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. Prohibited states from banning teaching of evolution in public schools






2. Made the CRA 1964 apply to virtually all businesses






3. Cities could legitimately require parade permits in the interest of pubic order (Jehovah's Witnesses march w/out permit)






4. Not libel when they thought it was true at the time of printing






5. Forbids state-mandated bible reading






6. BSA could expel any homosexual member they wanted because of first amendment right of expressive association






7. First time court overturned state law on constitutional grounds.






8. 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






9. Established judicial review






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






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






12. Strikes by labor unions are constitutional






13. Extended exclusionary rule to the states






14. State govs must provide counsel in cases involving the death penalty to those who can't afford it






15. Federal wiretaps of phone conversation is constitutional






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






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






18. Invalidated 1989 Flag Protection Act






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






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






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






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






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






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






25. Helped states to engage in eminent domain - said that fifth amendment right to take private property for public use is legal for states without eminent domain






26. Giving money to political campaign = free speech - so wealthy people can now spend as much of their own money as they want if they choose to run for federal office






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






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






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






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






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






32. Mandated 21-year-old drinking age (if you don't feds will take away all federal highway funds






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






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






35. Students don't 'shed their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse door -' Iowa students suspended for wearing armbands to protest Vietnam war






36. States cannot set term limits on members of congress






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






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






39. Separate but equal for races






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






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






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






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






44. Selectively incorporates freedom of the press - prevents prior restraint -state injunctions to prevent publication unconstitutional






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






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






47. Court rebuffed an attempt by state of New Hampshire to take control of Dartmouth by holding that Dartmouth's corporate charter was qualified as a contract between private parties






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






49. Fighting words - certain offensive types of speech prohibited






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