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Quiz about US Supreme Court Cases That Changed Society

US Supreme Court Cases That Changed Society Quiz

The United States Supreme Court has no power to enforce its decisions and yet these decisions effect the everyday lives of all US citizens. This quiz deals with just ten of them.

A multiple-choice quiz by ncterp. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
ncterp

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
410,637

Updated
Oct 22 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
207

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In Marbury v. Madison (1803), the Supreme Court established the precedent of what? Hint

Right to bear arms

Separation of church and state

Judicial review

Right to privacy

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Question 2 of 10

2. Civil rights legislation concerns us all as a society. A 1967 state law banning inter-racial marriage was ruled unconstitutional by the Court for violating both the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the 14th Amendment. Name the case. Hint

Harrison v. Maryland (1982)

Loving v. Virginia (1967)

Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)

Loving v. Maine (1970)

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Question 3 of 10

3. The Court has issued many opinions dealing with the 1st Amendment's Freedom of Speech clause. In which case did Mr. Justice Holmes make the famous declaration about yelling "fire" in a crowded theater? Hint

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Schenck v. U.S. (1919)

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which of the following cases deals with the 6th Amendment's right to counsel? Hint

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

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Question 5 of 10

5. "Redistricting" is a subject that becomes an issue once every 10 years with the Constitutionally mandated census. Which Supreme Court case produced the "one person, one vote" rule? Hint

Near v. Minnesota (1931)

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Lochner v. New York (1905)

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

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Question 6 of 10

6. The Constitution does not define speech. It has taken many forms over the years, from draft card burning to desecrating the flag. Which of the following cases deals with another form of free speech, symbolic speech? Hint

Texas v. Johnson (1989)

Tinker v. Des Moines School District (1969)

San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez (1973)

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

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Question 7 of 10

7. The state of Wisconsin mandated school attendance to age 16. The Amish religion requires only 8 years of education. How did the Court rule in Wisconsin v. Yoder in 1972? Hint

The Amish religion is not an established religion, therefore the 1st Amendment does not apply

The Court ruled that Amish children did not have the right to public education

The court ruled that the Wisconsin statute violated the 1st Amendment's Free Exercise Clause

Failure to attend school to age 16 will have a detrimental effect on society

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Question 8 of 10

8. We all know that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land. Prior to 1868, with the ratification of the 14th Amendment, Supreme Court decisions applied only to the federal government. What provisions of the 14th Amendment allow the Court to apply its rulings to the states? Hint

The Establishment Clause and The Due Process Clause

The Due Process Clause and The Commerce Clause

The Necessary and Proper Clause and The Free Exercise Clause

Equal Protection Clause and Due Process Clause

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Question 9 of 10

9. The Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education (1954) impacted practically every American. It also caused the Court to do something it rarely does, overturn precedent. The doctrine of "separate but equal" made it Constitutionally acceptable to segregate the races. What case established the "separate but equal" doctrine? Hint

Strauder v. West Virginia (1880)

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Smith v. Allwright (1944)

Thomas v. Mississippi (1894)

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Question 10 of 10

10. Guns! A hot button issue in the U.S. for many years. The Court gave the NRA and all state supporters of the 2nd Amendment a boost with their decision in which of the following cases? Hint

Mitchell v. U.S. (2015)

District of Columbia v. Heller (2008)

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

Wilson v. Spokane (2001)

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In Marbury v. Madison (1803), the Supreme Court established the precedent of what?

Answer: Judicial review

Chief Justice John Marshall wrote the opinion in which he ruled that the Constitution granted the Court the authority to review the constitutionality of congressional laws, executive actions, and state laws. Marbury was a "midnight" appointment by President Adams to a magistrate position, but the necessary paperwork didn't arrive at the State Department until the next day, when Jefferson became president and Madison became secretary of state. Madison refused to sign the appointment.

The Court ruled in Marbury's favor but had no power to enforce it.

Answer: Loving v. Virginia (1967)

Virginia celebrates inter-racial marriage on "Loving Day", June 12th. Obergefell dealt with the issue of same-sex marriage.

Answer: Schenck v. U.S. (1919)

Charles Schenck, a known socialist, was convicted under the Espionage Act of 1917 for passing out flyers opposing the draft. Schenck argued that his actions were protected under the 1st Amendment. The Court set the precedent that the 1st Amendment does not protect speech that represents a "clear and present danger". Schenck's activity would have been protected in peacetime.

4. Which of the following cases deals with the 6th Amendment's right to counsel?

Answer: Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Clarence Earl Gideon was an indigent defendant on trial in Florida for stealing some minor items from a pool hall. Gideon had several prior arrests for other misdemeanours, therefore he was tried under Florida's "three strike" law. He asked the trial court to appoint an attorney for him. Gideon was convicted.

He wrote his appeal to the Supreme Court in pencil on toilet paper claiming that his court appointed counsel was incompetent. A book (1964) and a movie starring Henry Fonda (1980) both called "Gideon's Trumpet" concerned this case. Abe Fortas (who was to become an associate justice himself) argued for Gideon before the Court.

The Court ordered a new trial and Gideon was found not guilty.

5. "Redistricting" is a subject that becomes an issue once every 10 years with the Constitutionally mandated census. Which Supreme Court case produced the "one person, one vote" rule?

Answer: Baker v. Carr (1962)

Tennessee used outdated census data in their redistricting plan. The data did not reflect shifts in population. The Court based their ruling on the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. The Court also used this case to state that it does not get involved in political matters, only legal ones.

Answer: Tinker v. Des Moines School District (1969)

Tinker was a student in a public school. He wore an armband protesting the Vietnam War to school. He was suspended and sued the school district. The Court ruled that armbands were symbolic speech and were protected by the 1st Amendment as long as there was no attendant disruption of school activities.

7. The state of Wisconsin mandated school attendance to age 16. The Amish religion requires only 8 years of education. How did the Court rule in Wisconsin v. Yoder in 1972?

Answer: The court ruled that the Wisconsin statute violated the 1st Amendment's Free Exercise Clause

Separation of church and state means that the government may not support any religion. The Establishment Clause states that "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion..."

Answer: Equal Protection Clause and Due Process Clause

The Equal Protection Clause provides that no state shall deny its citizens equal protection under the law. The Due Process Clause states that no citizen shall be denied fair treatment under the law.

Answer: Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Hard to believe, but the "separate but equal" doctrine was the law of the land for almost 60 years. The Court relies heavily on stare decisis, precedent, and rarely overturns it. The Court ruled that "separate but equal" violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

10. Guns! A hot button issue in the U.S. for many years. The Court gave the NRA and all state supporters of the 2nd Amendment a boost with their decision in which of the following cases?

Answer: McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

Chicago was trying to curb its gun violence by enacting a law forbidding handgun permits to its citizens. The Court ruled the statute violated the 2nd Amendment's right to keep and bear arms. The Heller case is similar but since the District of Columbia is a federal enclave, the decision did not impact the states.

Source: Author ncterp

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