1142
Iroquois Confederacy formed
1215
King John forced by English nobles to signthe Magna Carta at Runnymede
1620
May?ower Compact signed
1692
Salem Witch Trials
1735
Peter Zenger acquitted in a jury trial; foundnot guilty of engaging in seditious libel
1765
The British adopt the Stamp Act
1767
The British adopt the Townsend Act
1770
The Boston Massacre
1773
The Tea Act is adopted
The Boston Tea Party
1774
The First Continental Congress meets
1775
The Second Continental Congress meets
Battles of Lexington and Concord
Battle of Bunker Hill
1776
Declaration of Independence
1777
Second Continental Congress writes the?rst draft of the Articles of Confederation
1781
Articles of Confederation adopted
1786
Shays’s Rebellion begins
1787
Northwest Ordinance adopted
Constitutional Convention
Delaware becomes the ?rst sate to adoptthe new constitution
Federalist Papers
run in New Yorknewspapers
Anti-Federalist
Brutus
and
Letters from the Federal Farmer
run in newspapers andappear in a pamphlet.
1788
Constitution rati?ed by requisite numberof states
George Washington elected as the firstpresident of the United States
1789
Judiciary Act of 1789 establishes the SupremeCourt with six members, and allows for casesfrom a state’s highest court to be appealed tothe United States Supreme Court
President Washington appoints the ?rst six justices
John Jay becomes the ?rst chief justice
1791
First 10 amendments to the Constitution,known as the Bill of Rights, are rati?ed
1793
In
Chisholm v. Georgia,
the SupremeCourt rules that a citizen of one state cansue a different state in federal court
1796
Oliver Ellsworth becomes chief justice
1798
In
Calder v. Bull,
the Supreme Courtdeclares that the ex post facto clauseapplies only to criminal matters.
Congress adopts the Sedition Act
The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions,authored by Thomas Jefferson and JamesMadison, challenge the constitutionality of the Sedition Act
The Eleventh Amendment overturns
Ch isholm v. Georgia
1800
John Marshall becomes chief justice
Thomas Jefferson defeats John Adams forthe presidency, but only after the Houseof Representatives selects him over hisrunning mate Aaron Burr to becomepresident
1803
In
Marbury v. Madison,
Supreme Courtstates it has the power to declare lawsunconstitutional
1804
The Twelfth Amendment changes the pres-idential election process so that the presi-dent and vice president run as a ticket
1810
In
Fletcher v. Peck,
the Supreme Courtdeclares it has the power to review theconstitutionality of state laws
1811
Samuel Chase is the only Supreme Court justice impeached by the House of Rep-resentatives; the Senate refuses to convicthim
1816
In
Martin v. Hunter’s Lessee,
the SupremeCourt overturns a Virginia law, af?rmingthe power of the Supreme Court to declarestate laws unconstitutional
1819
In
McCulloch v. Maryland,
the SupremeCourt upholds the constitutionality of theBank of the United States and indicatesthat the federal government has expansivepowers under the “necessary and proper” clause
In
Dartmouth College v. Wooodward,
theSupreme Court rules that the contractclause prevents a state from changing thecharter of a private college
1820
Missouri Compromise adopted
1824
In
Gibbons v. Ogden,
the Supreme Courtupholds expansive power for the UnitedStates government to regulate commerce
1831
In
Cherokee Nation v. Georgia,
theSupreme Court issues the ?rst of severaldecisions regarding the status of NativeAmericans in the United States
1833
In
Barron v. Baltimore,
the SupremeCourt states that the Bill of Rights doesnot apply to the states
1836
Roger Taney becomes chief justice
1837
In
Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge,
the Supreme Court rules that the contractclause does not preclude the state of Mas-sachusetts from allowing a new bridge tobe incorporated and built next to an exist-ing one that had received a charter fromthe state
1851
In
Cooley v. Board of Wardens,
the SupremeCourt af?rms the power of states to regulatelocal navigation issues despite restrictionsimposed by the commerce clause
1854
