Important Supreme Important Supreme Court CasesCourt Cases

Marbury v. Madison (1803)Marbury v. Madison (1803) Supreme Court may interpret the Constitution and Supreme Court may interpret the Constitution and

determine whether a law is constitutional or determine whether a law is constitutional or unconstitutional (Judicial Review)unconstitutional (Judicial Review)

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) Determined separate but equal laws in the south Determined separate but equal laws in the south

WERE CONSTITUTIONALWERE CONSTITUTIONAL Brown v. Topeka Board of Education (1954)Brown v. Topeka Board of Education (1954)

Determined separate but equal school facilities were Determined separate but equal school facilities were inherently unequal and therefore inherently unequal and therefore UNCONSTITUTIONALUNCONSTITUTIONAL

University of California v. Bakke (1978)University of California v. Bakke (1978) Affirmative action programs were ok if designed Affirmative action programs were ok if designed

properlyproperly

Supreme Court Cases Supreme Court Cases (cont)(cont)

Roe v. Wade (1973)Roe v. Wade (1973) Guarantees women’s right to an abortionGuarantees women’s right to an abortion

Gideon v. Wainright (1963)Gideon v. Wainright (1963) Legal counsel must be provided in criminal Legal counsel must be provided in criminal

cases to defendants unable to afford their cases to defendants unable to afford their own attorneyown attorney

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)Miranda v. Arizona (1966) criminal suspects must be informed of their criminal suspects must be informed of their

right to consult with an attorney and of right to consult with an attorney and of their right against self-incrimination prior to their right against self-incrimination prior to questioning by police. questioning by police.

Important AmendmentsImportant Amendments 1313thth

Abolished slaveryAbolished slavery 1414thth

Granted African Americans citizenship and Granted African Americans citizenship and due process of the lawdue process of the law

1515thth

Granted African Americans the right to voteGranted African Americans the right to vote 1818thth

Abolished sale and consumption of alcoholAbolished sale and consumption of alcohol 1919thth

Granted women the right to voteGranted women the right to vote

Important Amendments Important Amendments (cont)(cont)

2121stst

Repealed 18Repealed 18thth Amendment Amendment 2222ndnd

Limited President to two terms in officeLimited President to two terms in office 2424thth

Banned poll taxesBanned poll taxes 2626thth

Granted 18 year olds the right to voteGranted 18 year olds the right to vote