A Level Politics - Civil Rights - Supreme Court Landmark Civil Rights Rulings

A Level Politics – Civil Rights-Supreme Court Landmark Civil Rights Rulings

I. Understanding the Supreme Court's Role:

The Supreme Court interprets the Constitution and applies its principles to legal cases. Landmark rulings fundamentally alter the understanding and application of civil rights for all Americans.

II. Key Landmark Cases (Table Format for Easy Study):

Case Name	Year	Ruling	Significance	Potential Essay Questions
Shelley v. Kraemer	1948	Declared racially restrictive housing covenants unconstitutional.	Ended legally enforced housing segregation.	Discuss the impact of Shelley v. Kraemer on housing discrimination.
Brown v. Board of Education	1954	Ruled state-sponsored segregation in public schools unconstitutional ("separate but equal" doctrine overturned).	Landmark victory in the Civil Rights Movement; desegregation of schools.	Analyze the lasting impact of Brown v. Board of Education.
Reynolds v. Sims	1964	Mandated "one person, one vote" principle in legislative districting.	Addressed malapportionment, ensuring equal representation regardless of population density (particularly impacting African-American voters).	Explain the principle of "one person, one vote" and its implications.
Griswold v. Connecticut	1965	Established a right to marital privacy, encompassing the use of contraceptives.	Recognized implied rights not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution; precursor to Roe v. Wade.	Discuss the concept of implied rights and its application in this case.
Miranda v. Arizona	1966	Established the requirement that suspects be informed of their Fifth Amendment rights before questioning.	Protects against self-incrimination; "Miranda rights" are now standard procedure.	Explain the importance of Miranda rights in protecting individual rights.
Loving v. Virginia	1967	Invalidated state laws prohibiting interracial marriage.	Affirmed the right to marry regardless of race.	Analyze the significance of Loving v. Virginia in the context of racial equality.
Roe v. Wade	1973	Established a woman's right to an abortion, particularly during the first two trimesters.	Remains highly controversial and a focal point of ongoing legal and political debate.	Discuss the legal and ethical arguments surrounding Roe v. Wade.
Regents of Univ. of California v. Bakke	1978	Upheld affirmative action, but prohibited quotas in university admissions.	Balanced competing interests of affirmative action and equal opportunity.	Analyze the complexities of affirmative action as addressed in this case.
Lawrence v. Texas	2003	Struck down anti-sodomy laws, recognizing a right to private consensual homosexual activity.	Affirmed privacy rights and challenged state interference in personal relationships.	Discuss the evolution of LGBTQ+ rights as demonstrated by this case.
District of Columbia v. Heller	2008	Recognized an individual's right to bear arms.	Clarified the Second Amendment's meaning and its implications for gun control legislation.	Debate the implications of District of Columbia v. Heller on gun control.
Obergefell v. Hodges	2015	Established a constitutional right to same-sex marriage.	Landmark victory for LGBTQ+ rights.	Analyze the legal arguments that led to the decision in Obergefell.
Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Comm.	2018	Acknowledged a business owner's right to refuse service based on religious beliefs (narrow ruling).	Highlights the tension between religious freedom and anti-discrimination laws.	Discuss the limitations and complexities of religious freedom exemptions.
Altitude Express v. Zarda	2020	Protected employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation.	Extended anti-discrimination protections in the workplace.	Analyze the expansion of workplace protections against discrimination.
R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes Inc. v. EEOC	2020	Protected employees from discrimination based on gender identity.	Extended anti-discrimination protections to transgender individuals.	Discuss the legal arguments that led to the decision in this case.
Espinosa v. Montana Dept. of Revenue	2020	Ruled that states cannot deny aid to private religious schools solely because of their religious status.	Affirmed the principle of parental choice in education and religious freedom.	Explain the implications of this decision on school funding and religious freedom.

III. Study Strategies:

• Create flashcards: Use the table above to create flashcards with the case name on one side and the ruling and significance on the other.
• Timeline: Create a timeline of the cases to understand the historical progression of civil rights law.
• Compare and contrast: Compare and contrast cases addressing similar issues (e.g., Griswold and Roe, Lawrence and Obergefell).
• Essay preparation: Practice writing essays addressing the potential essay questions listed in the table. Consider the historical context, legal arguments, and societal impact of each case.

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