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






2. Segregate with al 'due and deliberate speed'






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






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






5. Fighting words - certain offensive types of speech prohibited






6. Gave states more power to regulate abortion






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






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






9. Cross burning = 'fighting words' = unconstitutional






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






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






12. Forbids state-mandated bible reading






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






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






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






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






17. 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






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






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






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






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






22. Established exclusionary rule






23. States cannot set term limits on members of congress






24. Right to privacy






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






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






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






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






29. Separate but equal for races






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






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






32. Separate is not equal






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






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






35. 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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






44. Invalidated 1989 Flag Protection Act






45. 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






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






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






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






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






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