Isabella Carter
The US Constitution is the supreme law of the United States, and any law that conflicts with it is considered unconstitutional and void. Over the years, several landmark cases have been brought before the Supreme Court, challenging the constitutionality of various laws and practices. These cases have played a pivotal role in shaping the interpretation and application of constitutional rights and freedoms, covering a wide range of issues, including free speech, racial equality, privacy, and due process. One of the most famous cases is Brown v. Board of Education, which overturned the separate but equal doctrine and laid the groundwork for the civil rights movement. Other notable cases include Roe v. Wade, which centred on abortion rights, and Tinker, which established the right of students to free speech in schools.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| State laws that violate the US Constitution | United States v. Peters (1809), Fletcher v. Peck (1810), Guinn v. United States (1915), Southwestern Tel. Co. v. Danaher (1915), Adams Express Co. v. Kentucky (1909), State Tonnage Tax Cases (1871), Ward v. Maryland (1871), Gibson v. Chouteau (1872) |
| Landmark Supreme Court cases | Tinker, Roe, Dred Scott, Brown v. Board of Education, Thompson v. Oklahoma, Miranda v. Arizona, New Jersey v. T.L.O., Bethel School District #43 v. Fraser, Board of Education of Independent School District #92 of Pottawatomie County v. Earls, Veronia School District v. Acton, Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe, Griswold v. Connecticut, Lochner v. New York, Gitlow v. New York, Regents of the University of California v. Bakke |
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What You'll Learn
State laws held unconstitutional
Cases that violate the US Constitution are called "State laws held unconstitutional".
United States v. Peters (1809)
A Pennsylvania statute prohibiting the execution of any process issued to enforce a certain sentence of a federal court was deemed unconstitutional on the ground that the federal court lacked jurisdiction in the cause. The Supreme Court ruled that a state statute claiming to nullify the judgment of a US court and to destroy rights acquired under it is without legal foundation.
Fletcher v. Peck (1810)
A Georgia statute annulling the conveyance of public lands authorized by a prior enactment was found to violate the Contracts Clause (Art. I, § 10) of the Constitution.
Dartmouth College v. Woodward (1819)
A New Hampshire law that altered a charter granted to a private corporation by the British Crown prior to the American Revolution was deemed to violate the Contracts Clause (Art. I, § 10).
Farmers’ and Mechanics’ Bank v. Smith (1821)
A Pennsylvania insolvency law that purported to discharge a debtor from obligations contracted prior to its passage was ruled to violate the Contracts Clause (Art. I, § 10).
Guinn v. United States (1915)
An Oklahoma constitutional clause from 1910 exempting certain individuals from a literacy requirement and automatically enfranchising them to vote was found to violate the Fifteenth Amendment, which protects African Americans from discriminatory denial of the right to vote based on race.
Adams Express Co. v. Kentucky (1909)
A Kentucky law prohibiting the sale of liquor to an inebriated person was applied to a carrier delivering liquor to such a person from another state, violating the Commerce Clause.
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Supreme Court landmarks
The United States Supreme Court has heard many landmark cases that have helped shape the country's history and continue to impact the lives of citizens today. Here are some examples:
Brown v. Board of Education (1954):
In this case, the Supreme Court reversed its previous decision in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), which had upheld the doctrine of "separate but equal." The Court famously stated that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal," and that segregation in the Topeka, Kansas, school system was unconstitutional. This ruling helped lay the groundwork for the civil rights movement and integration across the country.
Miranda v. Arizona (1966):
Ernesto Miranda confessed to rape and kidnapping after hours of police interrogation. However, he claimed that he was not advised of his rights to counsel and to remain silent. The Supreme Court agreed, establishing the Miranda warnings that require police to inform suspects of their rights before any custodial interrogation.
Roe v. Wade:
The Supreme Court held that under the Fourteenth Amendment Due Process Clause, states may only restrict abortions toward the end of a pregnancy to protect the life of the woman or fetus. This case has become a centerpiece in the battle over abortion rights.
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978):
The Supreme Court ruled that the University of California Medical School's use of strict racial quotas was unconstitutional, violating the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. However, they also affirmed that race could be considered as one of several factors in the admissions process.
Thompson v. Oklahoma (1988):
The Supreme Court ruled that executing individuals for crimes committed when they were 15 or younger violated the Eighth Amendment's prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment. This ruling set a precedent that "evolving standards of decency" prevent the execution of juveniles.
These cases represent just a fraction of the landmark decisions handed down by the United States Supreme Court, each contributing to the evolution of constitutional law and the protection of citizens' rights.
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Fourteenth Amendment
The Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution, which was ratified in 1868, guarantees due process and equal protection under the law. Here are some examples of landmark Supreme Court cases that have interpreted and applied this amendment:
Brown v. Board of Education (1954): This case overturned Plessy v. Ferguson's (1896) "separate but equal" doctrine, which had allowed for racial segregation in public education as long as the facilities were equal. The Court in Brown held that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal," violating the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. This decision helped lay the groundwork for the civil rights movement and integration across the country.
