U.S. v. Lopez Viewing Guide

Access our Homework Help video on the Supreme Court case of U.S. v. Lopez (1995) and use our viewing guide below to follow along!

Overview: Can the federal government ban guns in school zones, or is it a state power? The Supreme Court addressed this question in the case U.S. v. Lopez (1995).

1. What did the Gun Free Zones Act of 1990 ban?
2. What part of the Constitution did Congress cite as giving it the authority to pass the Gun Free Zones Act of 1990?
3. Why was Alfonso Lopez arrested?
4. In your own words summarize the argument of Lopez’s lawyers.
5. In your own words, summarize the argument of the government’s lawyers.
6. Who did the Supreme Court rule in favor of?
7. What is federalism?
8. How does the principle of federalism relate to the Lopez case?