# AP Government: The 15 SCOTUS Cases You Must Know Cold
AP Government and Politics has a 5-rate around 13-15%. The exam has 55 MCQs (80 min) and 4 FRQs (100 min). One of the four FRQs is always a SCOTUS Comparison essay — you're given an unnamed case and must compare it to one of the 15 required cases. If you don't know the required cases, you cannot earn points on this essay.
The 15 Required Cases (Grouped by Theme)
Federalism & Government Power:
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) — implied powers, necessary and proper clauseUnited States v. Lopez (1995) — limits on commerce clauseBaker v. Carr (1962) — "one person, one vote," political questions are justiciableCivil Liberties — First Amendment:
Engel v. Vitale (1962) — school prayer violates establishment clauseWisconsin v. Yoder (1972) — free exercise trumps compulsory education for AmishTinker v. Des Moines (1969) — students don't shed rights at schoolhouse gateNew York Times v. United States (1971) — prior restraint on press unconstitutionalSchenck v. United States (1919) — "clear and present danger" testCivil Liberties — Due Process & Rights of Accused:
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) — right to an attorney in felony casesRoe v. Wade (1973) — right to privacy includes abortion (note: overturned by Dobbs 2022)McDonald v. Chicago (2010) — 2nd Amendment applies to states via incorporationCivil Rights — Equal Protection:
Brown v. Board of Education (1954) — "separate but equal" is unconstitutionalMarbury v. Madison (1803) — judicial review establishedCitizens United v. FEC (2010) — political spending is protected speechShaw v. Reno (1993) — racial gerrymandering subject to strict scrutinyHow to Learn Them
For each case, memorize four things: (1) the constitutional clause at issue, (2) the ruling, (3) the reasoning, and (4) the precedent it set or overturned. Create a 4-column chart.
The SCOTUS Comparison FRQ Strategy
The prompt gives you a description of a case (without naming it). You must:
Identify a required case that relates to the same constitutional principleDescribe the facts of your chosen required caseExplain a similarity or difference in the reasoning or rulingExplain why the holdings might differ based on the factual circumstancesThe key: the unnamed case in the prompt always maps clearly to one of the 15 required cases. If it involves student speech, think Tinker. If it involves gun rights and state law, think McDonald. The mapping is intentional.
Take the free AP Government diagnostic at quantumlearningmachines.com/free-diagnostic?exam=ap-gov — 15 minutes, no signup.
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