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. Prohibited states from banning teaching of evolution in public schools






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






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






4. Separate is not equal






5. Fighting words - certain offensive types of speech prohibited






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






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






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






9. Gave states more power to regulate abortion






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






11. Forbids execution of defendants who are mentally retarded






12. You can burn the flag






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






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






15. 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






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






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






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






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






21. Parents may remove children from public school for religious reasons






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






23. Segregate with al 'due and deliberate speed'






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






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






26. Cross burning = 'fighting words' = unconstitutional






27. 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






28. Federal wiretaps of phone conversation is constitutional






29. 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






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






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






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






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






34. 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






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






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






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






38. Made the CRA 1964 apply to virtually all businesses






39. Strikes by labor unions are constitutional






40. Invalidated 1989 Flag Protection Act






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






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






43. Forbids state-mandated bible reading






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






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






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






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






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






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






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