violation of First Amendment freedom of speech
Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce (1990)
upheld state election law restrictions on corporate contributions as a means to secure election integrity
Nixon v. Shrink Missouri Government PAC (2000)
applied federal campaign finance regulation in state elections in upholding direct individual contributions to state candidates
McConnell v. FEC (2003)
upheld provisions of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) / McCain-Feingold Act in restricting soft money contributions and electioneering communications as a means to secure election integrity
Randall v. Sorrell (2006)
overturned state limitations on direct individual contributions to state candidates as too restrictive
FEC v. Wisconsin Right to Life (2007)
upheld McCain-Feingold restriction on express ads by corporations in months prior to elections, but allowed issue advocacy commercials as free speech
overturned McCain-Feingold restriction on independent expenditures by special interest groups (corporations, unions, etc.) for issue advocacy as a violation of First Amendment freedom of speech ; resulted in the creation of SuperPAC
Arizona Free Enterprise Club's Freedom Club PAC v. Bennett (2011)
ruled Arizona's matching campaign funds policy limits political speech, violating the First Amendment freedom of speech
McCutcheon v. FEC (2014)
overturned the McCain-Feingold Act limit on two-year election cycle aggregate contributions in violation of the First Amendment freedom of speech
FEC v. Ted Cruz for Senate (2022)
held the McCain-Feingold Act limitation on repayment of candidate loans from political campaigns is a violation of Freedom of Speech
Colegrove v. Green (1946)
upheld Illinois congressional districts as the Court ruled redistricting was a political question and not subject to judicial review ; remedy should be sought by state legislatures and/or Congress
ruled congressional redistricting is subject to judicial review ; established foundation for "one person, one vote"
Wesberry v. Sanders (1964)
ruled Georgia's congressional districts must be drawn with roughy equal populations
Reynolds v. Sims (1964)
ruled state legislative districts must be drawn with roughly equal populations
Avery v. Midland County (1968)
ruled local districts must be drawn with roughly equal populations
Davis v. Bandemer (1986)
held political gerrymandering subject to judicial review, but did not find sufficient violation of the Equal Protection Clause
Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (2015)
upheld independent redistricting commissions
Gill v. Whitford (2018)
ruled plaintiffs lacked legal standing to challenge the alleged partisan gerrymandering
Rucho v. Common Cause (2019)
ruled partisan gerrymandering not subject to judicial review and is a political question for state legislatures and/or Congress to resolve
ruled racial gerrymandering unconstitutional in violation of the Equal Protection Clause as race cannot be applied as a primary or sole factor for creating majority-minority congressional districts
Miller v. Johnson (1995)
overturned Georgia's congressional redistricting plan in creating majority-minority districts based primarily on race
Bush v. Vera (1996)
overturned Texas's congressional redistricting plan in creating majority-minority districts based primarily on race
Alabama Legislative Black Caucus v. Alabama (2015)
ruled racial gerrymandering must be considered on a district-by-district basis rather than the state as a whole
Cooper v. Harris (2017)
overturned North Carolina congressional redistricting plan in creating majority-minority districts primarily on race
Luther v. Borden (1849)
held determining republican forms of government (Guarantee Clause) is a political question and not subject to judicial review
Powell v. McCormack (1969)
Held the House of Representatives cannot create additional qualifications for a House member beyond the constitutional requirements ; was a justiciable issue as it interpreted a constitutional provision and not settle a conflict between branches of government
U.S. Term Limits Inc. v. Thornton (1998)
ruled states cannot impose qualifications beyond constitutional requirements ; overturned state term limits on congressional members
United States v. Nixon (1974)
held executive privilege is not absolute in respects to criminal investigations ; concerned White House tapes linked to Watergate investigation
Goldwater v. Carter (1979)
held the President unilaterally terminating a defense treaty without Senate approval is a political question to be settled by Congress and the President ; not a justiciable issue ; resulted in President Jimmy Carter terminating a defense treaty with the Republic of China (Taiwan)
Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) v. Chadha (1983)
ruled the legislative veto unconstitutional as a violation of the Presentment Clause and separation of powers
Clinton v. City of New York (1998)
