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. School district can suspend students for lewd or indecent speech






3. 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






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






5. Forbids execution of defendants who are mentally retarded






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






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






8. Segregate with al 'due and deliberate speed'






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






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






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






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






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






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






15. Forbids state-mandated bible reading






16. States cannot set term limits on members of congress






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






18. Separate is not equal






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






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






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






22. 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






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






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






25. Invalidated 1989 Flag Protection Act






26. 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






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






28. Established exclusionary rule






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






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






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






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






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






34. You can burn the flag






35. Strikes by labor unions are constitutional






36. Cross burning = 'fighting words' = unconstitutional






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






38. Fighting words - certain offensive types of speech prohibited






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






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






41. Made the CRA 1964 apply to virtually all businesses






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






43. Federal wiretaps of phone conversation is constitutional






44. Separate but equal for races






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






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






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






48. 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






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






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