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. Separate is not equal






2. Cross burning = 'fighting words' = unconstitutional






3. Forbids state-mandated bible reading






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






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






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






7. Fighting words - certain offensive types of speech prohibited






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






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






10. Made the CRA 1964 apply to virtually all businesses






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






12. States cannot set term limits on members of congress






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






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






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






16. Segregate with al 'due and deliberate speed'






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






19. Strikes by labor unions are constitutional






20. Separate but equal for races






21. Extended exclusionary rule to the states






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






23. 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






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






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






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






27. 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






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






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






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






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






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






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






34. 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






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






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






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






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






39. You can burn the flag






40. Right to privacy






41. 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






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






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






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






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






46. Invalidated 1989 Flag Protection Act






47. Federal wiretaps of phone conversation is constitutional






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






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






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