overturned the line-item veto as a violation of the Presentment Clause and separation of powers
Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co. v. Sawyer (1952)
overturned an executive order seizing private property claiming no specific executive power existed or based on any congressional statutory authority ; limiting executive authority in preserving separation of powers
Nixon v. United States (1993)
held impeachment procedures are not subject to judicial review, determining it a political question
Chevron USA v. Natural Resources Defense Council (1984)
courts must defer to administrative / bureaucratic agency interpretation of a law or statute in the absence of congressional clarity or appropriately delegated to the agency ; established Chevron deference doctrine, reinforcing discretionary authority
Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo (2024)
assigned the determination in interpreting congressional law for administrative / bureaucratic agencies to federal courts in lieu of deferring to agency interpretation ; overturned Chevron v. National Resources Defense Council
Barron v. Baltimore (1833)
held the Bill of Rights applies only to the federal government and not the states
United States v. Cruikshank (1876)
held the Freedom of Assembly of the First Amendment and the Second Amendment only apply to the federal government and not to the states or private individuals
Talton v. Mayes (1896)
held the Bill of Rights are not applicable to tribal governments ;
decision severely limited by Civil Rights Act of 1968 extending Bill of Rights to tribal governments
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Co. v. Chicago (1897)
incorporated just compensation of the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the states
Gitlow v. New York (1925)
incorporated the Freedom of Speech Clause of the First Amendment to the states
De Jonge v. Oregon (1937)
incorporated the Freedom of Assembly Clause of the First Amendment to the states
Cantwell v. Connecticut (1940)
incorporated the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the states
Adamson v. California (1947)
ruled against incorporating the Self-Incrimination Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the states
Everson v. Board of Education (1947)
incorporated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the states
Wolf v. Colorado (1949)
held the exclusionary rule of the Fourth Amendment was not applicable to the states
Robinson v. California (1962)
incorporated the Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clause of the Eighth Amendment to the states
Edwards v. South Carolina (1963)
incorporated Petition Clause of the First Amendment to the states
Malloy v. Hogan (1964)
incorporated the Self-Incrimination Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the states ; overturned Adamson v. California
Pointer v. Texas (1965)
incorporated the Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment to the states
Klopfer v. North Carolina (1967)
incoporated the Speedy Trial Clause of the Sixth Amendment to the states
Duncan v. Louisiana (1968)
incorporated the Trial by Impartial Jury Clause of the Sixth Amendment to the states
Benton v. Maryland (1969)
incorporated Double Jeopard Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the states
incorporated the Second Amendment to the states ; applied the individual right to firearms to states
Timbs v. Indiana (2019)
incorporated Excessive Fines Clause of the Eighth Amendment to the states
held school-led prayers in public schools violated the Establishment Clause
Abington School District v. Schempp (1963)
held a Pennsylvania law requiring pubilc schools to read from the Bible at the opening of each school day violated the Establishment Clause
Epperson v. Arkansas (1968)
held an Arkansas state law prohibiting the teaching of the theory of evolution as a violation of the Establishment Clause
Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971)
overturned state statutes allocating funding for non-public, non-secular schools as a violation of the Establishment Clause ; established the Lemon Test for statutes: 1. secular purpose, 2. primary effect cannot endorse or advance religion, 3. no excessive entanglement of government with religion
Stone v. Graham (1980)
overturned Kentucky law requiring the posting of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms as a violation of the Establishment Clause
Marsh v. Chambers (1983)
upheld the Nebraska state legislature's chaplaincy practice in offering prayers in the beginning of a legislative session ; did not violate the Establishment Clause as it was a traditional practice
Mueller v. Allen (1983)
upheld a Minnesota state law allowing tax deductions for primary and secondary school expenses at a parochial school ; ruled no violation of Establishment Clause as it did not advance any religion or excessively entangle the state in religion
Lynch v. Donnelly (1984)