Kansas-Nebraska Act adopted
1857
In
Dred Scott v. Sanford,
the SupremeCourt declares the Missouri Compromiseunconstitutional and also rules that blacksare property, not citizens
1860
Abraham Lincoln elected president
1864
Salmon P. Chase becomes chief justice
1865
The Thirteenth Amendment, abolishingslavery, is rati?ed
Reconstruction begins
1866
In
Ex parte Milligan,
the Supreme Courtaf?rms the power of Congress to removeits jurisdiction to decide a habeas corpusafter the Court had already had oral argu-ments in the case
1868
The Fourteenth Amendment is ratified,overturning
Dred Scott v. Sanford;
theamendment prevents states from denyingthe privileges and immunities of U.S. citi-zens, granting equal protection of the lawor Due Process of law
1870
The Fifteenth Amendment is rati?ed, pro-hibiting discrimination in voting on thebasis of race
1873
In the
Slaughterhouse Cases,
the SupremeCourt limits the meaning of the privilegesand immunities clause of the FourteenthAmendment
1874
Morrison R. Waite becomes chief justice
1875
Supreme Court rules in
Minor v. Happer- sett
that states may deny women the rightto vote
1876
In
Munn v. Illinois,
the Supreme Courtupholds the regulation of grain elevators
1877
Reconstruction ends with the withdrawalof federal troops from the South
1883
In the Civil Rights cases, the SupremeCourt declares that Congress lacks theauthority to prevent discrimination in pri- vate establishments
1887
In
Mugler v. Kansas,
the Supreme Courtstrikes down a State law prohibiting intoxicating beverages, ruling that it (the Court)has the right to review the reasonablenessof legislation
1888
Melville W. Fuller becomes chief justice
1895
Supreme Court upholds the use of injunc-tions to halt labor strikes in
In re Debs
Supreme Court narrows the application,the Sherman Antitrust Act and the powerof Congress to regulate commerce in
United States v. E.C. Knight Company
Supreme Court declares federal incometax unconstitutional in
Pollock v. Farmers’ Loan
1896
In
Plessy v. Ferguson,
the Supreme Courtupholds segregation and the “separate butequal” doctrine
1897
In
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail-road Company v. Chicago,
the SupremeCourt begins the process of incorporatingthe Bill of Rights to the states by holdingthat the Fifth Amendment just-compensa-tion clause applies to the states
In
Allgeyer v. Louisiana,
the SupremeCourt strikes down a State law regulatinga private contract
1905
In
Lochner v. New York,
the SupremeCourt strikes down a state law regulatingthe working hours of bakers, holding that it violates the Due Process clause of the Four-teenth Amendment
1907
The Tillman Act is passed, preventing cor-porations from expending money to in?u-ence federal elections
1908
In
Muller v. Oregon,
the Supreme Courtupholds laws limiting working hours for women; Louis Brandeis introduces thefamous “Brandeis brief” in the case
1910
Edward D. White becomes chief justice
1913
The Sixteenth Amendment passes, over-turning
Pollock v. Farmers’ Loan
The Seventeenth Amendment passes, pro- viding for direct election of U.S. senators
1914
Supreme Court declares the exclusionary rule to be part of the Fourth Amendmentin federal proceedings in
Weeks v. UnitedStates
1916
Louis Brandeis, the ?rst Jewish SupremeCourt justice, is sworn in
1917
Bolsheviks seize power in Russia
Congress adopts the Espionage Act
United States enters World War I
1918
In
Hammer v. Dagenhart,
the SupremeCourt strikes down child labor laws as anunconstitutional regulation of commerce
Congress adopts the Espionage Act
1919
The Eighteenth Amendment is adopted,banning the sale and manufacture of alco-hol for consumption
Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., devel-ops the “clear and present danger” test in
Schenck v. United States
In
Abrams v. United States,
the SupremeCourt upholds the convictions of ?ve Rus-sian immigrants who circulated antiwarlea?ets
1920
Nineteenth Amendment ratified, giving women the right to vote
1921
Former president William Howard Taftbecomes chief justice
1923
In
Adkins v. Children’s Hospital,
