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. Forbids execution of defendants who are mentally retarded






2. Fighting words - certain offensive types of speech prohibited






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






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






5. Forbids state-mandated bible reading






6. Invalidated 1989 Flag Protection Act






7. Separate is not equal






8. Established judicial review






9. Established exclusionary rule






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






11. Made the CRA 1964 apply to virtually all businesses






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






13. Prohibited states from banning teaching of evolution in public schools






14. Citizens of Japanese descent could be interned and deprived of basic constitutional rights due to executive order






15. Gave states more power to regulate abortion






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






17. Extended exclusionary rule to the states






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






19. Separate but equal for races






20. 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






21. 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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






30. You can burn the flag






31. States cannot set term limits on members of congress






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






40. Federal wiretaps of phone conversation is constitutional






41. Cross burning = 'fighting words' = unconstitutional






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






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






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






45. Right to privacy






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






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






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






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






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