upheld the inclusion of a nativity scene display in the city's shopping district ; did not violate the Establishment Clause and ruled it served a secular purpose as part of the holiday season
Wallace v. Jaffree (1985)
overturned Alabama state law authorizing regular prayer and meditation services in classrooms during the school day ; violated the Establishment Clause as endorsing religion
Edwards v. Aguillard (1987)
held a Louisiana state law requiring the dual instruction of the theory of evolution and creation science violated the Establishment Clause
County of Allegheny v. ACLU (1989)
held a Christian nativity scene in the county courthouse violated the Establishment Clause as a clear endorsement of religion ; held a Jewish menorah display outside of the City-County building did not violate the Establishment Clause given its placement with other displays
Westside v. Mergens (1990)
overturned a public school district's denial of a group of students to form an after-school Christian club as it would not result in an endorsement of religion
Lee v. Weisman (1992)
ruled public schools inviting clergy to speak and offer prayers at public school functions and ceremonies violated the Establishment Clause
Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe (2000)
overturned a public school district policy allowing student-led, student-initiated prayer at football games as a violation of the Establishment Clause
Zelman v. Simmons-Harris (2002)
upheld a state voucher program for public and private school, including parochial schools ; ruled it did not violate the Establishment Clause as the purpose was for educational opportunities and not endorsement of religion
Van Orden v. Perry (2005)
ruled a Ten Commandments monument on Texas state capitol grounds did not violate the Establishment Clause
McCreary County v. ACLU (2005)
ruled framed Ten Commandments displayed in county courthouses and public schools violated the Establishment Clause for endorsing and advancing religion
Town of Greece v. Galloway (2014)
held prayers conducted prior to town meetings did not violate the Establishment Clause as they were a traditional practice in similar legislative venues
The American Legion v. American Humanist Association (2019)
ruled a Maryland county allocating funds for maintenance and care for a 40-foot cross on acquired land did not violate the Establishment Clause as the cross has a historical purpose
Kennedy v. Bremerton (2022)
ruled the Establishment Clause does not allow a government body to suppress free exercise of religious expression ; virtually overturned the Lemon Test established in Lemon v. Kurtzman
Reynolds v. Sims (1878)
held religious belief cannot be regulated but religious practice can be regulated ; ruled religious practice of polygamy can be prohibited by law based on tradition of marriage
Sherbert v. Verner (1963)
ruled the state must prove a compelling interest to deny unemployment compensation for termination due to conflict with religious practices ; established the Sherbert Test for free exercise of religion: 1. establish a government burden on the free exercise of religion, 2. state must demonstrate a compelling interest in burdening the free exercise of religion, 3. state must demonstrate its burden is narrowly tailored
held the Wisconsin state compulsory education laws requiring attendance past the 8th grade interfered with the religious upbringing of Amish children as a violation of the Free Exercise Clause
McDaniel v. Paty (1978)
overturned a Tennessee statute prohibiting clergy members from serving as state legislators as a violation of the Free Exercise Clause
Thomas v. Review Board of Indiana (1981)
held Indiana's denial of unemployment benefits to an individual who quit due to a religious conflict with an employer's manufacturing of weapons violated the Free Exercise Clause
Goldman v. Weinberger (1986)
ruled a United States Air Force regulation prohibiting a Jewish officer from wearing his yarmulke did not violate the Free Exercise Clause
O'lone v. Estate of Shabazz (1987)
ruled a state prison regulations did not violate the Free Exercise Clause in depriving access to religious services due to legitimate penological interests
Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association (1988)
ruled the construction of a United States Forest Service road through sacred lands of Indigenous tribes did not violate the Free Exercise Clause
Oregon v. Smith (1990)
upheld the state's denial of unemployment benefits to workers terminated for the use of peyote as part of their religious practices ; led to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA)
Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye v. Hialeah (1993)
overturned a city ordinance prohibiting the ritual slaughter of animals as a violation of the Free Exercise Clause
City of Boerne v. Flores (1997)
held the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) exceeded Congress's authority applying enforcement to the states, violating Section 5 of the Fourteenth Amendment ; upheld denial of building permit to a Catholic Church to expand
