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. Federal courts = final authority on creation of house districts






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






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






4. Cross burning = 'fighting words' = unconstitutional






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






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






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






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






9. Forbids execution of defendants who are mentally retarded






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






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






12. Extended exclusionary rule to the states






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






14. Separate is not equal






15. Gave states more power to regulate abortion






16. Established judicial review






17. All state governments must provide an attorney in all cases for those who can't afford one - powerful repudiation of Betts v Brady






18. 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






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






20. States cannot set term limits on members of congress






21. Florida recount in 2000 election was a violation of fourteenth amendment's equal protection clause






22. Forbids state-mandated bible reading






23. Made the CRA 1964 apply to virtually all businesses






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






25. Fighting words - certain offensive types of speech prohibited






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






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






28. Separate but equal for races






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






30. 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






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






32. You can burn the flag






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






34. 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






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






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






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






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






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






40. Established exclusionary rule






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






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






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






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






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






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






47. Strikes by labor unions are constitutional






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






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






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