Landmark Case Analysis
Government and Politics
Name: ______________
Hr: __
Part I: Brief
You will be assigned a landmark case. It is your responsibility to research the Issue, Facts, Decision and Reasoning in the case
and write a one page (typed) brief in paragraph form including all of this information. You can also create a Google document
and share it with Mr. Redman (aaron.redman@moundsviewschools.org). Good resource sites: oyez.org, landmarkcases.org
All briefs must be typed. Each brief will be set up in the following manner:
1. Place the name of your case in italics in the center at the top of your brief. (see below) Type your name and hour in the
top right hand corner.
2. The four parts of a legal brief must be present, clearly shown, and underlined. (see below)
NAME OF THE CASE (in Italics)
Issue What was the Court asked to decide? (Note-the Supreme Court does not decide guilt or innocence in most cases. The Court is
asked to clarify a constitutional question. In the issue you are asked what the Supreme Court is asked to decide, not the lower court).
Facts What happened? If possible please include the rulings of the lower courts.
Decision What did the Court decide? The decision must always answer the question asked in the issue.
Reasoning What were the justifications used by the Court to reach its decisions.
Sources should be listed at the end of the brief. You need to use at least two. Use MLA format.
PLEASE LIMIT YOUR BRIEF TO ONE TYPED/GOOGLE DOC PAGE
Part II: Presentation
For that same landmark case, you will give a short presentation including the same information. Create your presentation on Google
Presentation and share it with Mr. Redman (aaron.redman@moundsviewschools.org).
Title your Google Presentation: LANDMARK CASES: YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME AND HOUR.
Ex: LANDMARK CASES: JOE SMITH HOUR 5
Your presentation will include:
5 slides total (no more, no less!) You will be graded on the choice of content of the slides, accuracy, choice of visual/phrase and your
skills in presenting this information to the class.
Make your slides visually appealing, but simple to read/understand.
Slide 1: Introduction
Name of case and year
Your Name
Class Hour
Slide 4 – Decision of the Court
AND one visual/or catchy phrase to help students remember
the decision
EX: Darth Vader –“Whose your Daddy?” McCulloch v.
Maryland
You do not need to cite your source for the visual. Always be
class appropriate!
Slide 2: Issue
● short statement –students will be taking notes so keep it
to one bullet point.
Slide 5 – Reasoning of the Court
● bullet point- short statement
Slide 3: Facts
● again bullet points – just the main points
Landmark Cases
As students give their presentations, take your own notes on the Issue, Facts, Decision (including the catchy phrase or quickly
drawn or described visual) and Reasoning of the court. These are the decisions you will most likely need to know for the Unit test,
the Final Exam and the AP Exam in May. There may be others, but this is a good start! Many of these have appeared on past exams.
As a back-up, If you miss the details in the presentation or you are absent, you can use oyez.org to research the information.
Federalism/Increasing Governmental Powers
First Amendment rights
1.
2.
3.
4.
Freedom of speech and of the press
23. Schenck v. United States (1919)
24. Near v. Minnesota (1913)
25. New York Times v. Sullivan (1964)
26. Tinker v. Des Moines ISD (1969)
27. Miller v. California (1973)
28. Texas v. Johnson (1989)
29. Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier (1988)
30. Gitlow v. New York (1925)
31. Morse v. Frederick (2007)
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)
United States v. Nixon (1974)
Individual rights
Discrimination based on race
5. Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)
6. Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
7. Korematsu v. United States (1944)
8. Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
9. Regents of the Univ. of Cal. v. Bakke (1978)
Discrimination based on sexual orientation
10. Lawrence v. Texas (2003)
11. Hollingsworth v. Perry (2013)
12. United States v. Windsor (2013)
Birth control and abortion/Right to Privacy
13. Griswold v. Connecticut (1965)
14. Roe v. Wade (1973)
15. Planned Parenthood of Se. Pa. v. Casey (1992)
16. Gonzales v. Carhart (2007)
Criminal law
Freedom from unreasonable search and seizure
17. Mapp v. Ohio (1961)
18. New Jersey v. T. L. O. (1985)
Rights of accused
19. Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
20. Escobedo v. Illinois (1964)
21. Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
22. In re Gault (1967)
Freedom of religion
32. Engel v. Vitale (1962)
33. Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971)
34. Reynolds v. United States (1878)
Right to assemble & petition the government
35. Boy Scouts of America v. Dale (2000)
Second Amendment rights
36. McDonald v. Chicago (2010)
Election Reform:
37. Citizens United v. F.E.C. (2010)
38. Baker v. Carr (1962)