Gonzales v. O Centro Espírita Beneficente União do Vegetal (2006)
held the federal government did not provide a compelling interest in regulating the church's use of Schedule I drug for religious purposes
Burwell v. Hobby Lobby (2014)
ruled a federal contraceptive mandate on privately-held for-profit companies violated the Free Exercise Clause
Holt v. Hobbs (2015)
ruled an Arkansas state prison grooming policy violated the Free Exercise Clause in preventing an inmate from growing a beard for religious purposes
Fulton v. City of Philadelphia (2021)
held the City of Philadelphia's refusal to renew the contract of Catholic Social Services unless they agreed to certify same-sex married couples as foster parents violated the Free Exercise Clause
Kennedy v. Bremerton (2022)
ruled the Establishment Clause does not allow a government body to suppress free exercise of religious expression ; virtually overturned the Lemon Test established in Lemon v. Kurtzman
Mahmoud v. Taylor (2025)
held schools not permitting parental opt-outs for children from LGBTQ-inclusive topics and instruction on gender and sexuality violated the Free Exercise Clause
upheld conviction of criticism of the draft under the Espionage Act of 1917 as not protected free speech ; established the "clear and present danger" doctrine
Abrams v. United States (1919)
upheld conviction of criticism of war production efforts under the Sedition Act of 1918 as not protected free speech
Debs v. United States (1919)
upheld conviction of Euegene V. Debs for advocating against the draft and recruitment efforts under the Espionage Act of 1917 as not protected free speech
Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire (1942)
held the use of "fighting words" could be used to advocate for a breach of peace and not protected free speech
Terminiello v. Chicago (1949)
overturned Chicago's breach of peace ordinance that banned speech "that stirs public to anger, invites dispute, or creates a disturbance" as a violation of Freedom of Speech
Dennis v. United States (1951)
upheld convictions of Communist Party members under the Smith Act prohibiting the teaching and advocacy for the violent overthrow or destruction of the United States government
Yates v. United States (1957)
overturned convictions under the Smith Act as advocacy of principles and beliefs are protected free speech whereas advocacy of action is not
Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969)
ruled Ohio's criminal syndicalism statute prohibiting the advocacy of violence violated Freedom of Speech ; established the doctrine of "imminent lawless action"
Cohen v. California (1971)
held a the state cannot punish individuals for expressing offensive or vulgar language in public spaces unless it incites imminent lawless action ; ruled "&%#! the Draft" on a jacket as protected speech
Miller v. California (1973)
held obscenity is defined as 1. appealing to prurient interest based on community standards, 2. describes or depicts sexual conduct or excretory functions in an offensive way, 3. lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value ; establisged the Miller Test of obscenity
NAACP v. Claiborne Hardware Co. (1983)
held states could not prohibit the peaceful advocacy of a politically motivated boycott
McIntyre v. Ohio Elections Commission (1995)
held anonymous distribution of campaign literature is protected under Freedom of Speech
Reno v. ACLU (1997)
held the anti-indecency provisions of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 violated Freedom of Speech ; entitled the internet to full protection of the First Amendment provided to other forms of media
Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project (2010)
upheld PATRIOT Act prohibition of non-violent material support to terrorist organizations as not protected free speech
Packingham v. North Carolina (2017)
held a North Carolina law prohibiting registered sex offenders from accessing various websites where minors are known to be active violates Freedom of Speech
West Virginia v. Barnette (1943)
held public schools compelling students to salute the American flag or recite the Pledge of Allegiance as a violation of Freedom of Speech
Brown v. Louisiana (1966)
held a silent sit-in demonstration in a public library is protected symbolic speech
United States v. O'Brien (1968)
held the willful destruction of draft cards in violation of the Selective Service Act as a form of protest is not protected symbolic speech
held public school administrators cannot censor student expression unless they can reasonably forecast it will substantially disrupt school operations and learning environment ; ruled students could wear black armbands in school as a form of silent protest against the Vietnam War ; "It can hardly be argued that either students or teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate."