Mapp v. Ohio (1961): This case dealt with illegally obtained evidence by the police. When the police searched Dollree Mapp's home without a warrant, they discovered sexually explicit materials and arrested her under state law. Mapp appealed her conviction, arguing that her First and Fourteenth Amendment rights had been violated. The Supreme Court agreed and held that evidence obtained from an illegal search or seizure could not be used in court, excluding such evidence under the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause.
Griswold v. Connecticut (1965): The Supreme Court ruled that state courts are required under the Fourteenth Amendment to provide counsel in criminal cases to indigent defendants, guaranteeing their Sixth Amendment rights. This case involved Estelle Griswold, the director of a Planned Parenthood clinic, who was arrested for violating a state statute prohibiting contraception counselling and prescriptions.
Lochner v. New York (1905): The Supreme Court struck down New York's Bakeshop Act, which prohibited bakers from working more than 10 hours a day or 60 hours a week, ruling that it infringed on Lochner's "right to contract" derived from the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause. This decision has been criticised for exceeding judicial authority.
Gitlow v. New York (1925): This case represented an early attempt by the Court to incorporate the Bill of Rights and apply them to the states. Benjamin Gitlow, a socialist, was arrested under New York state law for printing an article advocating for the forceful overthrow of the government. The Court's decision in this case helped establish that certain fundamental rights, such as free speech, apply not just to the federal government but also to state and local governments.
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First Amendment rights
Cases that violate the US Constitution are deemed "unconstitutional".
The First Amendment of the US Constitution protects freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, the right to assemble, and the right to petition the government. Here are some notable cases involving First Amendment rights:
Schenck v. United States (1919)
Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes introduced the "clear and present danger" test to determine whether speech is protected by the First Amendment. He stated that speech may be restricted if it creates a clear and present danger of bringing about substantive evils that the government has a right to prevent. This case involved defendants who were convicted of attempting to incite subordination in the armed forces and interfere with recruitment by distributing leaflets that compared military conscription to involuntary servitude.
Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District
This case established that students do not "shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech...at the schoolhouse gate." The Supreme Court ruled that students' speech could only be prohibited if it actually disrupted the educational process. This case involved students wearing black armbands to symbolize anti-war political protest, and the Court found that the school violated the First Amendment by prohibiting this speech in the absence of any disruption.
Murphy v. Collier (2019)
The Supreme Court granted a stay of execution to a Texas prisoner who argued that prison rules violated his First Amendment rights by denying him access to his Buddhist spiritual advisor.
Packingham v. North Carolina (2017)
The Supreme Court invalidated a state law prohibiting sex offenders from accessing social media, finding that it violated the First Amendment by barring individuals from accessing a wide range of websites commonly used for expressive activity.
United States v. Alvarez (2012)
The Supreme Court ruled that the Stolen Valor Act, a federal law prohibiting individuals from lying about receiving military medals, violated the First Amendment.
Reed v. Town of Gilbert (2015)
The Supreme Court invalidated a city ordinance that restricted the size of directional signs after a pastor challenged the law as violating his First Amendment rights.
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Supreme Court on race
The United States has a long history of racial discrimination in various aspects of life, including education, employment, housing, and public accommodations. The Supreme Court has dealt with racial issues in numerous cases.
One of the most famous Supreme Court cases is Brown v. Board of Education (1954), which prohibited racial segregation in public schools. The Court stated that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal," overturning the previous "separate but equal" doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896). This landmark decision helped lay the groundwork for the civil rights movement and integration across the country.
Another notable case is University of California Regents v. Bakke (1978), where the Court decided that a public university may consider race as a factor in admissions decisions, as long as “fixed quotas" are not used. The Court upheld affirmative action programs, determining that a diverse student body is a compelling interest, but the specific system in place at the University of California Medical School was deemed unnecessary and unconstitutional.
In Batson v. Kentucky (1986), the Supreme Court held that a state denies an African American defendant equal protection when they are tried before a jury from which members of their race have been purposefully excluded. This decision ensured that racial discrimination is not a factor in jury selection.
Additionally, in Korematsu v. United States (1944), the Court upheld the conviction of an American of Japanese descent who had violated a 1942 presidential order requiring the relocation of most Japanese-Americans from certain military areas during World War II. This case has been criticized for its endorsement of racial discrimination during a time of war.
The Supreme Court has also addressed racial discrimination in other contexts, such as employment and housing. In Grutter v. Bollinger (2003), the Court found that a law school's limited use of race in admissions through affirmative action was constitutional. On the other hand, cases like Loving v. Virginia (1967) struck down state laws prohibiting interracial marriage, and Jones v. Mayer Co. (1968) held that federal law bars all racial discrimination in the sale or rental of property.
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Frequently asked questions
Cases that violate the US Constitution are often referred to as "unconstitutional".
Yes, in the case of *United States v. Peters* (1809), the Supreme Court ruled that a Pennsylvania statute prohibiting the execution of any process issued to enforce a certain sentence of a federal court was unconstitutional as it attempted to annul the judgement of a court of the United States.
Yes, in the case of *Fletcher v. Peck* (1810), the Supreme Court ruled that a Georgia statute annulling the conveyance of public lands violated the Contracts Clause of the US Constitution.
