Test your basic knowledge |

Important Court Cases

Subject : law
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. State govs must provide counsel in cases involving the death penalty to those who can't afford it






2. Cross burning = 'fighting words' = unconstitutional






3. FCRA mandated that places of public accommodation are prohibited from discrimination against blacks






4. States can regulate abortion but not with regulations that impose an 'undue burden' on women






5. States did not have power to tax the national bank - reinforces supremacy clause






6. Threw out undergraduate system of selection - generally upheld Bakke






7. Ordered house districts to be near as equal as possible - enshrined principal of 'one man - one vote.'






8. Fighting words - certain offensive types of speech prohibited






9. Forbids state-mandated bible reading






10. Overruled Powell - state govs do not have to provide lawyers to indigent defendants in capital cases






11. Gave states more power to regulate abortion






12. African Americans denied right to vote in primaries = violate fifteenth amendment






13. Protesters have substantially fewer assembly rights in malls and other private establishments






14. Halt to all death penalty punishments in nation until a less arbitrary method of sentencing was found






15. Clear and present danger (yelling fire) - Holmes






16. Confessions given immediately before rights are given means the confession is still admissible






17. Established judicial review






18. NY could not grant steamship company monopoly - increased federal power over interstate commerce






19. Commerce clause of the constitution does not give congress the power to regulate guns near state operated schools






20. You can burn the flag






21. Race-based affirmative action was permissible so long as it was in the service of creating greater diversity






22. Executive efforts to prevent publication forbidden (Ellsburg & Vietnam)






23. Overturned Olmstead - warrants were required to listen in on phone conversation






24. Libel and obscenity not protected by first amendment - so three-part obscenity test established






25. Established national abortion guidelines by extending inferred right of privacy from Griswold






26. Any defendant who asked for a lawyer had to have one granted to him - or any confession after that point is inadmissible






27. 'Bad Tendency Doctrine -' speech restricted if it has tendency to lead to illegal actions; selectively incorporated freedom of speech to states






28. School district can suspend students for lewd or indecent speech






29. Prohibited state-sponsored recitation of prayer in public schools






30. Legitimate use of eminent domain - town wanting to buy private land and turn it over to private developers






31. State prohibition of consensual sodomy in private is unreasonable invasion of privacy






32. Demonstrations near schools that disrupted classes could be legally banned






33. No such thing as executive privilege in criminal cases - but definitely at other times






34. States not allowed to prevent or punish inflammatory speech unless it will lead to imminent lawless action






35. NC makes mandatory punishment for certain crimes - deemed unconstitutional






36. Made the CRA 1964 apply to virtually all businesses






37. Intentional infliction of emotional distress was permissible First Amendment speech as long as it was about a public official - and no one would actually think it was fact






38. All defendants must be informed of legal rights before they are arrested






39. Separate is not equal






40. Separate but equal for races






41. Banned presidential use of a line=item veto as a violation of legislative powers.






42. Peaceable assembly for lawful discussion cannot be made a crime - selectively incorporated right to lawful assembly to all state governments






43. Race cannot be sole or predominant factor in redrawing legislative district boundaries (1982 VRA wants them to do that - though)






44. Federal courts = final authority on creation of house districts






45. Invalidated 1989 Flag Protection Act






46. Secular rather than religious purpose? neither promote nor discourage religion? avoid 'excessive entanglement?'






47. Federal wiretaps of phone conversation is constitutional






48. Fed can limit speech that doesn't lead to action (upholding Smith Act - which made it a crime to support any communist organization)






49. Strikes by labor unions are constitutional






50. Forbids execution of defendants who are mentally retarded