Spence v. Washington (1974)
overturned a Washington state statute prohibiting the display of the American flag with decorations affixed to it as a violation of protected symbolic speech ; established the Spence Test for non-verbal communication: 1. intent to convey a particularized message, 2. message would be understood by those who viewed it
National Socialist Party of America v. Skokie (1977)
ruled a city could not simply refuse a permit to groups due to the unpopular, offensive, or hateful content (such as marching with swastikas)
Bethel v. Fraser (1986)
upheld a public school's disciplinary action of a student's speech that included lewd language as unprotected free speech as a means to promote the fundamental values of public school education
Texas v. Johnson (1989)
held burning the American flag as a form of protest is protected as Freedom of Speech
United States v. Eichman (1990)
held the federal Flag Protection Act of 1989 violated Freedom of Speech when applied to a political protestor burning the American flag on the steps of the U.S. Capitol
R.A.V. v. City of St. Paul (1992)
overturned a city ordinance criminalizing forms of expression intended to cause outrage, alarm, anger with respect to racial, gender, or religious intolerance (such as a burning cross or swastika) violated Freedom of Speech as viewpoint discrimination
Lamb's Chapel v. Center Moriches Union Free School District (1993)
held the school district's denial of accessing a public school to present films with a religious viewpoint during non-school hours and open to the public violates Freedom of Speech
City of Ladeu v. Gilleo (1994)
overturned a city ordinance broadly restricting political, personal, religious messages on signs displayed from homes as a violation of Free Speech
Hurley v. Irish-American GLIB (1995)
held private organizations may not be compelled by the state to include groups in a public demonstration who convey a message contrary to the organizer's message in protecting their free speech
Morse v. Frederick (2007)
a student's banner message that included illegal drug use during a school-sponsored event is not protected symbolic speech
Snyder v. Phelps (2011)
held speech on a public concern in a public venue cannot be held liable for intentional infliction of emotional distress
Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association (2011)
held state laws banning the sale of violent video games to children without parental supervision violate Freedom of Speech
United States v. Alvarez (2012)
overturned the Stolen Valor Act of 2005 prohibiting false statements of receiving military medals as a violation of Freedom of Speech
Janus v. AFSCME (2018)
held public sector unions cannot extract agency fees from non-union members as a violation of Freedom of Speech
Mahoney v. B.L. (2021)
held off-campus speech of a student-cheerleader making generally critical comments with vulgarity in a private social media setting is protected free speech
303 Creative LLC v. Elenis (2023)
held Colorado's enforcement of its anti-discrimination violates Freedom of Speech in compelling a private business owner to make expressions contrary to their beliefs ; ruled a graphic design firm may refuse to make same-sex wedding sites according to the owner's religious beliefs
Near v. Minnesota (1931)
held prior restraint by the government on publications is a violation of Freedom of the Press ; explained government may justify prior restraint on publications with crucial military information or obscenity or incites violence
Grosjean v. American Press Co. (1936)
held a targeted sales tax on newspapers critical of public figures violated Freedom of the Press ; ruled the special tax interfered with the press as a "vital source of public information"
New York Times v. Sullivan (1964)
held newspapers may not be held liable in libel cases of public figures unless proven to be made with actual malice
held the government must demonstrate "grave and irreparable" danger to exercise prior restraint ; allowed publication of the Pentagon Papers
Miami Herald v. Tornillo (1974)
held a Florida state law granting a right to reply and equal access to political figures and candidates to newspaper editorials violated Freedom of the Press
FCC v. Pacifica Foundation (1978)
held broadcast media (e.g. television, radio) subject to limited protection of free speech due to its pervasive nature ; ruled in favor of the FCC to regulate indecency such as George Carlin's "Filthy Words" monologue over radio broadcasts
Hustler Magazine v. Falwell (1988)
held published parodies of public figures including those intended to cause emotional distress are protected under Freedom of the Press
Hazelwood v. Kulhmeier (1988)
held public school administrators may censor school-sponsored publications (e.g. newspapers) if determined not to be valid to the educational purpose
De Jonge v. Oregon (1937)
held an individual participating in a peaceful meeting with an organization that advocates for unlawful acts is protected Freedom of Assembly ; incorporated the Freedom of Assembly Clause of the First Amendment to the states
NAACP v. Alabama (1958)
held Alabama's demand for lists of members violated the freedom of association, particularly to organizations dedicated to the advancement of beliefs and ideas
Roberts v. United States Jaycees (1984)
upheld a Minnesota state anti-discrimination law prohibiting exclusion of a member based on sex in a private organization
Boy Scouts of America v. Dale (2000)
held the freedom of association allowed the Boy Scouts of America to exclude a homosexual person from membership despite the state's anti-discrimination law
