Landmark Supreme Court Cases
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established
“judicial review,” the principle that the courts can review laws to determine
their constitutionality
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Constitution is the
supreme law of the land, and it’s the courts’ job to uphold the Constitution
_____________________________
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Congress cannot
prohibit slavery in territories and states (Missouri Compromise was
unconstitutional)
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Slaves were not
federal citizens and could not sue in federal court
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14th
Amendment (equal protection): Segregation is legal as long as facilities were
equal
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“separate but equal”
IS constitutional
_____________________________
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14th
Amendment: Segregation is automatically illegal because it implies that one
race is better than another,
which violates the equal protection
clause of the 14th Amendment
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“Separate is NOT
equal”
_____________________________
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right to attorney: 6th
Amendment right to an attorney applies to all cases in both state and federal
court
_____________________________
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constitutional
rights: suspects must be read their constitutional rights when arrested or
custodially
interrogated (Miranda rights)
_____________________________
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privacy: protects
the right to an abortion
_____________________________
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executive privilege:
presidents can only withhold information for national security issues
_____________________________
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free speech:
students have the right to free speech in school if they do not disrupt
learning
_____________________________
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free press: a
student’s right to free press can be restricted if it is involved in the school
curriculum; this allows the school to ensure that
desired learning objectives are met
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affirmative
action: schools may use race as part
of admissions process, but not the only criteria
Ø
using only race as a
requirement is reverse discrimination
_____________________________
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4th
Amendment (search and seizure): school officials only need reasonable suspicion
to search students
(not probable cause or a search
warrant)