, Marbury v. Madison (1803, 5 US 137) - Answer: This case involved the Judiciary Act of 1789. Supreme
Court declared that the law conflicted with the US Constitution, and the case established the principle of
judicial review wherein the Supreme Court has the power to declare laws passed by Congress and signed
by the President to be unconstitutional.
Dred Scott v. Sandford (1856, 60 US 393) - Answer: Supreme Court declared that slaves were not
citizens of the United States and could not sue in Federal courts. In addition, this decision declared that
the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional and that Congress did not have the authority to prohibit
slavery in the territories. Dred Scott decision was overturned by the 13th and 14th Amendments to the
Constitution.
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896, 163 US 537) - Answer: Supreme Court decision that upheld the
constitutionality of racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine. In 1892, Homer Plessy
refused to sit in a car for blacks. Rejecting Plessy's argument that his constitutional rights were violated,
Supreme Court ruled that a law that "implies merely a legal distinction" between whites and blacks was
not constitutional.
United States v. Miller (1939, 307 US 174) - Answer: In the early 1980's, following an assassination
attempt on President Ronald Reagan, laws requiring background checks for prospective gun buyers were
passed. In this case, Supreme Court upheld the 1934 National Firearms Act's prohibition of sawed-off
shotguns, largely on the basis that the possession of such a gun was not related to the goal of promoting
a "well regulated militia."
Korematsu v. United States (1944, 323 US 214) - Answer: During WW2, citizens of Japanese descent
living on the West Coast, whether naturalized immigrants or Japanese Americans born in the US, were
subjected to the indignity of being removed from their communities and interned under Executive Order
9066. When challenged, Supreme Court decision was to upheld the actions of the government as a
necessary precaution in a time of war.
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954, 347 US 483) - Answer: This case challenged the principle
of "separate but equal." It was brought by students who were denied admittance to certain public
schools based exclusively on race. The unanimous decision in this case determined that the existence of
racially segregated public schools violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.
Sherbert v. Verner (1963, 374 US 398) - Answer: In this case the Supreme Court ruled that states could
not deny unemployment benefits to an individual who turned down a job because it required working
on the Sabbath.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller YourExamplug. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $14.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.