Court Case
Marbury v.
Madison
1803
McCulloch v.
Maryland
1819
Gibbons v.
Ogden
1824
Dred Scott v.
Sandford
1857
Plessy v.
Ferguson
1896
Brown v.
Board of
Education
1954
Importance
Summary
Court Case
Miranda v.
Arizona
1966
Tinker v. Des
Moines
1969
Roe v. Wade
1973
United States
v. Nixon
1974
Hazlewood v.
Kuhlmeier
1988
Importance
Summary
Questions
1. What case established judicial review?
2. What case is the current precedent for abortion laws?
3. What case mandated that police must inform people in custody of their constitutional rights against self-incrimination?
4. What case supported ‘separate but equal?’
5. What case overruled ‘separate but equal?’
6. What case investigated Congress and the ‘necessary and proper’ clause?
7. What case ruled that African Americans were not citizens as defined by the Constitution?
8. What case broadened the meaning of ‘commerce’ in the Commerce Clause to include ‘commercial intercourse?’
9. What case ruled that students retain the right to free speech while in public school?
10. What case ruled that presidents enjoy executive privilege, but that privilege is not absolute?
11. What case ruled that school officials can exercise authority over content of school-sponsored publications?
12. Which of these 11 cases do you think set the most important precedent at the time?
13. Which of these 11 cases do you think set the most important precedent for the future of the United States?
Extension Activities
A. Create flashcards for 15 landmark Supreme Court cases with the names on the front and the major decision or importance on the back.
B. Research 1 additional landmark Supreme Court case. Write a 2 page paper explaining the background to the case, the decision that was reached, and
why the case is so important.
C. Write a current events report for 2 current cases on the Supreme Court docket. Each report should be 1 page long, with ½ a page dedicated to a
summary of the case and ½ a page explaining the decision you hope the Court reaches and why.
Additional Resources

Oyez Scholars – IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law – Database of current and past Supreme Court Cases. http://www.oyez.org/cases/2014

Supreme Court Cases – Marshfield School District – List of cases that have appeared on AP test.
http://www.marshfield.k12.wi.us/schools/high/apgovcourtcases.cfm

Essential Court Cases for AP Government – Mr. Farshtey – Table of cases & main decisions that have appeared on AP test
http://mrfarshtey.net/apgov_review/courtcases.pdf