Landmark Cases

Question 1

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Answer 1

Does the segregation of children in public schools solely on the basis of race deprive the minority children of the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the 14th Amendment? Yes.

Question 2

Brown v. Board of Education

Answer 2

14th Amendment (segregation)

Question 3

New York Times v. United States (1971)

Answer 3

Did the Nixon administration’s efforts to prevent the publication of what it termed “classified information” violate the First Amendment? Yes.

Question 4

New York Times v. United States

Answer 4

1st Amendment (speech, press, and assembly) (newspaper)

Question 5

Gideon v. Wainright (1963)

Answer 5

Did the state court’s failure to appoint counsel for Gideon violate his right to a fair trial and due process of law as protected by the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments? Yes.

Question 6

Gideon v. Wainright

Answer 6

6th Amendment, 14 Amendment Sect. 1

Question 7

Korematsu v. United States (1944)

Answer 7

Can the government infringe on individual rights in its need to uphold national security? Yes.

Question 8

Korematsu v. United States

Answer 8

5th Amendment, 8th Amendment, 14th Amendment, Executive order 9066

Question 9

Texas v. Johnson (1987)

Answer 9

Is it unconstitutional to desecrate the US Flag? No.

Question 10

Texas v. Johnson

Answer 10

1st Amendment (speech, protest, assembly)

Question 11

New Jersey vs. TLO (1985)

Answer 11

Did the search of TLO’s bag violate the 4th and 14th amendments? No.

Question 12

New Jersey vs. TLO

Answer 12

4th Amendment, 14th Amendment

Question 13

Heart of Alabama v. The United States

Answer 13

Can Congress force private business to follow the Civil Rights Act of 1964? Yes (because they were serving people from different states)

Question 14

Heart of Alabama v. The United States

Answer 14

Commerce Clause, Civil Rights Act of 1964

Question 15

Gregg v. Georgia (1976)

Answer 15

Based on Georgia’s conviction laws, is the Capital Punishment a constitutional sentencing? Yes.

Question 16

Gregg v. Georgia

Answer 16

8th Amendment, 14th Amendment

Question 17

Citizens United v. FEC

Answer 17

Should corporations have the same free speech rights as people? Yes.

Question 18

Citizens United v. FEC

Answer 18

First Amendment, campaign donation regulations

Question 19

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Answer 19

Is restricting a woman’s right to abortion unconstitutional? Yes.

Question 20

Roe v. Wade

Answer 20

9th Amendment, 14th Amendment

Question 21

Gratz v. Bollinger

Answer 21

Does the use of racial preferences by the University of Michigan during its admission process violate the equal rights of the applicants? Yes.

Question 22

Gratz v. Bollinger

Answer 22

14th Amendment, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Question 23

Bethel School District v. Fraser (1986)

Answer 23

Does the First Amendment prevent a school district from disciplining a high school student for giving a lewd speech at a high school assembly? No.

Question 24

Bethel School District v. Fraser

Answer 24

1st Amendment (speech, press, assembly) (schools)

Question 25

Reed v. Reed (1971)

Answer 25

Should a male be preferred over a female when the appointment of an administrator of estate is needed? No.

Question 26

Reed v. Reed

Answer 26

14th Amendment (genders)

Question 27

Schenck v. United States (1918)

Answer 27

Are Schenck's actions (words, expression) protected by the First Amendment's free speech clause? No.

Question 28

Schenck v. United States

Answer 28

1917 Espionage Act, 1st Amendment (drafts/times of war)

Question 29

Lemon v. Kurtzman

Answer 29

Is it constitutional for a state to reimburse Catholic School staff members for teaching secular subjects? No.

Question 30

Lemon v. Kurtzman

Answer 30

14th Amendment, 1st Amendment (Lemon Test)

Question 31

Boumediene v. Bush (2008)

Answer 31

Does the Military Commission Act of 2006 deny people at Guantanamo Bay the right to Habeas Corpus? Yes.

Question 32

Boumediene v. Bush

Answer 32

5th Amendment, 6th Amendment, 14th Amendment

Question 33

McCulloch v. Maryland

Answer 33

Did Congress have the authority to establish the bank? Did the Maryland law unconstitutionally interfere with congressional power? Yes. Yes.

Question 34

McCulloch v. Maryland

Answer 34

Commerce clause (banks)

Question 35

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Answer 35

Does the Supreme Court have jurisdiction over questions of legislative apportionment (redistricting)? Yes.

Question 36

Baker v. Carr

Answer 36

14th Amendment, "political questions"

Question 37

Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier (1988)

Answer 37

Did the principal's deletion of the articles violate the students' rights under the First Amendment? No.

Question 38

Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier

Answer 38

1st Amendment (speech, press, and assembly), (school newpapers)

Question 39

Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

Answer 39

Were the confiscated materials protected by the First Amendment? May evidence obtained through a search in violation of the Fourth Amendment be admitted in a state criminal proceeding? Ignored. No.

Question 40

Mapp v. Ohio

Answer 40

4th Amendment

Question 41

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

Answer 41

Did the state of New York exercise authority, in the area of interstate commerce, reserved for Congress? Yes.

Question 42

Gibbons v. Ogden

Answer 42

Commerce clause (interstate commerce)

Question 43

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Answer 43

Does the reading of a nondenominational prayer at the start of the school day violate the "establishment of religion" clause of the First Amendment?

Question 44

Engel v. Vitale

Answer 44

establishment of religion clause of the 1st Amendment, separation of church and state

Question 45

Gitlow v. New York (1925)

Answer 45

Can State limit your freedom of speech and writing (1st amendment)? Yes, when it is for treasonous overthrow, but the states have to abide by the Bill of Rights.

Question 46

Gitlow v. New York

Answer 46

1st Amendment, Bill of Rights

Question 47

South Dakota v. Dole (1987)

Answer 47

Can Congress withhold funds from the states if the states do not adopt federal policies? Yes.

Question 48

South Dakota v. Dole

Answer 48

Commerce clause, 21st Amendment (grants)

Question 49

Miller v. California

Answer 49

Is the sale and distribution of obscene materials by mail protected under the First Amendment's freedom of speech guarantee? No.

Question 50

Miller v. California

Answer 50

1st Amendment (speech, press, and assembly) (obscenity)