theSupreme Court strikes down as unconstitu-tional a federal minimum wage for women
1925
In
Gitlow v. New York,
the Supreme Courtincorporates the First Amendment freespeech clause to apply to the states throughthe due process clause of the FourteenthAmendment
In
Pierce v. Society of Sisters,
the SupremeCourt declares that parents have a rightto send their children to private religiousschools
1927
In
Buck v. Bell,
the Supreme Court upholdsa law requiring the forced sterilization of amentally retarded woman
1930
Charles Evans Hughes becomes chief justice
1931
In
Near v. Minnesota,
the Supreme Courtrules that the First Amendment prevents states from engaging in prior restraint; inthis case, the Supreme Court also incorpo-rates the First Amendment freedom of thepress clause to the states
1932
In the Scottsboro case of
Powell v. Ala- bama,
the Supreme Court rules that thestate must provide legal counsel to thoseaccused of capital crimes; it incorporatesthis Sixth Amendment right to the states
Supreme Court upholds the power of statesto issue a moratorium on mortgage repay-ments in
Home Building and Loan Asso-ciation v. Blaisdell
1933
The Twentieth Amendment is adopted,changing the dates for terms of the president, vice president, and members of Congress
The Twenty-?rst Amendment is adopted,repealing the Eighteenth Amendment
1935
Supreme Court building completed andthe Court moves into it
In
Schechter Poultry Co. v. United States,
the Supreme Court declares a trade ruleadopted under the National IndustrialRecovery Act to be an unconstitutional violation of the commerce clause
1936
In
Carter v. Carter Coal,
the SupremeCourt invalidates a federal law seeking toregulate coal production, ruling that it vio-lates the commerce clause
1937
President Roosevelt issues his “court-pack-ing plan”
In
Palko v. Connecticut,
Justice BenjaminCardozo develops the doctrine of “selectiveincorporation” and fundamental freedoms
In
NLRB v. Jones & Laughlin Steel Co.,
the Supreme Court invalidates portions of the National Labor Relations Act as a vio-lation of the commerce clause
In
DeJonge v. Oregon,
the Supreme Courtincorporates the freedom of assembly clause to apply to the states
In
West Coast Hotel v. Parrish,
theSupreme Court upholds a state minimum wage law for women, overturning
Adkins v.Children’s Hospital
1938
In the famous footnote number four of
United States v. Caroline Products,
theSupreme Court through Harlan FiskeStone indicates that it will no longer giveheightened scrutiny to economic legisla-tion, but instead will afford more protec-tion to civil rights; this case marks thebeginning of the “New Deal” Court
Hatch Acts adopted, placing restric-tions on the political activities of federalemployees
1940 In
Minersville School District v. Gobitis,
the Supreme Court upholds a compulsory ?ag-salute law
In
Cantwell v. Connecticut,
the SupremeCourt incorporates the free-exercise clauseto apply to the states
Franklin Roosevelt elected to a third termas president of the United States
1941
Harlan Fiske Stone becomes chief justice
United States enters World War II
In
United States
v. Darby Lumber,
theSupreme Court upholds the Fair LaborStandards Act of 1938 and, in effect, over-turns
Hammer v. Dagenhart
1942
In
Wickard v. Filburn,
the Supreme Courtrejects the broad commerce clause powerof Congress to regulate wheat productionforpersonal use
In
Betts v. Brady,
the Supreme Court cre-ates the exclusionary rule that prevents theuse of illegally obtained evidence in fed-eral court to convict an individual
The Court declares in
Skinner v. Okla-homa
that individuals have a fundamentalright to procreate
In
Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire,
theSupreme Court declares that fight-ing words are not protected by the FirstAmendment
1943
In
West Virginia v. Barnette,
the SupremeCourt holds that compulsory ?ag salutingin school is unconstitutional; this decisionoverturns
Minersville School District v.Gobitis
1944
In
Korematsu v. United States,
theSupreme Court upholds the forced andmass detention of Japanese Americans; inthe same case, the Court also declares thatany policy that categorizes individuals by race is suspect
