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. Strikes by labor unions are constitutional






2. Cross burning = 'fighting words' = unconstitutional






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






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






5. Extended exclusionary rule to the states






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






13. Federal wiretaps of phone conversation is constitutional






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






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






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






17. 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






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






19. Established judicial review






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






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






22. 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






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






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






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






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






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






28. Gave states more power to regulate abortion






29. Forbids state-mandated bible reading






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






31. You can burn the flag






32. Established exclusionary rule






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






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






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






36. Separate is not equal






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






44. Separate but equal for races






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






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






47. Invalidated 1989 Flag Protection Act






48. Forbids execution of defendants who are mentally retarded






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






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