California Motor Transport Co. v. Trucking Unlimited (1972)
held the Freedom of Petition applies to the legislative branch, executive branch, and judicial branch
McDonald v. Smith (1985)
held the Freedom of Petition is not absolute and does not protect from libelous and damaging falsehoods in petitions to government officials
United States v. Miller (1939)
held the Second Amendment does not grant an individual a right to a sawed-off shotgun as it has no connection to militia service ; upheld the National Firearms Act of 1934 in regulating certain firearms
D.C. v. Heller (2008)
held the Second Amendment guaranteed an individual the right to possess a firearm for lawful purposes such as self-defense
McDonald v. Chicago (2010)*
held the Second Amendment guaranteed an individual the right to possess a firearm for lawful purposes such as self-defense as applied to the states
New York State Rifle & Pistol Assn. v. Bruen (2022)
held New York state law requiring a special reason to carry a firearm in public violates the Second Amendment guarantee for self-defense
United States v. Rahimi (2024)
held an individual with a civil domestic violence restraining order may be restricted from possessing a firearm
Wong Sun v. United States (1963)
held verbal and physical evidence acquired from an illegal search and seizure are inadmissible as "fruits of the poisonous tree"
Mapp v. Ohio (1966)
held the Fourth Amendment prohibits evidence illegally obtained in an unlawful search, reinforcing the exclusionary rule ; incorporated the exclusionary rule to the states
Katz v. United States (1967)
held protection from unreasonable search and seizure extends to any area with a reasonable expectation of privacy
Terry v. Ohio (1968)
held police may "stop and frisk" an individual based on a reasonable suspicion the individual is presently armed and dangerous or committed, committing, or about to commit a crime ; established precedent for "Terry stops"
Payton v. New York (1980)
held a police officer entering a home without a warrant or under exigent circumstances to make a routine felony arrest violated the Fourth Amendment
Nix v. Williams (1984)
held evidence admissable as part of the "inevitable discovery" exception to the exclusionary rule of the Fourth Amendment
United States v. Leon (1984)
held evidence seized based on a mistakenly issued warrant may be admissible based on a "good faith" exception to the exclusionary rule of the Fourth Amendment
New Jersey v. T. L. O. (1985)
held public school students may be subject to administrative searches based on a reasonable suspicion and not probable cause
O'Connor v. Ortega (1987)
held government / public employees may be subject to administrative searches based on a reasonable suspicion and not probable cause
Murray v. United States (1988)
held evidence excluded under the Fourth Amendment is admissible if it comes from an independent source ; established the "independent source doctrine"
Horton v. California (1990)
held warrantless seizures of evidence inadvertently discovered in plain view ; clarified the plain view doctrine through the Horton Test: 1. officer was lawfully present, 2. officer has lawful access to object, 3. incriminating character of object immediately apparent
Pottawatomie v. Earls (2002)
held school district's compulsory student drug testing policy for participation in extracurricular activities did not violate the Fourth Amendment
Brigham City v. Stuart (2006)
held law enforcement may enter a home without a warrant under exigent circumstances of reasonable assumption occupant is severely injured or severe injury is imminent
United States v. Jones (2012)
held law enforcement attaching a GPS tracking device to a person's vehicle and monitor the vehicle's movements require a search warrant
Maryland v. King (2013)
held the collection of DNA evidence from a cheek swab as part of a probable cause arrest and detainment is a legitimate police procedure under the Fourth Amendment
Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
held law enforcement is required to inform a suspect of their right to remain silent and right to an attorney prior to interrogation per the Fifth Amendment
New York v. Quarles (1984)
held a "public safety exception" existed for law enforcement failing to inform a suspect of their Miranda rights
Salinas v. Texas (2013)
held the Fifth Amendment's protection from self-incrimination does not extend to suspects remaining mute during questioning, they must explicitly invoke their rights
Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council (1992)
held the government depriving all economic beneficial use of property constitutes a taking
Kelo v. City of New London (2005)
held the government taking private property from an individual and giving it to another private individual for public use is constitutional
Horne v. Department of Agriculture (2015)
held government seizure of personal property without just compensation is a violation of the Taking Clause of the Fifth Amendment
Barker v. Wingo (1972)
held determinations of a violation of a speedy trial must be done on a case-by-case basis ; established the Balancing Test: 1. length of delay, 2. reason for the delay, 3. time and manner defendant asserted the right, 4. degree of prejudice to the defendant which delay has caused
Ramos v. Louisiana (2020)
held the Sixth Amendment requires guilty verdicts be unanimous in crominal trials
Taylor v. Louisiana (1975)
held the Sixth Amendment requires a jury reflect a cross-section of the community ; overturned a law excluding women from serving on juries
Pointer v. Texas (1965)
held the Sixth Amendment required a defendant the opportunity to confront and cross-examine witnesses
