The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court: Summaries

The following are some important summaries of various Supreme Courts, leaders, decisions, and policies.

The Supreme Court: Marshall Court  

• Marshall Court Overview
• Marshall Steps In
• Taking Control
• Empowering the National Government

The Supreme Court: Warren Court

• Warren Court Overview
• A Court Divided
• Desegregating Schools
• Mandating Criminal Rights
• Focusing on Personal Rights
• Leaving the Court

The Supreme Court: Burger Court

• Burger Court Overview
• Political Firestorm that Fizzled
• Dethroning a President
• Starting the Abortion Debate
• Activism Takes Over the Court

Ebbs and Flows of Supreme Court Leadership

• Supreme Court Leadership Introduction
• Taney Court, 1837 to 1864
• Chase Court, 1864 to 1873
• Waite Court, 1874 to 1888
• Fuller Court, 1888 to 1921
• White Court, 1910 to 1921
• Taft Court, 1921 to 1930
• Hughes Court, 1930 to 1941
• Stone Court, 1941 to 1946
• Vinson Court, 1946 to 1953

Great Minds of the Supreme Court

• Great Minds of the Court Introduction
• Joseph Story (1811-1845)
• Oliver Wendell Holmes (1902-1932)
• Louis Brandeis (1916-1939)
• Benjamin Cardozo (1932-1938)
• Hugo Black (1937-1971)

The Supreme Court: Electing Our Leaders

• Electing Our Leaders Introduction
• Election Machinery that Works
• Remapping Districts
• Paying for Campaigns
• Getting the Word Out
• Switching Parties

The Supreme Court: Taxing the Populace

• Taxation Introduction
• Taxes on Employee's Tip Income
• Gambling Taxes Collected at Native American Reservations
• Sales Taxes on Mail Orders

The Supreme Court: Deciding Property Rights

• Deciding Property Rights Introduction
• Protecting Land and Home
• Saving Wetlands
• Protecting Patents, Copyrights, and Trademarks
• Trademark for Sex Shop

Educating Kids: The Supreme Court

• Educating our Kids Introduction
• Punishing Students
• Testing for Drugs
• Dealing with Sexual Harassment
• Legalizing School Vouchers

The Supreme Court: Separating Government Powers

• Separating Powers Introduction
• Who's in Control? The States vs Federal Government
• Killing Gun Control
• Supporting Family Leave
• Accepting Homosexuality

The Supreme Court: Controlling Our Bodies

• Controlling Bodies Introduction
• Limiting Abortion Rights
• Denying the Right to Die
• Using Marijuana
• Forcing Drug Tests

The Supreme Court: Keeping Things Equal

• Equality Introduction
• Saying Yes to Affirmative Action, Sometimes
• Unconstitutional Undergraduate Admissions Policy: Gratz v. Bollinger
• Which One Wins—States' Rights or ADA?
• Determining Who Is Disabled Under the ADA

The Supreme Court: Fighting for Freedoms

• Fighting for Freedoms Introduction
• Using Illegal Communication
• Protecting Pornography
• Preventing Children from Accessing Pornography on the Internet
• Allowing Cross Burning

The Supreme Court: Protecting Our Privacy

• Privacy Protection Introduction
• Making Your House a Media Circus
• Testing Politicians for Drugs

The Supreme Court: Collecting Evidence

• Evidence Collection Introduction
• Searching Your Car When You're Stopped for Speeding
• Using the Right Not to Knock
• Finding Marijuana with Thermal-Imaging Devices
• Getting Searched on a Bus

The Supreme Court: Arrest Rules

• The Rules of Arrest Introduction
• Limiting Forced Medication
• Confessing Illegally

The Supreme Court: Crime and Punishment

• Punishing Criminals Introduction
• Is the Death Penalty Cruel and Unusual Punishment?
• Must a Jury Decide the Death Penalty?
• Are Penalties Required in “Third Strike” Laws Too Cruel?