1946
Fred M. Vinson becomes chief justice
In
Colegrove v. Green,
the Supreme Courtsays it will not hear reapportionment cases
1947
In
Everson v. Board of Education ,
theSupreme Court rules that the establish-ment clause does not bar the use of publicschool buses to transport students to paro-chial schools; in this case, the Court alsoincorporates the establishment clause toapply to the states
1948
In
McCullum v. Board of Education ,
theSupreme Court rules that the establish-ment clause bars religious instruction inpublic schools
In
In re Oliver,
the Supreme Court incor-porates the Sixth Amendment right to apublic trial to apply to the states
1949
The Federal Communications Commissionadopts the Fairness Doctrine
In
Wolf v. Colorado,
the Supreme Courtincorporates the Fourth Amendment, butnot the exclusionary rule, to apply to thestates
1951
In
Dennis v. United States,
the SupremeCourt upholds the conviction of 11 mem-bers of the Communist Party for violatingthe Smith Act
The Twenty-second Amendment isadopted, limiting presidents to serving twoterms
1952
In
Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer,
the Supreme Court declares that PresidentTruman’s seizure of the steel mills duringthe Korean war was unconstitutional
In
Beauharnais v. Illinois,
the SupremeCourt rules that the First Amendmentdoes not protect group libel
In
Zorach v. Clauson,
the Supreme Courtupholds a release time program to allowpublic school students to attend religiouseducation classes
1953
Earl Warren becomes chief justice
1954
“Separate but equal” doctrine declaredunconstitutional in
Brown v. Board of Education
and in
Bolling v. Sharpe
1957
Supreme Court seeks to de?ne obscenity in
Roth v. United States
In
Watkins v. United States,
the SupremeCourt places limits on congressionalinvestigations
1958
Supreme Court declares it is the ?nal wordon the meaning of the Constitution in
Coo- per v. Aaron
In
NAACP v. Alabama,
the SupremeCourt declares that states may not violatethe right of freedom of association
1959
In
Barenblatt v. United States,
theSupreme Court rules that Congress may compel witnesses to testify about their pastpolitical associations
1961
In
Mapp v. Ohio,
the Supreme Courtextends the exclusionary rule to apply tothe states
The Twenty-third Amendment is adopted,giving the District of Columbia three elec-toral votes in the selection of the president
1962
In
Baker v. Carr,
the Supreme Courtreverses its decision in
Colgrove v. Green
and rules that reapportionment challengescan be heard in federal court
In
Engel v. Vitale,
the Supreme Courtdeclares that state-sponsored prayer inpublic schools is unconstitutional
In
Robinson v. California,
the SupremeCourt incorporates the Eighth Amend-ment cruel and unusual punishment clauseto apply to the states
1963
In
Gideon v. Wainwright,
the SupremeCourt rules that individuals accused of felonies must receive an Attorney if they cannot afford one
In
Ferguson v. Skrupa,
the Supreme Courtdeclares the doctrine of substantive dueprocess for economic legislation to be dead
In
Sherbert v. Verner,
the Supreme Courtrules that a state must give unemploymentbene?ts to a person who was ?red from a job for refusing to work on her sabbath
In
Abington v. Schempp,
the SupremeCourt declares Bible reading in publicschools to be unconstitutional
In
Edwards v. South Carolina,
theSupreme Court effectively incorporatesthe First Amendment right of petition toapply to the states
1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is passed by Congress
In
Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States
and
Katzenbach v. McClung,
the SupremeCourt upholds the constitutionality of the1964 Civil Rights Act
In
New York Times v. Sullivan,
the SupremeCourt establishes a higher standard thatmust be met for a public of?cial to sue libel
The Twenty-fourth Amendment is adopted,outlawing poll taxes
In
Aguilar v. Texas,
the Supreme Courtincorporates the warrant requirements of theFourth Amendment to apply to the states
In
Malloy v. Hogan,