Powell v. Alabama (1932)
held the Sixth Amendment requires local and state law enforcement to inform a defendant charged with a capital crime of their right to counsel, appoint a counsel if they cannot afford one, and provide adequate time for counsel to prepare for trial
Betts v. Brady (1942)
held the right to counsel applied only to federal courts and not to state criminal courts ; overturned by Gideon v. Wainwright
ruled defendants are entitled to 6th Amendment guarantee of legal counsel if they cannot afford one
Escobedo v. Illinois (1964)
held the Sixth Amendment requires the presence of counsel during police interrogations
In re Gault (1967)
ruled minors are entitled to constitutional guarantees and due process
Argersinger v. Hamlin (1972)
held the right to counsel of the Sixth Amendment extends to sentencing trial
Furman v. Georgia (1972)
held the arbitrary and inconsistent imposition of the death penalty constitutes cruel and unusual punishment ; led to a moratorium on capital punishment enforcement
Gregg v. Georgia (1976)
held the death penalty is constitutional if the capital sentencing process provides standards and appellate review procedures
Coker v. Georgia (1977)
held the state could not impose a death penalty sentence for convictions of rape
Roper v. Simmons (2005)
held the death penalty may not be imposed on juvenile offenders ; overturned Stanford v. Kentucky
Bucklew v. Precythe (2019)
held the Eighth Amendment does not guarantee a painless death ; reinforced the burden of proof on the prisoner to provide an alternative method
Grants Pass v. Johnson (2024)
held a city ordinance prohibiting homeless people sleeping in parks or on the streets despite crowded shelters is not a form of cruel and unusual punishment
Lochner v. New York (1903)
held New York's legislation on maximum working hours violated the freedom of contract, establishing a fundamental right to contract ; launched the Lochner Era of SCOTUS decisions limiting or overturning federal and state regulations on working conditions and business operations
Muller v. Oregon (1908)
held the state's regulation of maximum working hours was a constitutional regulation of the liberty of contract as part of the state's police power to protect the welfare and health of women
Adkins v. Children's Hospital (1923)
held a minimum wage law for women and children in the District of Columbia as a violation of the right to contract
West Coast Hotel v. Parrish (1937)
held Washington's state minimum wage law was a constitutional regulation on liberty as part of the state's compelling interest to ensure health and welfare ; overturned Adkins v. Children's Hospital ; ended the Lochner Era in no longer recognizing a right to contract as a fundamental liberty
Jacobson v. Massachusetts (1905)
held Massachusetts's compulsory vaccination laws constitutional as the state's police power to protect public health and safety
Buck v. Bell (1927)
held Virginia's state statute permitting compulsory sterilization of unfit and intellectually disabled persons constitutional as the state's police power to protect public health and safety ; severely weakened by the American Disabilities Act of 1990
Skinner v. Oklahoma (1942)
held Oklahoma's state statute permitting sterilization of "habitual criminals" violated the Equal Protection Clause ; weakened precedent in Buck v. Bell
Griswold v. Connecticut (1965)
held Connecticut's state statute forbidding the use of contraceptives between married couples violates the right to marital privacy ; established right to privacy as a fundamental liberty through the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment
Eisenstadt v. Baird (1972)
held Massachussetts's state statute forbidding the use of contraceptives between unmarried couples violates the right to privacy
Cruzan v. Missouri (1990)
held the state must recognize the right to refuse medical treatment but can require "clear and convincing" evidence of the patient's wishes to refuse treatment
Washington v. Glucksberg (1997)
held a right to assisted suicide is not a fundamental liberty guaranteed by the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment
Lawrence v. Texas (2003)
held the state's anti-sodomy laws violate the right to privacy between two consenting adults ; ruled the law violated the private homosexual activity between consenting adults ; overturned Bowers v. Hardwick
Roe v. Wade (1973)
established the right an abortion prior to fetal viability as a right to privacy per the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment ; ruled state has compelling interest to protect woman's health and fetus at later stages in establishing a trimester framework
Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992)
modified the right to an abortion from the trimester framework to an undue burden test
Gonzalez v. Carhart (2007)
upheld the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act as it does not pose an undue burden for a specific procedure ; made an exception if the woman's life was at risk
Whole Women Health v. Hellerstedt (2016)
held Texas state law restrictions on admitting privileges and surgical centers constitute an undue burden on abortion access
Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health (2022)
overturned the right to an abortion established in Roe v. Wade as the right was not "deeply rooted in...history and tradition" and therefore not a fundamental liberty through the Due Process Clause
Loving v. Virginia (1967)
overturned miscegenation laws as a violation of the Equal Protection Clause ; established marriage as a fundamental liberty through the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment
United States v. Windsor (2013)
ruled the federal government must recognize same-sex marriages under the Equal Protection Clause ; overturned provisions of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)
Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)
ruled states must recognize same-sex marriages under the Equal Protection Clause
Meyer v. Nebraska (1923)
held a state law banning the teaching of a foreign language in elementary school violated the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment
Pierce v. Society of Sisters (1925)
held the state could not compel a child to exclusively enroll in public schools ; ruled parents have the fundamental right to direct their child's education
United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898)
affirmed birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to immigrant parents
Insular Cases (1901-1914)
inhabitants of unincorporated American territories do not have full constitutional guarantees ; "the Constitution does not necessarily follow the flag"
Slaughter-House Cases (1873)
ruled privileges and immunities are guaranteed for national citizenship and not state citizenship
The Civil Rights Cases (1883)
held the Thirteenth Amendment and the Fourteenth Amendment did not empower Congress to prohibit racial discrimination by private actors
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
upheld Jim Crow laws enacting racial segregation in public accommodations ; established "separate but equal" doctrine
state-based racial segregation prohibited in public schools ; overturned "separate but equal" doctrine
Bolling v. Sharpe (1954)
federal-based racial segregation prohibited in public schools ; applied equal protection principles to Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment
Hernandez v. Texas (1954)
held the Equal Protection Clause extends beyond White and Black to all legally identifiable racial and nationality groups and classifications ; applied directly to Mexican-Americans in the case
Runyon v. McCrary (1976)
private schools could not discriminate based on race
Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education (1971)
upheld use of busing and redistricting to enforce racial desegregation of public schools
Milliken v. Bradley (1974)
overturned multi-district desegregation policies across the Detroit metropolitan area
San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez (1973)
held the financing system of Texas public schools does not violate the Equal Protection Clause ; explained no fundamental right to education to apply strict scrutiny to the case
Williams v. Davis (1976)
upheld District of Columbia police recruitment policies and did not have intent of racial discrimination and did not violate the Equal Protection Clause
Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1 (2007)
held the Seattle School District violated the Equal Protection Clause for primarily using race as part of decision to determine student placement and achieve diversity in student populations
Regents of University of California v. Bakke (1978)
ruled racial quotas for college admissions unconstitutional as violation of Equal Protection Clause ; ruled race can be a factor for admissions
Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard / University of North Carolina (2023)
overturned race-conscious admissions policies as a violation of Equal Protection Clause ; ended race-based affirmative action policies in college admissions
Reed v. Reed (1971)
overturned Idaho state law giving preference to males over females as administrators of estates as a violation of the Equal Protection Clause
Phillips v. Martin Marietta Corp. (1971)
held Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited employers, in the absence of business necessity, from refusing to hiring women with pre-school children when hiring men with pre-school children
Frontiero v. Richardson (1973)
overturned policy discriminating military spousal dependents
Craig v. Boren (1976)
overturned an Oklahoma state statute prohibiting sale of alcoholic beverages to males 21 and over and females 18 and over ; established intermediate scrutiny as standard of review for gender discrimination
Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson (1986)
upheld Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include "hostile working environment" as part of prohibiting discrimination based on sex
United States v. Virginia (1996)
ruled Virginia Military Institute's male-only admissions policy violated the Equal Protection Clause
Bostock v. Clayton County (2020)
upheld Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation
Chae Chan Ping v. United States (1889)
upheld congressional authority on immigration leading to harming of individual status despite previous policies ; established plenary power doctrine in granting near-absolute sovereign authority on immigration to Congress and President
Fong Yue Ting v. United States (1893)
ruled the federal government could deport non-citizens without a full trial since the process is an administrative action and not criminal procedure
Plyler v. Doe (1982)
overturned Texas state law banning public education to undocumented immigrant children as a violation of the Equal Protection Clause
Korematsu v. United States (1944)
upheld Executive Order 9066 on the internment of Japanese nationals and Japanese-American citizens as a means of national security during World War II
Trump v. Hawaii (2018)
upheld travel restrictions for foreign nationals from predominantly Muslim nations as part of executive authority on immigration and did not violate Establishment Clause