Introduction: Why Court Cases Matter in FRQs
On the AP U.S. Government and Politics exam, you’re expected not only to know facts but also to apply landmark Supreme Court cases in your Free-Response Questions (FRQs).
Whether it’s an Argument Essay, Concept Application, or SCOTUS Comparison FRQ, citing the right case at the right time can raise your score.
With this guide — plus RevisionDojo’s Supreme Court Case Tracker and practice FRQs — you’ll learn how to confidently integrate cases into your essays.
Step 1: The Required Supreme Court Cases
The College Board requires 15 cases for AP Gov. These form the backbone of FRQ writing:
- Marbury v. Madison (1803) → Judicial review
- McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) → Federal supremacy, Necessary & Proper Clause
- U.S. v. Lopez (1995) → Limits of federal power under Commerce Clause
- Engel v. Vitale (1962) → No school-sponsored prayer (Establishment Clause)
- Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) → Religious freedom over state education laws
- Tinker v. Des Moines (1969) → Student free speech rights
- Schenck v. United States (1919) → Limits on speech (“clear and present danger”)
- New York Times v. U.S. (1971) → Prior restraint and press freedom
- Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) → Right to an attorney
- Roe v. Wade (1973) → Privacy and abortion rights
- Brown v. Board of Education (1954) → School desegregation
- Baker v. Carr (1962) → “One person, one vote”
- Shaw v. Reno (1993) → No racial gerrymandering
- Citizens United v. FEC (2010) → Unlimited campaign spending = free speech
- McDonald v. Chicago (2010) → 2nd Amendment incorporated to states
👉 RevisionDojo provides flashcards and comparison charts for all 15 cases.
Step 2: When FRQs Require Case Connections
There are three main FRQs where cases appear:
- SCOTUS Comparison FRQ → Directly compares a required case with a non-required case.
- Argument Essay → Use at least one required case as evidence.
- Concept Application FRQ → Apply constitutional principles, often referencing cases.
👉 Strategy: Always name, explain, and connect the case.
Step 3: How to Write About Cases Effectively
Follow the 3-Step Method (NEC):
- Name the case (Brown v. Board).
- Explain the precedent (Court ruled segregation unconstitutional).
- Connect it to the question (This shows the Court expanding civil rights).
Example (Argument Essay):
- Claim: The Supreme Court protects minority rights.
- Evidence: In Brown v. Board of Education (1954), the Court struck down “separate but equal” schools, ensuring African Americans access to equal education.
- Reasoning: This demonstrates the Court’s role in enforcing the Equal Protection Clause.
Step 4: Common Case Pairings for FRQs
- McCulloch v. Maryland vs U.S. v. Lopez → Federal power expanded vs limited.
- Engel v. Vitale vs Wisconsin v. Yoder → Establishment Clause vs Free Exercise Clause.
- Tinker v. Des Moines vs Schenck v. U.S. → Free speech protected vs restricted.
- Baker v. Carr vs Shaw v. Reno → Redistricting fairness vs racial gerrymandering.
- Citizens United v. FEC vs campaign finance laws → Speech vs regulation.
👉 RevisionDojo has side-by-side comparison sheets for these pairs.
Step 5: How to Use Cases in Argument Essays
The Argument Essay requires:
- Thesis with clear claim.
- Evidence: At least ONE required case.
- Reasoning: Why the case supports your claim.
Example Prompt: Does the Supreme Court more often protect liberty or restrict it?
- Claim: The Court often protects liberty.
- Evidence: Tinker v. Des Moines (1969) protected student free speech.
- Reasoning: This shows the Court applying the 1st Amendment even in schools.
Step 6: Case Application in SCOTUS Comparison FRQ
Example Prompt: Compare Baker v. Carr (1962) with a non-required case.
- Required Case: Baker v. Carr → “One person, one vote,” judicial review of redistricting.
- Non-Required Case: Reynolds v. Sims (1964) → Expanded principle of equal representation.
- Connection: Both reinforced fairness in elections, strengthening democracy.
👉 Strategy: Always show similarity AND difference.
Step 7: Avoid These Mistakes
- Just dropping the case name without explanation.
- Confusing cases with similar topics (e.g., Tinker vs Schenck).
- Forgetting the constitutional clause tied to the case.
- Misstating the ruling (automatic point loss).
Step 8: Practice With Past FRQs
- 2019 Argument Essay: Used McCulloch v. Maryland.
- 2021 SCOTUS Comparison FRQ: Compared Brown v. Board with another civil rights case.
- 2023 Argument Essay: Required case connections about freedom of speech.
👉 RevisionDojo’s FRQ practice bank includes sample essays with case usage.
Step 9: Study Hacks for Remembering Cases
- Use mnemonics: “Brown cleans the Board,” “Tinker tinkers with speech.”
- Group by theme: Free speech, civil rights, federalism, elections.
- Make flashcards with case → principle → connection.
Step 10: The RevisionDojo Advantage
- Case Flashcards (digital + printable).
- Side-by-Side Comparisons for FRQ practice.
- Essay Templates that show how to plug cases into arguments.
- FRQ Practice Banks with sample high-scoring answers.
👉 Check out RevisionDojo’s AP Gov Case Hub here.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Do I need to memorize all 15 required cases word for word?
A: No — focus on principles, rulings, and how to apply them.
Q: Can I use non-required cases?
A: Yes, but you MUST use required ones when the rubric specifies.
Q: How many cases should I cite in the Argument Essay?
A: At least one required case — but using two strengthens your essay.
Q: What if I mix up two similar cases?
A: You may lose points — review side-by-side comparisons to avoid confusion.
Q: Which case appears most often?
A: McCulloch v. Maryland and Brown v. Board are very common.
Final Thoughts
Using Supreme Court cases correctly in FRQs is the difference between a mid-range and a top score.
Remember:
- Always Name, Explain, Connect (NEC).
- Learn case pairings for comparisons.
- Tie cases directly to constitutional clauses.
- Practice with RevisionDojo’s FRQ banks to sharpen your skills.
With confidence in the 15 required cases, you’ll turn FRQs into your strongest section — and move closer to a 5 on AP Gov.
