The following are 15 required Supreme Court cases for the AP Gov exam review:

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

The facts of this case involve several states, including Maryland, passing laws to tax the Bank of the United States. The holding was that Congress may establish a national bank, and states may not tax the national government. The case highlights Constitutional principles such as the necessary and proper clause, the supremacy clause, and the Tenth Amendment.

U.S. v. Lopez (1995)

The case deals with a student in Texas bringing an unloaded gun to school and being charged with violating the federal Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990. The holding was that the law is unconstitutional because possession of a gun in a school zone does not substantially affect any sort of interstate commerce. This case is significant for understanding the limitations of the commerce clause.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

This case involves public schools in New York beginning the school day by inviting students to recite a nondenominational prayer each morning. The holding was that states cannot hold prayers in public schools, even if participation is voluntary and the prayer isn't tied to a specific religion. It emphasizes the establishment clause and the 14th Amendment's incorporation of religious activities.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

The facts of this case revolve around Wisconsin having a law that mandated school attendance until age 16, with Amish families refusing for religious reasons to send their children to high school once they finished 8th grade. The holding was that compelling Amish students to attend public school beyond 8th grade violates the free exercise clause. This case is essential for understanding the balance between state power and individuals' freedoms.

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

In this case, students were suspended for wearing black armbands as a symbol to protest the Vietnam War. The holding was that the armbands represent pure speech, and students have free speech rights at school, emphasizing the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech.

New York Times v. United States (1971)

The case involved the Nixon administration attempting to stop the publication of the Pentagon Papers, a classified study of U.S. activities in Vietnam, by the New York Times and Washington Post. The holding was that the government did not have the right to block publication of the Pentagon Papers, highlighting the freedom of press under the First Amendment.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Clarence Earl Gideon was charged with a felony and requested that the state court appoint a lawyer for him. The holding was that states must provide attorneys for defendants who can't afford one, incorporating the right to an attorney under the Sixth Amendment.

Roe v. Wade (1973)

This case affirmed a woman's right to an abortion based on the right to privacy.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

This case ruled that black students in several states were denied admittance to certain public schools based on race, emphasizing the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection clause.

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

Residents of Chicago were invariably denied licenses for handguns, creating an effective ban on handguns. This case established an individual right to bear arms and is significant for understanding Second Amendment rights.

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

The case involved BCRA banning corporations and unions from independent political spending, and Citizens United, a conservative non-profit organization, being prevented by the law from airing a film critical of Hillary Clinton. The holding was that the First Amendment's free speech guarantee extends to corporate funding of independent political broadcasts.

This list of Supreme Court cases provides a comprehensive overview of crucial cases related to civil rights, individual freedoms, and the powers of the federal and state governments, and is essential for students preparing for the AP United States Government and Politics exam. These cases cover a range of Constitutional principles and doctrines, such as the commerce clause, free speech, rights of the accused, and the separation of powers, and are foundational to understanding the American legal and political system.