the Supreme Courtincorporates the Fifth Amendment privi-lege against self-incrimination to apply tothe states
In
Reynolds v. Sims,
the Supreme Courtestablishes the “one person, one vote” stan-dard for redistricting
1965
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is passed by Congress
In
Pointer v. Texas,
the Supreme Courtincorporates the Sixth Amendment right toconfront witnesses to apply to the states
In
Griswold v. Connecticut,
the SupremeCourt declares unconstitutional a state lawmaking it illegal to sell contraceptives tomarried couples
1966
In
Miranda v. Arizona,
the Supreme Courtrules that those suspected of a crime mustbe read their rights when they are takeninto custody
1967
Thurgood Marshall becomes the ?rst Afri-can American on the Supreme Court
The Twenty-?fth Amendment is adopted,creating a line of succession to the presi-dency in the event of a vacancy
In
Klopfer v. North Carolina,
the SupremeCourt incorporates the Sixth Amendmentright to a speedy trial to apply to the states
1968
Supreme Court decides in
Flast v. Cohen
that taxpayers have standing to chal-lenge some religious funding under theConstitution
Congress adopts the Indian Bill of Rights
In
Duncan v. Louisiana,
the Supreme Courtincorporates the Sixth Amendment right toa trial by jury (for significant offenses) toapply to the states
1969
In
Brandenburg v. Ohio,
the SupremeCourt rules that mere Advocacy of violenceis protected under the First Amendment
In
Stanley v. Georgia,
the Supreme Courtrules that individuals have a First Amend-ment right to view pornography in theirown homes
In
Tinker v. Des Moines IndependentSchool District,
the Supreme Court rulesthat students have a First Amendment rightto wear black armbands in school to protestthe Vietnam War
In
Benton v. Maryland,
the Supreme Courtincorporates the Fifth Amendment rightagainst double jeopardy to apply to thestates
In
Red Lion Broadcasting v. FCC,
theSupreme Court upholds the fairnessdoctrine
Warren Burger becomes chief justice
1970
In
Oregon v. Mitchell,
the Supreme Courtdeclares unconstitutional a federal law low-ering the voting age in state elections to 18 years old
1971
In
Lemon v. Kurtzman,
the Supreme Courtissues a constitutional test to determine when state aid to parochial schools violatesthe establishment clause In
Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Boardof Education,
the Supreme Court upholdsthe use of busing to achieve racial integra-tion of schools
In
Cohen v. California,
the Supreme Courtrules that the First Amendment protectsthe right of an individual to depict profanity on a piece of clothing in a court to protestthe Vietnam War.
In
New York Times Co. v. United States,
theSupreme Court af?rms the First Amend-ment right to publish the Pentagon Papers
The Twenty-sixth Amendment is adopted,overturning
Oregon v. Mitchell
and lower-ing the voting age to 18 years
1972
In
Furman v. Georgia,
the Supreme Courtstrikes down all death penalty laws asunconstitutional
In
Eisenstadt v. Baird,
the SupremeCourt strikes down a state law preventingthe sale of birth control devices to singleindividuals
1973
Laws outlawing abortion are struck down in
Roe v. Wade
Supreme Court establishes a new test forobscenity in
Miller v. California
Four justices in the Supreme Court case
Frontiero v. Richardson
declare “sex” to bea suspect classi?cation
Supreme Court declares, in
San AntonioIndependent School District v. Rodriguez,
that education is not a fundamental right andthat wealth is not a suspect classi?cation
Congress adopts the War Powers Act
1974
In
United States v. Nixon,
the SupremeCourt orders President Nixon to turn overhis private, tape-recorded White Houseconversations to a special prosecutor
1976
In
Buckley v. Valeo,
the Supreme Courtupholds portions of the new Federal Elec-tion Campaign Act that regulate campaigncontributions; the Court strikes down theregulations on campaign spending
In
Gregg v. Georgia,
the Supreme Courtupholds the Georgia death penalty law
In
Craig v. Boren,
the Supreme Court statesthat a higher level of scrutiny is needed when individuals are classi?ed by gender
