Decided: Mar. 6, 1819
Facts Behind the Case:
Congress chartered The Second Bank of the US in 1816. In 1818, Maryland forced taxes on the bank through legislature. James W. McCulloch, who was the cashier of one of the banks, refused to pay the tax.
Court Decision:
Unanimous Decision

The Court held that Congress could incorporate the bank. The Court also held that the State of Maryland could not tax instruments of the national government employed in the execution of constitutional powers. Congress has the power to charter the second Bank of the US because of the Necessary and Proper Clause.

The court decided that the 6th Amendment’s right to counsel in criminal cases was also opened to felony defendants in state courts. The Supreme Courts also reinforced that the Constitution Framers valued the right of an accused person to have a proper defense, thus the courts must respect that right. The court was consistent with the Constitution to require state courts to appoint attorney for defendants who could not afford it themselves.

Decision 2: 5-4 for Regents of the University of California

Decision 3: 5-4 for Regents of the University of California

Decision 4: 5-4 for Bakke

There was a yes and no for the agreement that the Equal Protection Clause prohibits the university’s specific race-based admissions program, and that Bakke shall be admitted. There was not a single majority opinion. 4 of the justices of this case asserted that any racial quota system that is supported by the government violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The main justice, Lewis F. Powell, Dr., agreed, and casted the vote ordering the medical school to let Bakke in for admissions. Powell argued that the school’s racial quotes were rigidly used, which violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. Powell also asserted that race can be criteria for college admission.

The Constitution embraces a woman’s right to terminate her pregnancy by abortion. The Court reinforces that a woman’s right for an abortion is protected by the 14th Amendment by the right of privacy. This Court also gave women full independence of the pregnancy during the first trimester. The states were allowed to define interests for the second and third trimesters. 46 states were affected by this Court Decision.

Separate but equal educational facilities for racial minorities is inherently unequal violating the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. The court ruled that the segregation of public education based only on race violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. The segregation based on race is detrimental to African American children.