Chisolm vs Georgia
Citizens of one state have the right to sue another state in federal court.
Marbury vs Madison
(Marshall). The court established its role as the arbiter of the constitutionality of federal laws (can declare federal laws unconstitutional). Judicial review
Fletcher vs Peck
(Marshall). Courts can declare state laws unconstitutional
McCulloch vs Maryland
(Marshall). States cannot tax the federal government(US bank). Federal government is supreme to the states(supremecy clause). confirmed the constitutionality of the BUS.
Dartmouth College vs Woodward
(Marshall). Charter protected under the contract clause of the U.S. Constitution; upholds the sanctity of contracts
Cohens vs Virginia
This case upheld the Supreme Court's jurisdiction to review the state court's decision where the case involved breaking federal laws.
Johnson vs McIntosh
(marshall). Established that Indian tribes had the rights to tribal lands that preceded all other American law; only the federal government could take land from the tribes
Gibbons vs Ogden
(marshall). Clarified the commerce clause and affirmed congressional power over interstate commerce
Cherokee Nation vs Georgia
(marshall). Established a "trust relationship" with the tribes directly under federal authority
Worcester vs Georgia
(marshall). Established tribal autonomy within their boundaries. Distinct political communities, and Georgia cannot take Cherokee land.
Charles River Bridge vs Warren Bridge
(taney). Courts ruled that the interests of the community are more important than the interests of business; the supremacy clause of society's interests over private interests; public rights more important than individual property rights(opposite of dartm
Commonwealth vs Hunt
Declared that labor unions were lawful organizations and that the strike was a lawful weapon
Scott vs Sanford
(taney). Congress had no power to prohibit slavery in a territory, thus declaring the Missouri Compromise of 1820 unconstitutional
Ex Parte Merryman
A person cannot be denied a writ of habeas corpus if arrested; Lincoln maintained such denial was proper if public safety was threatened
Ex Parte Milligan
Ruled that a civilian cannot be tried in military courts while civil courts are available
Texas vs White
States cannot secede from the Union
Civil Rights Case of 1883
Legalized segregation with regard to private property
Munn vs Illinois
Uphled state-passed Granger laws
Wabash, St. Louis, and Pacific Railway Co. vs Illinois
Declared state-passed Granger laws that regulated interstate commerce unconstitutional. Overturned Munn
Pollock vs The Farmers' Loan and Trust Co.
Declared the income tax under the Wilson-Gorman Tariff unconstitutional
US vs E.C. Knight Co.
Court undermined the authority of the federal government to act against monopolies
Plessy vs Ferguson
Legalized segregation in publicly owned facilities on the basis of "separate but equal.
Insular Cases
Possessions aquired in the Spanish-American war(Philippines) were no longer foreign countries but neither were they apart of the US. They were territories contolled by Congress. Tariffs could be placed on products from these possessions and the peoples di
Northern Securities Co. vs US
Re-established the authority of the federal government to fight monopolies under the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.
Lochner vs NY
Delared unconstitutional a NY act limiting the working hours of bakers due to the denial of the 14th amendment rights
Muller vs Oregon
First case to use the "Brandeis brief"; recognized a 10-hour workday for women laudry workers on the grounds of health and community concerns
Standard vs Oil
Standard Oil Co. found to be a monopoly; begins tthe breakup of the Standard Oil Company
Hammer vs Dagenhart
Declared the Keating-Owen Act (a child labor act) unconstitutional on the grounds that it was an invation of the state authority
Schenck vs US
Declared that the 1st amendment right to freedom of speech was no absolute; free speech could be limited if its exercise presented a "clear and present danger
Adkins vs Children's Hospital
Declared uncostitutional a minimuim wage law for women on the grounds that it denied women freedom of contract
Schechter vs US
the sick chicken case"; Declared the National Industrial Recovery Act unconstitutional on three grounds: That the act delegated legislative power to the exectutive; that there was a lack of constitutional authority for such legislation; and that it sough
Korematsu vs US
The court upheld the constitutionality of the detention camps for Japanese-Americans during WWII
Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. vs Sawyer
Limited the power of the President to seize property without congress approval or constitution. Truman had tried to seize the steel plants before a steel workers strike during the Korean War
Brown vs Board of Education
(warren). Overturned Plessy; intergrated public schools; "separate but equal" unconstitutional
Mapp vs Ohio
Illegally obtained evidence is inadmissible in court
Engel vs Vitale
No public school prayer
Baker vs Carr
Gerrymandering unconstitutional. One man, one vote.
Gideon vs Wainwright
Extends to the defendant the right of counsel in all state and federal criminal trials regardless of their ability to pay.
Escobedo vs Illinois
Ruled that a defendant must be allowed to a lawyer before questioning by police
NY Times vs Sullivan
The court said public officials may not win damages for defamatory statements regarding their official conduct unless they can prove actual "malice", that is , that the statements were made known that they were false or with reckless disregard of whether
Griswold vs Connecticut
Restriction on birth control violates the right to privacy. 9th Amendment
Miranda vs Arizona
The court ruled that those subjected to in-custody interrogation be advised of their constitutional right to an attorney and their right to remain silent (miranda rights)
NY Times vs US
Dissolved the injunction against the NY times that had restrained the publication of the Pentagon Papers.
Swan vs Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education
Schools must provide transportation to students in proximity, no matter what race. Ensured the "proper" intergratation of schools and that everyone would have the equal educational opportunities
Furman vs Georgia
Limited the use of the death penalty;
Gregg vs Georgia
Declared the death penalty unconstitutional effectively overturning Furman
Roe vs Wade
The court legalized abortion by ruling the state laws could not restrict it during the first three months of pregnancy. Based on the 4th Amendment rights of a person to be secure in their persons
US vs Richard Nixon
The court rejected Richard Nixon's claim to an absolutely unqualified priviledge against any judicial process
Bakke vs Regents of the University of California
Dealt with affirmative action programs that used race as a basis of selecting participants. The court general upheld affirmative action, but with a 4/4/1 split, was a weak decision
New Jersey vs T.L.O
Searching students must only meet the level of reasonable suspicion as opposed to probable cause among the general public
Texas vs Johnson
The desecration of an American flag, by burning or otherwise, is a form of "speech" that is protected by the 1st Amendment
Bush vs Gore
The court ruled that manual recounts of presidential ballots in the Nov. 2000 election could not proceed because inconsistent evaluation statdards in different counties violated the equal protection clause. In effect, the ruling meant Bush would win elect