Supreme Court Landmark “Poster”

Objectives:

Analyze the constitutional and historical significance of a landmark Supreme Court case and ascertain its legal and social impact today.

Evaluate the judicial import of a landmark decision made by the U.S. Supreme Court in terms of constitutional law.

Activity:

Choose a landmark Supreme Court case (from the case list) which significantly determined constitutional case law and helped define your constitutional rights and responsibilities.

Create a poster or poster board demonstrating the legal and constitutional aspectsof the chosen case and decision.

Poster/board should be no larger than 20” x 30”.

Check out my supplies in computer room.

The face of the poster must include the following:

  • Your name/class (duh!)
  • Name of the case
  • Year of the decision
  • Background of the case
  • Amendment(s) being evaluated
  • The constitutional question(s)
  • The court decision and vote
  • The quote from majority opinion
  • Illustration/Graphic
  • Bibliography - 3 sources min. (on back of poster)

You will be orally presenting the content and “upshot” of your case.

Resources:

  • WebBoard “Resources” tab – “U.S. History” post

Supreme Court Landmark Cases

Note: In many cases, the 14th amendment as well as other amendments will be cited in the abstracts along with the stated amendment.

1. Reynolds v. U.S. 1879 (1st religion/marriage) –

2. Everson v. Ewing Township 1947 (1st religion/busing) –

3. Engel v. Vitale 1962 (1stschool prayer) –

4. Lemon v. Kurtzman 1971 (1st religion/school aid) –

5. Marsh v. Chambers 1983 (1st prayer in legislatures) -

6. Edwards v. Aguillard 1987 (1st religion/school) –

7. Allegheny Cty. v. Greater Pitt. ACLU 1989 (1st holiday displays)–

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8.Schenck v. U.S. 1919 (1stspeech during war) –

9. Gitlow v. New York 1925 (1stspeech/states’ rights) –

10. Brandenburg v. Ohio 1969 (1stviolent speech) –

11. Near v. Minnesota 1931 (1stpress) -

12. N.Y. Times v. Sullivan 1964 (1st press) -

13. N.Y. Times Co. v. U.S. 1971 (1st press) -

14. Miller v. California 1973 (1st pornography) –

15. Texas v. Johnson 1989 (1st flag burning) –

16. Reno v. A.C.L.U. 1997 (1stinternet speech) –

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17. Cox v. New Hampshire 1941 (1st assembly)–

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18. U.S. v. Miller 1939 (2nd gun registration/rights)–

19. Printz v. U.S. 1997 (2nd gun rights) –

20. McDonald v. Chicago 2009 (2nd gun control) –

21. Mapp v. Ohio 1961 (4th exclusionary rule) –

22. U.S. v. Leon 1984 (4th good faith exemption)–

23. Terry v. Ohio 1968 (4th stop and frisk) –

24. Illinois v. Wardlow 2000 (4thinvestigatory stop) –

25. Griswold v. Connecticut 1965 (4th/9thbirth control) -

26. Roe v. Wade 1973 (4thabortion) –

27. Webster v. Reproductive Health Services 1989 (4th abortion) –

28. Cruzan v. Missouri Dept. of Health 1990 (4thright to die)–

29. California v. Greenwood 1988 (4thpersonal property) –

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30. Chi., Burlington & Quincy Railroad v. Chicago 1897 (5th private property)

31. Benton v. Maryland 1969 (5th double jeopardy) –

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32. Gideon v. Wainwright 1963 (5thdue process/6thright to council) –

33. Miranda v. Arizona 1966 (5th/6th self-incrimination/right to lawyer) -

34. Pointer v. Texas 1965 (6thright to face accuser) -

35. Barker v. Wingo 1972 (6th speedy trial)–

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36. Gregg v. Georgia 1976 (8th capital punishment) -

37. Glass v. Louisiana 1985 (8thcruel/unusual punishment) -

38. Ingraham v. Wright 1977 (8th corporal punishment) –

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39. Brown v. Board of Education 1954 (10thsegregation/education) -

40. San Antonio Ind. School Dist. v. Rodriguez 1973 (10theducation funding/ states’ rights)–

41. Zelman v. Simmons-Harris 2003 (10th school vouchers) –

42. Univ. of California v. Bakke 1978 (10theducation/affirmative action) –