AP Gov Court Cases

Court Cases McCulloch vs. Maryland – 1819, Maryland tried to tax the US Bank, a national bank. Resulted in Maryland’s law being declared illegal, because the states cannot tax a Federal institution. Gibbons vs. Ogden – 1824, gave Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce. Ogden was running a ferry service and tried to keep Gibbons’ service out of New York waters, citing that navigation was not commerce. Failed, Gibbons sued for entry. Dred Scott vs. Sanford – 1857, Declared that since Dred Scott was a slave, he couldn’t even bring the case to court, and also declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional. (Judicial activism?) Baker vs. Carr – 1962, redistricting for state legislatures, Baker said that the population had shifted yet Tennessee had not redistricted since 1901, even though they had to every 10 years. As a result, there were less votes in the rural districts than the city. Wesberry vs. Sander s – 1964, involved Congressional districts in Georgia. Ruled that districts had to be relatively equal in population. “One person, one vote” Shaw vs. Reno – 1993, ruling on redistricting and gerrymandering according to race. North Carolina tried