AP US Government Required SCOTUS Cases (2026)
All 15 required Supreme Court cases for AP US Government with holdings, significance, and FRQ comparison tips.
AP US Government centers on 9 foundational documents and 15 required Supreme Court cases. FRQ 3 (SCOTUS Comparison) directly tests this knowledge.
Official list: AP US Government CED → Appendix.
The 15 Required Cases
| Case | Year | Key Holding |
|---|---|---|
| Marbury v. Madison | 1803 | Judicial review established |
| McCulloch v. Maryland | 1819 | Necessary and Proper Clause; federal supremacy |
| Schenck v. United States | 1919 | Clear and present danger test (1st Amendment limits) |
| Brown v. Board of Education | 1954 | School segregation unconstitutional (14th Amendment) |
| Baker v. Carr | 1962 | Federal courts can hear redistricting cases |
| Engel v. Vitale | 1962 | School-sponsored prayer violates Establishment Clause |
| Gideon v. Wainwright | 1963 | Right to attorney in criminal cases (6th Amendment) |
| Tinker v. Des Moines | 1969 | Student symbolic speech protected |
| New York Times v. US | 1971 | Prior restraint standard (Pentagon Papers) |
| Wisconsin v. Yoder | 1972 | Free exercise of religion (Amish schooling) |
| Roe v. Wade | 1973 | Privacy right and abortion access (note: Dobbs 2022 overturned) |
| Shaw v. Reno | 1993 | Racial gerrymandering violates Equal Protection |
| United States v. Lopez | 1995 | Limits on Commerce Clause power |
| McDonald v. Chicago | 2010 | 2nd Amendment incorporated via 14th Amendment |
| Citizens United v. FEC | 2010 | Corporate political spending protected (1st Amendment) |
How to Study Each Case
For every case, memorize:
- Constitutional principle tested (e.g., federalism, civil liberties, civil rights)
- Holding — what the Court decided
- Significance — why it matters for American government today
- Connection to CED units — which unit covers this case
SCOTUS Comparison FRQ Strategy
FRQ 3 gives a non-required case and asks you to compare it with a required case:
- Identify the shared constitutional principle
- Explain how each case's holding relates to that principle
- Use specific details (not just case names)
Example structure: "Both McCulloch and [non-required case] address federal power under the Constitution. In McCulloch, the Court held that... Similarly, in [non-required case]..."
Related Resources
Sources: College Board AP U.S. Government and Politics CED, Required Supreme Court Cases appendix (apcentral.collegeboard.org). Verified July 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many SCOTUS cases are required for AP Gov?
15 cases are listed in the CED. You must know the holding, constitutional principle, and significance of each.
Which FRQ tests SCOTUS cases?
FRQ 3 (SCOTUS Comparison) asks you to compare a non-required case with a required one.
Do I need to memorize case names?
Yes — case names, years, holdings, and how they apply to constitutional principles.