Constitutional Impact on Constitutional Impact on Court CasesCourt Cases

J. WorleyJ. Worley

CivicsCivics

Court Cases showing Implied PowersCourt Cases showing Implied Powers

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) Brown v. Topeka Board of Education Brown v. Topeka Board of Education

(1954)(1954) Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board

of Education (1971)of Education (1971) Korematsu v. US (1944)Korematsu v. US (1944) Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. US (1964)Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. US (1964)

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Homer Plessy was arrested for riding Homer Plessy was arrested for riding in a whites only rail car in Louisianain a whites only rail car in Louisiana

Sued the Court Judge in LA for finding Sued the Court Judge in LA for finding him guiltyhim guilty

Supreme Court ruled that segregation Supreme Court ruled that segregation is legal as long as the facilities is legal as long as the facilities provided for both races are “equal.”provided for both races are “equal.” ““Separate but equal” is legalSeparate but equal” is legal

Brown v. Topeka Board of Education Brown v. Topeka Board of Education (1954)(1954)

Overturned Overturned Plessy v. FergusonPlessy v. Ferguson Linda Brown was denied enrollment into Linda Brown was denied enrollment into

a elementary school in her neighborhood a elementary school in her neighborhood because it was an all white schoolbecause it was an all white school

Father sued the school districtFather sued the school district Supreme Court ruled that segregation Supreme Court ruled that segregation

was illegal on the grounds that “separate was illegal on the grounds that “separate but equal” facilities were inherently but equal” facilities were inherently unequalunequal Minorities did not get the same opportunities Minorities did not get the same opportunities

as whitesas whites

Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education (1971)Board of Education (1971)

The practice of busing students to The practice of busing students to different school districts was challengeddifferent school districts was challenged

The Supreme Court agreed with a lower The Supreme Court agreed with a lower NC court’s decision of allowing busing NC court’s decision of allowing busing as a means of integrating public schoolsas a means of integrating public schools

Extended the principles of the Brown Extended the principles of the Brown decision and the Civil Rights Act of 1964decision and the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Korematsu v. US (1944)Korematsu v. US (1944)

A relocated Japanese American during A relocated Japanese American during WWII tested the 5WWII tested the 5thth Amendment right Amendment right of due process (Sent to detention of due process (Sent to detention facilities)facilities)

The Supreme Court ruled the 5The Supreme Court ruled the 5thth Amendment allowed the government Amendment allowed the government the right to detain suspected enemies the right to detain suspected enemies during wartimeduring wartime

Reinforced the power of Presidential Reinforced the power of Presidential Executive OrdersExecutive Orders

Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. US Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. US (1964)(1964)

Motel refused to accept black patronsMotel refused to accept black patrons Supreme Court ruled that the US Supreme Court ruled that the US

Congress could use its power to Congress could use its power to regulate interstate commerce to strike regulate interstate commerce to strike down segregationdown segregation Said it could potentially hinder interstate Said it could potentially hinder interstate

businessbusiness Also ruled that the Civil Rights Act of Also ruled that the Civil Rights Act of

1964 was constitutional1964 was constitutional

Court Case showing Judicial ReviewCourt Case showing Judicial Review

Marbury v. Madison (1803)Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Marbury v. Madison (1803)Marbury v. Madison (1803) President John Adams (Fed.) appoints several President John Adams (Fed.) appoints several

Federalist judges just before leaving officeFederalist judges just before leaving office Did not get a chance to deliver their commissions Did not get a chance to deliver their commissions

(Formal document appointing them)(Formal document appointing them) Thomas Jefferson (A-Fed.) succeed him as Thomas Jefferson (A-Fed.) succeed him as

president and refused to deliver the president and refused to deliver the commissions because he did not want themcommissions because he did not want them

Some of the Federalists judges suedSome of the Federalists judges sued Supreme Court agreed that the judges were Supreme Court agreed that the judges were

due their commissions & ruled that they could due their commissions & ruled that they could not make a president deliver the commissions not make a president deliver the commissions under the Constitutionunder the Constitution

Also declared part of the Judiciary Act Also declared part of the Judiciary Act unconstitutional & established power of Judicial unconstitutional & established power of Judicial ReviewReview

Court Cases showing Elastic ClauseCourt Cases showing Elastic Clause

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) Dealt with the question of whether Dealt with the question of whether

Congress had the authority to establish a Congress had the authority to establish a national banknational bank In addition, if Congress could, could the state In addition, if Congress could, could the state

of Maryland tax the bankof Maryland tax the bank Supreme Court ruled that Congress could Supreme Court ruled that Congress could

establish a national bank because it was a establish a national bank because it was a “necessary and proper” action to carry out“necessary and proper” action to carry out

Also ruled that Maryland could not tax a Also ruled that Maryland could not tax a federal institutionfederal institution

Reinforced the principle of implied powers Reinforced the principle of implied powers as well as the Supremacy Clauseas well as the Supremacy Clause

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) New York State gave a monopoly on New York State gave a monopoly on

steamboat transportation to Robert steamboat transportation to Robert Fulton & Robert Livingston.Fulton & Robert Livingston. Aaron Ogden had a license with them but Aaron Ogden had a license with them but

Charles Gibbons did notCharles Gibbons did not Gibbons sued saying he still had the right Gibbons sued saying he still had the right

to navigate freelyto navigate freely Supreme Court ruled against the Supreme Court ruled against the

monopoly as a violation of the rights of monopoly as a violation of the rights of federal governmentfederal government

Also established that only the federal Also established that only the federal government could regulate interstate government could regulate interstate commercecommerce

Essential QuestionsEssential Questions

1.1. How has the Supreme Court used How has the Supreme Court used its power of judicial review to its power of judicial review to ensure equality for all citizens?ensure equality for all citizens?

2.2. How has the Supreme Court How has the Supreme Court changed its views to adjust to changed its views to adjust to changing times?changing times?

3.3. Is the Supreme Court the most Is the Supreme Court the most powerful of the three branches of powerful of the three branches of gov’t?gov’t?