1. Ashwander vs.

TVA
Facts: In Ashwander, stockholders in the Alabama Power Company filed charges against the Tennessee Valley Authority Act saying that it was unconstitutional to purchase energy from the government. Issue: It is unconstitutional for the government to sell its excess energy Holding: The Court Upheld the Act Rationale: The Court said that it was Constitutional for Congress to sell its excess energy Significance: Stated that under its war and commerce powers, Congress was able to construct the dam and use any excess resources as it saw fit

2. Baker vs. Carr

Facts: State Constitution required district lines to be redrawn every ten years according to the federal census so that the districts would be equal in population Issue: Charles Baker complained that Tennessee had not redistricted since 1901 and that by 1962, his district had about ten times as many residents as the rural districts but still had the same number of votes. Holding: The court ruled in a spit decision that Bakers case was justifiable. Rationale: Significance:

3. Brown vs. Board of Education

Facts: Racial Segregation between blacks and whites caused a lot of tension Issue: Separate but equal was not equal at all. In 1951 a class action suit was filed against the Board of Education in Topeka, KS. The lead plaintiff was Oliver Brown. Holding: The Court unanimously voted in favor of Brown Rationale: according to the 14 Amendment, segregation in schools was unconstitutional Significance: ended segregation in schools

4. Dartmouth College vs. Woodward

Facts: In 1769 King George III of England granted a charter to Dartmouth College. This document spelled out the purpose of the school, set up the structure to govern it, and gave land to the college. In 1816, over thirty years after the conclusion of the American Revolution, the legislature of New Hampshire attempted to alter Dartmouth's charter in order to reinstate the College's deposed president

Issue: The colleges board of trustees objected on the grounds that it was unconstitutional Holding: The court ruled in favor of the trustees and stated that the New Hampshire Legislatures actions were unconstitutional Rationale: The constitution says that a state cant pass laws to impair a contract Significance: Upheld the sanctity of a contract

5. EC Knight vs. US
Facts: The American Sugar Refining Company created a monopoly on the sugar industry by buying up all the smaller companies, such as E.C. Knight Company Issue: Whether or not the Sherman Anti-Trust Act could suppress a monopoly in the manufacture of a good, as well its distribution Holding: the court ruled against the government Rationale: a local activity such as manufacturing is not subject to congressional regulation of interstate commerce Significance: any act against manufacturing monopolies would need to be dealt with by the state govt.

6. Fletcher vs. Peck

Facts: The Georgia legislature claimed 35 million acres of the Yazoo Lands, and then sold it off in large tracts. Issue: Robert Fletcher brought a suit against john Peck, saying that he did not have clear title to the land when he sold it Holding: held that the state legislatures repeal of the law was void Rationale: A sale is a binding contract, even if its illegally secured Significance: Asserted the Supreme Courts right to invalidate states laws

7. Griswold vs. Connecticut

Facts: Connecticut legislature passed a law banning the use of contraceptives Issue: The banning of contraceptives was a violation of the right to privacy Holding: the court ruled that the law was unconstitutional Rationale: it violated the right to marital privacy Significance: Protected the right to privacy

8. Ex Parte Mulligan
Facts: Lambdin Milligan and four others were accused of planning to steal Union weapons and use them to liberate Confederate P.O.Ws Issue: They were charged by a military tribunal and sentenced to death, but their sentence wouldnt be carried out until after the war ended, they appealed it based on the fact that military tribunals couldnt be held against citizens in states that upheld the Constitution and where civilian courts were still operating Holding: The court sided with Milligan Rationale: Said that the suspension of Habeas Corpus meant that a person could be held without charges, but tried and certainly not executed Significance: During this time, the Congress was very reluctant to hand down any decision that questioned the authority of the military courts in the South.

9. Miranda vs. Arizona

Facts: Ernesto Miranda was arrested and charged with the kidnapping and rape of a woman, he signed

a confession but since he was not made aware of his right to legal counsel, his lawyer argued that the confession couldnt be used. Issue: Miranda was not aware of his right to legal counsel before he signed the confession Holding: Court overturned Mirandas conviction Rationale: Due to the coercive nature of the police investigation, no confession could be admissible under the 5th Amendment self incrimination clause and the 6th amendment right to an attorney clause Significance: Made reading of the Miranda Rights part of routine

10.

Bakke vs. UC Board of Regents Facts: the admission process at the University of California at Davis set aside 16 of 100 seats for African Americans Issue: Seats shouldnt be reserved based on race Holding: the court ordered the University to accept him as a student Rationale: the university couldnt set aside seats for a specific race Significance: stopped racial quotas

11.

Roe vs. Wade Facts: Norma McCorvey wanted an abortion, but the law in Texas wouldnt allow it. Issue: whether or not abortion should be completely illegal or in just some cases or completely legal Holding: The court sided with Roe (McCorvey), deeming abortion a fundamental right under the constitution Rationale: Said that abortion fell under the right to privacy stated in the 14th amendment and the 9th amendment Significance: Legalized abortion in the US

12.

Schenk vs. US Facts: Schenk was the secretary of the Socialist Party of America; he sent leaflets to prospective draftees telling them to ignore the draft Issue: He was convicted of violating the espionage act of 1917, but appealed it based on his right to freedom of speech Holding: Ruled that the conviction was constitutional

Rationale: the first amendment did not support speech encouraging insubordination, especially in times of war Significance: Put limitations on freedom of speech

13.

Scott vs. Sanford Facts: Dred Scott ran away from his master while they were in a free state. Issue: He sued for his freedom on the grounds that since they had been residing in a free state, he was a free man Holding: The Court sided with Sanford Rationale: Since Scott was a slave, he was considered property and didnt have the standing to sue in court Significance: Triggered the panic of 1857, as many investors were unsure of slavery in the West, and what would happen. Furthered the stress between the North and South

14.

Tinker vs. Des Moines

Facts: 3 students in Iowa were suspended for wearing black armbands in protest of the Vietnam War Issue: they argued that they had the right to protest under the first Amendment Holding: the Court agreed Rationale: said that their symbolic protest was not disruptive to the learning environment and that symbolic protest was constitutional Significance: defined the Constitutional rights of students in public schools

15.

Worcester vs. Georgia Facts: Georgia passed laws restricting the right to take away the authority of the Cherokee over their lands. Issue: The laws also required any white people living there had to have a state license to do so Holding: sided with Worcester against Georgia Rationale: the Cherokee nation was a distinct community, on which Georgia Laws had no force

Significance: laid out the relationship between tribes and federal and state governments