1977
In
Carey v. Reproductive Health Services,
the Supreme Court rules that the Constitu-tion protects the right of minors to receivebirth control
In
Coker v. Georgia,
the Supreme Courtdeclares that the Eighth Amendment barsthe execution of individuals convicted of rape
1978
In
Regents of the University of California v.Bakke,
the Supreme Court upholds the useof affirmative action in education admis-sions so long as race is one of several factorsused in evaluating candidates
In
Zurcher v. Stanford Daily,
the SupremeCourt upholds the issuance of search war-rants to search a student newspaper of?ce
In
FCC v. Paci?ca Foundation,
the SupremeCourt af?rms the power of the FCC to ?nea radio station for the broadcast of GeorgeCarlin’s “Seven Dirty Words” routine
1981
Sandra Day O’Connor becomes the first woman on the Supreme Court
1982
In
New York v. Ferber,
the Supreme Courtdeclares that child pornography is obsceneand not protected by the First Amendment
1983
In
INS v. Chadha,
the Supreme Courtdeclares a one-house legislative veto to bean unconstitutional violation of the present-ment clause
1986
William Hubbs Rehnquist becomes chief justice
In
Bowers v. Hardwick,
the SupremeCourt rules that private, consensual homo-sexual sodomy is not protected by theConstitution
In
Bethel School District v. Fraser,
theSupreme Court rules that public schoolof?cials can regulate student speech that is vulgar
In
Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson,
theSupreme Court declares sexual harassmentto be sexual discrimination In
Bowsher v. Synar,
the Supreme Courtstrikes down the Budget and Emergency De?cit Control Act of 1985, ruling it to be a violation of separation of powers
1987
In a contentious confirmation process,United States Senate refuses to confirmRobert Bork to the Supreme Court
1988
In
Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier,
the Supreme Court rules that public schoolof?cials can regulate school-sponsored stu-dent speech
In
Morrison v. Olson,
the Supreme Courtupholds the constitutionality of the specialprosecutor law
1989
In
Texas v. Johnson,
the Supreme Courtdeclares unconstitutional a law making ?agburning illegal
1990
In
Cruzan v. Director, Missouri Depart- ment of Health,
the Supreme Court rulesthat individuals have a right to withholdmedical treatment and to die
In
Employment Division v. Smith,
theSupreme Court af?rms the unemploymentbene?ts to two Native Americans who were?red from work because they tested posi-tive for the use of peyote during an Indianreligious ceremony
1991
Clarence Thomas is con?rmed as a SupremeCourt justice after allegations of sexualharassment by Anita Hill
1992
In
Planned Parenthood v. Casey,
theSupreme Court reaffirms
Roe v. Wade
but also upholds several restrictions upon women seeking abortions
In
Lee v. Weisman,
the Supreme Courtbans public prayer at public schoolgraduations
The Supreme Court strikes down a cross-burning law as a violation of the FirstAmendment in
R.A.V. v. St. Paul
The Twenty-seventh Amendment, originally proposed in 1789, is adopted, providing thatany changes in compensation for membersof Congress cannot take effect until afterthe next election
1993
Congress adopts the Religious FreedomRestoration Act in an effort to overturn
Employment Division v. Smith
1995
In
United States v. Lopez,
the SupremeCourt strikes down Congress’s authority under the commerce clause to regulateguns near schools
In
Rosenberger v. Rector & Visitors of theUniversity of Virginia,
the Supreme Courtrules that the University of Virginia can-not deny student activity fees to religiousgroups
1996
Congress seeks to regulate the content of the Internet with the adoption of the Com-munications Decency Act
1997
In
City of Boerne v. Flores,
the SupremeCourt strikes down application of the Reli-gious Freedom Restoration Act to the states
In
Reno v. ACLU,
the Supreme Courtstrikes down two provisions of the Commu-nications Decency Act of 1996
In
Printz v. United States,
