Landmark Supreme Court Cases How have the decisions of the Supreme Court changed the interpretation of the Constitution and the relationship between citizens and the government?

Marbury v. Madison (1789) President John Adams tries to appoint several judges just before he leaves office. The new President, Thomas Jefferson, blocks these appointments. The court decided Adams’ act was unconstitutional. This case establishes the power of Judicial Review: The Court can review the actions of the govt. to determine if they are constitutional

Cases Establishing the Power of the Federal Government McCulloch v. Maryland (1819): Congress, under the necessary and proper clause, can establish a national bank and the Federal government is the supreme law of the land. Gibbons v. Ogden (1824): Congress has the power to regulate interstate commerce and foreign trade

Racial Equality Plessy v. Ferguson (1896): Homer Plessy is forced sit in the “blacks only” train. - “Separate but equal” is declared legal by the court. Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954): Parents of black student sue the school board to allow their daughter to go to the white school. - Separate is inherently unequal so schools cannot be segregated by race.

Cases Involving Schools and Students Engel v. Vitale (1962): The state can not write a non-denominational prayer to be read in public schools Tinker v. Des Moines (1969): three students are suspended for wearing black armbands to school to protest the Vietnam War. - Students can protest with peaceful free speech in schools. But expression can be limited if it might cause a problem in the school environment.

More School Cases New Jersey v. TLO (1985): TLO searched without consent. Suspended for possessing marijuana. - School officials don’t need a warrant to search students if they have reasonable suspicion.  Bethel v. Frasier (1986): Frasier makes inappropriate joke at graduation speech. - School districts have the authority to limit free speech of students if that speech contains inappropriate content. Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier (1988): Principal removes articles about pregnancy and abortion from school newspaper. - Free press can be limited in school sponsored student newspapers.

Civil Liberties Cases Korematsu v. US (1944): Japanese-American were placed in internment camps during WWII. - The Federal government had the power to exclude and inter Japanese Americans to protect the rest of the citizens. Mapp v. Ohio (1961): Mapp was arrested for possessing pornography found in an illegal search. - Illegally obtained evidence cannot be used in a trial. “Exclusionary rule” established. Gideon v. Wainwright (1963): Gideon arrested for robbery. He asks for a lawyer but the court refuses to provide one. - If a defendant cannot afford a lawyer, the state must provide one for them.

More Civil Liberties Cases Miranda v. Arizona (1966): Miranda was arrested for rape and murder and confessed to the crime before being advised of his rights. - Accused criminals must be informed of their rights when arrested Roe v. Wade (1973): Legalized abortion Texas v. Johnson (1991): Mr. Johnson burns a US flag on steps of Texas courthouse. - Flag burning is protected free speech under the 1st Amendment