Supreme Court Cases

The court established its role as the arbiter of the constitutionality of federal laws, the principle is known as judicial review (see also Federalist Papers, 78).

The decision stems from the Yazoo land cases, 1803, and upholds the sanctity of contracts.

The Court ruled that states cannot tax the federal government, i.e. the Bank of the United States; the phrase, "the power to tax is the power to destroy";confirmed the constitutionality of the Bank of the United States.

New Hampshire had attempted to take over Dartmouth College by revising its colonial charter. The court ruled that the charter was protected under the contract clause of the U.S. Constitution; upholds the sanctity of contracts.

Clarified the commerce clause and affirmed Confressional power over the interstate commerce.

"The conditions of the Indians in relation to the United States is perhaps unlike that of any two people in existence," Chief Justice John Marshall wrote, "their relation to the United States resembles that of a ward to his guardian...(they were a) domestic dependent nation." Established a "trust relationship" with the tribes directly under federal authority.

Established tribal autonomy within their boundaries, i.e. the tribes were "distinct political communities, having territorial boundaries within which their authority is exclusive."

States do not have the right to grant monopolies that conflict with the interests of the community; the supremacy of society's interest over private interest.

Declared that labor unions were lawful organizations and that the strike was a lawful weapon. (This was a MA State Supreme Court Case, NOT a federal.)

Declared Pennsylvania's personal liberty laws (freesom to defy the Fugitive Slave Laws of 1793) unconsitutional and held that federal law was superior to state law.

Speaking for a widely divided court, Chief Justice Taney ruled that Dred Scott was not a citizen and had no standing in court; Scott's residence in a free state and territory had not made him free since he returned to Missouri; Congress had no power to prohibit slavery in a territory (based on the 5th amendment right of a person to be secure from seizure of property), thus voiding the Missouri Compromise of 1820.

Affirmed the ability of slaveholders to recover fugitive slaves under the Compromise of 1850's Fugitive Slave Law.

The defendant was tried for acts of disloyalty during the Civil War; the Supreme Court ruled that a civilian cannot be tried in military courts while civil courts are available; seen as a check on undue exercise of govt. power during war.

Upheld Grange laws; allowed states to regulate certain businesses within their borders (including railroads).

Declared the 14th amendment did not expand the federal government's authority to protect black citizens and states that still the job for individual states; refusal of federal govt. to enforce the "equal protection" clause.