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Supreme Court Cases
important S Ct. cases
46
History
12th Grade
04/22/2009

Additional History Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Barron v. Baltimore (1833)
Definition
The bill of rights restrained only the national government, not the states and cities.
Term
Gitlow v. New York (1925)
Definition
the court announced that freedoms of speech and press were fundamental personal rights and liberties protected by the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment from impairment by the states. The states could not abridge the freedoms of expression protected by the First Amendment.
Term
Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971)
Definition

The supreme court ruled that aid to church-related schools must

1. have a secular legislative purpose.

2. have a primary effect that neither advances nor inhibits religion.

3. not foster an excessive government "entanglement" with religion.

Term
Zelman v. Simmons-Harris (2002)
Definition
upheld a program that provided some families in Cleveland, Ohio, vouchers that could be used to pay tuition at religious schools.
Term
Engel v. Vitale (1962)
Definition
court ruled that state officials violated the First Amendment when they wrote a prayer to be recited by New York's schoolchildren
Term
School District of Abington Township, Pennsylvania v. Schempp
Definition
court ruled that a pennsylvania law requiring Bible reading in schools violated the establishment clause of the First Amendment.
Term
Near v. Minnesota (1931)
Definition

Prior Restraint- government's actions that prevent material from being published; censorship

Court ruled that the first amendment protects newspapers from prior restraint.

Term
Schenck v. United States (1919)
Definition
Court ruled that government could limit speech if it provokes a clear and present danger of substantive evils. 
Term
Zurcher v. Stanford Daily (1978)
Definition
Court decision that a proper search warrant could be applied to a newspaper as well as to anyone else without necessarily violating the First Amendment rights to freedom of the press.
Term
Roth v. United States (1957)
Definition
Court decision ruling that obscenity is not within the area of constitutionality protected speech or press.
Term
Miller v. California (1973)
Definition
Court decision that avoided defining obscenity by holding that community standards be used to determine whether material is obscene in terms of appealing to a "purient interest" and being "patently offensive" and lacking in value
Term
New York Times v. Sullivan (1964)
Definition
case established the guidelines for determining whether public officials and public figures could win damage suits for libel. To do so, individuals must prove that the defamatory statements were made with actual malice and reckless disregard for the truth.
Term
Texas v. Johnson (1989)
Definition
Court struck down a law banning the burning of the American flag on the grounds that such action was symbolic speech protected by the First Amendment.
Term
Miami Herald Publishing Company v. Tornillo (1974)
Definition
Supreme court held that a state could not force a newspaper to print replies from candidates it had criticized, illustrating the limited power of government to restrict the print media
Term
NAACP v. Alabama (1958)
Definition
S Ct. defended the right to assemble peaceably. NAACP did not have to reveal its membership list and thus subject its members to harrassment
Term
Mapp v. Ohio (1961)
Definition
S Ct. ruling that said the fourth amendment's protection against unreasonable search and seizures must be extended to states as well as the federal government
Term
Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
Definition
sets guidelines for police questioning of accused persons to protect them against self-incirmination and to protect their right to counsel.
Term
Gregg v. Georgia
Definition
Court ruled that death penalty did not constitute creul and unusual punishment
Term
McCleskey v. Kemp
Definition
S Court decision that upheld constitutionality of the death penalty against charges that it violated 14th amendment because minoriites were getting the death penalty more that whites
Term
Roe v. Wade
Definition
Court ruled that a state ban on abortions was illegal
Term
Planned Parenthood v. Casey
Definition
restrictions on abortion prohibits any undue burdens that permits considerably more regulation
Term
Korematsu v. United States
Definition
Supreme court decision that upheld the constituational internment of more than 100,000 Americans of Japanese descent in encampments during World War II
Term
Reed v. Reed (1971)
Definition
The Supreme Court for the first time upheld a claim of gender discrimination
Term
Craig v. Boren(1976)
Definition
The Supreme Court established the "medium scsrutiny" standard for determining gender discrimination.
Term
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
Definition
Supreme Court decision holding that a state university could not admit less qualified individuals solely because of their race.
Term
Adarand Constructors v. Pena
Definition
federal programs that classify people by race, even for an ostensibly benign purpose, are unconstitutional
Term
Red Lion Broadcasting Company v. Federal Communications Commision
Definition
Supreme Ct. upheld restrictions on radio and television broadcasting. Restrictions on broadcast media are much tighter than those on the print media because there are only a limited number of broadcasting frequencies available.
Term
Gideon v. Wainwright
Definition
Supreme Ct. decision holding that anyone accused of a felony where imprisonment may be imposed, however poor he or she might be, has a right to a lawyer. Sixth Amendment
Term
'Spin' control
Definition

placing a certain slant on a story to deflect negative public attention against a candidate or office holder.

 

Term
527's
Definition

 

groups can raise unlimited amounts of $$$ and use it for voter mobilization and issue advocacy but NOT for candidate advocacy or to be given to the candidates.

Term
527's
Definition

groups can raise as much $$$ as they want and they can use it for voter mobilization and issue advocacy but cannot be used for candidate advocacy or given directly to the candidate

 

Term
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
Definition
A policy designed to give special attention to or compensatory treatment of members of some previously disadvantaged group.
Term

amicus curiae briefs

 

Definition
Legal briefs submitted by a “friend of the court” for the purpose of raising additional points of view and presenting information not contained in the briefs of the formal parties. These briefs attempt to influence a court’s decision.
Term
Anti-Federalists
Definition
Opponents of the American Constitution at the time when the states were contemplating its adoption. They argued that the Constitution was a class-based document, that it would erode fundamental liberties, and that it would weaken the power of the states. See also Federalists and U.S. Constitution.
Term
Definition
A policy designed to ensure competition and prevent monopoly, which is the control of a market by one company.
Term
appelate jurisdiction
Definition
The jurisdiction of courts that hear cases brought to them on appeal from lower courts. These courts do not review the factual record, only the legal issues involved. Compare original jurisdiction.
Term
appropriations bill
Definition
An act of Congress that actually funds programs within limits established by authorization bills. Appropriations usually cover one year.
Term
authorization bill
Definition
An act of Congress that establishes, continues, or changes a discretionary government program or an entitlement. It specifies program goals and maximum expenditures for discretionary programs. Compare appropriations bill.
Term
bicameral legislature
Definition
A legislature divided into two houses. The U.S. Congress and every American state legislature except Nebraska’s are bicameral.
Term
bureaucracy
Definition
According to Max Weber, a hierarchical authority structure that uses task specialization, operates on the merit principle, and behaves with impersonality. Bureaucracies govern modern states.
Term
Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883)
Definition
Passed in 1883, an Act that created a federal civil service so that hiring and promotion would be based on merit rather than patronage.
Term
Hatch Act
Definition
prohibits civil service employees from active participation in partisan politics while on duty.
Term
Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
Definition
The office in charge of hiring for most agencies of the federal government, using elaborate rules in the process.
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