Familiarizing yourself with key Supreme Court cases will help you understand the philosophical underpinnings, significant legal precedents, and political values of the US political system. As you analyze
each case, you will need to draw on your understanding of the relationships among the branches of
government, the major principles of the Constitution, and the policy-making process. Additionally, these
cases may be the focus of AP® exam questions.
You will research a Supreme Court case and answer questions related to the background facts and lower
court rulings, including the reasoning, decision, and opinion(s) for each case. Additionally, you will be
asked to explain how the required Supreme Court case relates to the Constitution, other foundational
documents, or primary and secondary sources. As part of your analysis, you may also be asked to
consider how Supreme Court cases have set precedents for later decisions.