the SupremeCourt declares that Congress lacks theauthority under the commerce clause andthe Tenth Amendment to require local of?-cials to perform mandatory backgroundchecks on gun purchasers under the Brady Handgun Violence Protection Act
1998
In
Clinton v. New York,
the Supreme Courtstrikes down the presidential line-item veto
2000
In
Bush v. Gore,
the Supreme Court haltsthe Florida presidential recount, makingGeorge Bush the winner of the 2000 presi-dential race
In
Santa Fe Independent School District v.Doe,
the Supreme Court rules that a highschool’s practice of announcing prayersover the loudspeaker at high school footballgames violates the establishment clause
In
Boy Scouts v. Dale,
the Supreme Courtrules that the First Amendment protectsthe right of the Boy Scouts to exclude gaysfrom their organization
2001
Terrorist attacks on the United States
The PATRIOT Act is adopted
In
Cooper Industries v. Leatherman,
theSupreme Court incorporates the EighthAmendment right against excessive ?nes toapply to the states
2002
Congress passes McCain-Feingold, theBipartisan Campaign Reform Act, to regu-late money in politics
In
Atkins v. Virginia,
the Supreme Courtdeclares that the Eighth Amendment barsthe execution of individuals who are men-tally retarded
2003
Supreme Court overrules
Bowers v. Hard- wick
in
Lawrence v. Texas
In a pair of cases,
Gratz v. Bollinger
and
Grutter v. Bollinger,
the Supreme Courtupholds the use of af?rmative action to pro-mote educational diversity
In
Virginia v. Black,
the Supreme Courtupholds a state cross-burning law asconstitutional
In
McConnell v. FEC,
the Supreme Courtupholds the soft money ban in the Biparti-san Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002
In
United States v. American Library Asso-ciation,
the U.S. Supreme Court upholdsthe Children’s Internet Protection Act
2004
In
Hamdi v. Rumsfeld,
the Supreme Courtrules that an American citizen cannot beheld inde?nitely on American soil withouta right to habeas corpus review
In
Rasul v. Bush,
the Supreme Court rulesthat aliens being held in con?nement at theAmerican military base in GuantánamoBay, Cuba, are entitled to have a federalcourt hear challenges to their detentionunder the federal habeas corpus statute
2005
John G. Roberts, Jr., becomes chief justiceof the Supreme Court
In
Roper v. Simmons,
the Supreme Courtdeclares the imposition of the death penalty on individuals under the age of 18 to be a violation of the Eighth Amendment
In
Kelo v. City of New London,
the SupremeCourt af?rms as a valid public use for emi-nent domain the taking of private property for economic development purposes
2006
Samuel Alito replaces Sandra Day O’Connoras justice on the Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court upholds a TenCommandments monument display in aTexas public park in
Van Orden v. Perry
and strikes down displays of the Ten Com-mandments outside two Kentucky county courthouses in
McCreary County v. ACLUof Kentucky
2007
In
Gonzales v. Carhart,
the Supreme Courtupholds a federal law banning partial birthabortions
In
Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District,
the SupremeCourt rules that race may not be used inschool placement/enrollment decisions
In
Morse v. Frederick,
the Supreme Courtrules that school of?cials can censor/punishstudent speech seen as advocating illegaldrug use
In
FEC v. Wisconsin Right to Life,
the Supreme Court rules that McCain-Feingoldrestrictions on advertising are unconstitu-tional as applied
2008
In
Boumediene v. Bush,
the Supreme Courtrules that the foreign terrorist suspects heldin Guantánamo Naval Base in Cuba havethe right of habeas corpus (to challengetheir detention in a U.S. court), which waspreviously denied to them by the Military Commissions Act of 2006
The Supreme Court rules in
Districtof Columbia v. Heller
that the SecondAmendment protects the rights of citizensto own a ?rearm for private use. This case was the ?rst in Supreme Court history todirectly address the issue of gun control forindividuals
Conclusion
Notes
See Also
About the Author/s and Rewiever/s
Author: United States
References and Further Reading
About the Author/s and Reviewer/s
Author: United States