supreme court

Question 1

Brown V Board of Education of Topeka

Answer 1

1954

overturned the ‘separate but equal’ in favour of ‘separate is inherently unequal’

Question 2

University of California V Bakke

Answer 2

1978

limitations on affirmative action to ensure it was not at the expense of the rights of the majority

Question 3

Regents Vs Bakke

Answer 3

University of California’s quota system was unconstitutional but the court still upheld affirmative action

Question 4

Adarand Constructors Vs Pena

Answer 4

affirmative action needs to be put under stricter scrutiny

Question 5

Plessy Vs Fergusson

Answer 5

‘separate but equal’

not protecting rights which encourages segregation

Question 6

Plyer Vs Doe 1982

Answer 6

can’t deny illegal children the right to education

Question 7

Roe Vs Wade

Answer 7

legalised abortion in first trimester

14th amendment due process clause which has been found to mean right to privacy

Question 8

Engel V Vitale

Answer 8

prayers recited in school was unconstitutional 1962

Question 9

Citizens United V Federal Election Commission

Answer 9

businesses and unions have the same rights as individuals

affected campaign finance as 1st amendment grants companies freedom of speech and can use money to access freedom of speech

Question 10

Texas V Johnson

Answer 10

violated freedom of expression as Texas banned flag burning

Question 11

United States V Lopez

Answer 11

the Gun Free School Zone Act unconstitutional

allowing guns in schools

Question 12

Dickerson V United States

Answer 12

right to remain silent (5th amendment) was upheld as Dickerson was not read his miranda rights

Question 13

Miranda V Arizona

Answer 13

the accused must be read their legal rights before questioning by the police

based on 5th amendment

Question 14

Marbury V Madison

Answer 14

gave supreme court power of judicial review over executive and legislative branch

Question 15

United States V Nixon

Answer 15

no person is above the law and president can not use executive privilege to withhold evidence

Question 16

Planned Parenthood V Casey

Answer 16

court upheld right to abortion

Question 17

Clinton V City of NY

Answer 17

line item veto was unconstitutional as this gave the president legislative powers

Question 18

George Bush Junior V Albert Gore

Answer 18

The state should recount the votes but it would be unconstitutional to order Florida to do so

Question 19

Snyder V Phelps

Answer 19

upheld 1st amendment as gave right to protest anti gay outside military funerals as they are associated with government

Question 20

DC V Heller

Answer 20

upheld the 2nd amendment as by not allowing him to have a handgun in his home for self defence violated his right to bear arms

Question 21

Gonzales V Carhart

Answer 21

limited abortion rights by banning a particular procedure of abortion

Question 22

Fisher V Texas II

Answer 22

using race to admit students to university was constitutional

Question 23

Shelby County V Holder

Answer 23

section 4 of the Voting Rights Act was unconstitutional as it limited certain districts power to change their voting laws without going through process. not all states have to go through the same process

Question 24

miller V alabama

Answer 24

ruled that 8th amendment (cruel and unusual punishment) means that juveniles can’t be sentenced for life in prison without parole

Question 25

whole women’s health V Hellerstedt

Answer 25

upheld right to abortion

Question 26

kennedy V Lousiana

Answer 26

8th amendment (cruel and unusual punishment) means that the death penalty can’t be used for rape of a child when the victim did not die.

Question 27

McDonald V Chicago

Answer 27

upheld 2nd amendment as states don’t have the right to limit guns unreasonably

Question 28

Boumediene V Bush

Answer 28

upheld the 5th amendment (self incrimination and due process) extended to detainees at guantanamo bay

Question 29

General Electric V Gilbert

Answer 29

employers have the right to discriminate against women who were pregnant

Question 30

Pollock V Farmers

Answer 30

federal government could not claim income tax

Question 31

Lawrence V Texas

Answer 31

It was unconstitutional to make homosexual sex illegal as it violates the due process clause