Supreme Court cases on federal power and constitutional limits

Supreme Court Cases: Trends

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

The State of Maryland enacted a statute obliging all banks not chartered by the state but operating therein to pay additional taxes to the state government. McCulloch, an employee at the Baltimore branch of the Bank of the United States failed to comply with this regulation and the state sued him for violation. McCulloch moved to challenge the constitutionality of the statute. The appellate court held that as an institution incorporated by Congress, the Bank of the U.S. has a right to put up its branches anywhere in the country, and state governments have no power, whatsoever, to control the constitutional operations of such institutions (McGraw Hill Inc., n.d.).

Dred Scott v. Sandford

Dred Scott, a pure-blooded Negro descended from slaves, resided in the free state of Illinois between and in an area of Louisiana that forbade slavery in line with the Missouri Compromise. He later moved to Missouri, where he was taken in as a slave in line with the provisions of Article III. He sued for his freedom, and the court rejected the same, arguing that Article III recognized U.S. citizens as the only citizens of a state; and that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional because it challenged the provisions of Article III.

Gitlow v. New York (1925)

Gitlow, an activist, was arrested and convicted under a New York state law for distributing copies of some manifesto that advocated for the use of class action and strikes in the settlement of industrial disputes. The state charged him for attempting to overthrow the government by force; and he brought suit challenging the constitutionality of the law. The court ruled in favor of the state, arguing that the First Amendment granted states the power to forbid any publication or speech that threatens public security (McGraw Hill, n.d.).

Everson v. Board of Education (1942)

The State of New Jersey enacted a statute requiring schools to reimburse money to parents whose children used buses operated by the state to travel to school. Schools sued on grounds that the statute violated the provisions of the First Amendment. The court ruled in favor of the state, arguing that services such as fire and police protection, and even bussing were not in any way linked to the religious function, and that hence, the state's provision of the same was not a violation of the First Amendment.

Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971)

The suit challenged the constitutionality of state laws that allowed the advancement of financial aid to church-associated learning institutions on grounds that such aid was in violation of the First Amendment. The court held that such laws were indeed unconstitutional because they fostered religious inculcation, which would ultimately get the state entangled with religious affairs.

Schenk v. United States (1919)

Schenk, a socialist,