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Quiz about Justices Cases and a Bit of History
Quiz about Justices Cases and a Bit of History

Justices, Cases, and a Bit of History! Quiz


Come and discover the world of the Supreme Court of the United States! Enjoy!

A multiple-choice quiz by exceller. Estimated time: 9 mins.
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Author
exceller
Time
9 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
285,310
Updated
Aug 18 24
# Qns
15
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
11 / 15
Plays
530
- -
Question 1 of 15
1. The original United States Constitution is displayed at the United States National Archives and Records Administration in Washington D.C. Although this handwritten document is really old, it is crucial concerning the Supreme Court. The parts of the Constitution focused in this picture are the articles. Articles were paragraphs that addressed and set up the main parts of the United States government. What Article of the Constitution sets up the Supreme Court? Hint


Question 2 of 15
2. The first session the Supreme Court ever had was held on February 1, 1790. However, the Supreme Court didn't have an official building until 1935. During the 145 years the court had no building, the Supreme Court convened in different locations. From 1800 to 1935, the Supreme Court met in the Capitol Building, except for the years during the War of 1812.


Question 3 of 15
3. In this painting by Gilbert Stuart, the first Chief Justice of the United States seems like an old man in a elaborate red and black robe. However, he was in his forties when he was appointed by George Washington. Before he was appointed to be a justice of the Supreme Court, he had been a part of the First and Second Continental Congresses, an ambassador to Spain and France, an author of the Federalist Papers, and Chief Justice of the New York Supreme Court. From the time President George Washington appointed him in 1789, to the time he resigned in 1795, this man served as Chief Justice for six years. One of the most famous cases he judged was Chisholm v. Georgia in 1793. Who was he? Hint


Question 4 of 15
4. This is a painting of the 4th Chief Justice of the United States. Among his facial appearances is this man's remarkably dark eyes and thin smile. He was appointed by John Adams in 1801, and served until his death in 1835. His most famous achievement as Chief Justice was establishing judicial review, which gave the Supreme Court the power to strike down laws that are unconstitutional. During the years he served the Supreme Court he heard the case of Marbury vs. Madison. Who was he? Hint


Question 5 of 15
5. The Danish ship, The Flying Fish, is an old merchant ship that was involved in a case concerning whether a president has the right to ignore a law written by Congress. In which of these cases was the Flying Fish arrested by the U.S.S Boston concerning an order of John Adams? Hint


Question 6 of 15
6. John Ross, a chief of the Cherokee Nation, brought the issue of Native American's rights to Supreme Court in the case Cherokee Nation vs. Georgia in 1830. In this case, the Cherokee Nation went to the Supreme Court and asked for the Supreme Court to nullify Georgia's laws that attempted to remove Cherokee's from their possessions. The Cherokee's claimed that Georgia's laws concerning the Cherokee people violated the U.S. Constitution, United States-Cherokee treaties, and United States intercourse laws. What did the decision did the Supreme Court make? Hint


Question 7 of 15
7. Franklin D. Roosevelt, the thirty second president of the United States, was famous for his attempted "court packing" plan, or the Judiciary Reorganization Bill of 1937, which would have allowed him to appoint an extra justice for every justice serving that was over seventy years old. His plan failed, but because he served so many terms as president, Roosevelt was able to appoint nine justices to the Supreme Court, the most ever appointed by a single president since George Washington. Which of these was NOT a Supreme Court justice appointed by President Roosevelt? Hint


Question 8 of 15
8. This Chief Justice that was a former president of the United States. His appearance is that of a jolly man, his fine white mustache standing alone, with his dark hair parted at the middle. He was nominated for Chief Justice by President Harding. One of his accomplishments as Chief Justice was convincing the United States Congress to build a building for the Supreme Court. He served the Supreme Court for seventeen years, and then retired on February 3, 1930 due to ill health. He died a month later on March 8, 1930. Who was he? Hint


Question 9 of 15
9. Fred. M. Vinson was the Chief Justice that preceded Chief Justice Harlan Stone. During his years as a justice Fred Vinson was a big man, with white hair and baggy eyes, who had aged much since his athletic years. In his younger years, Fred Vinson had played baseball for Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. Prior to his appointment, he had experience with all three branches of government, by serving his home state of Kentucky in Congress. Which president was he appointed by? Hint


Question 10 of 15
10. Chief Justice Vinson, who died of a heart attack, was succeeded by a giant of a man; he was over six feet tall and weighed over 200 pounds. He had striking blue eyes, and bright white hair. He was a strong republican and campaigned for President Eisenhower who nominated him to be Chief Justice in 1953. This justice was serving his third term as governor of California, when he was appointed to the Supreme Court. Who was he? Hint


Question 11 of 15
11. A vice principal searching through a student's purse: this event concerned the case was known as New Jersey vs. T.L.O. In this case a fourteen year old girl was accused of smoking in her high school. She was brought to the vice principal's office where she denied having ever smoked a cigarette and claimed she had never smoked one before. The vice principal demanded to see her purse, and upon searching her purse found cigarettes and other items that gave evidence that she had been marijuana dealing to other students. Which one of these did the Supreme Court rule concerning the case? Hint


Question 12 of 15
12. This associate justice was the first African American to sit on the Supreme Court. Though this picture shows the justice as an large old man, wearing thick glasses, with an expression outlined by a small mustache, it does not highlight his stunning accomplishments from his younger years. As a lawyer, he had argued thirty two cases in the Supreme Court, winning twenty nine of them. His most famous case, during his career as a lawyer, was Brown vs. Board of Education. Who was he? Hint


Question 13 of 15
13. This lady was the first woman to be a Supreme Court justice. She had been a schoolmate at law school with the sixteenth Chief Justice. She was in her fifties when she was appointed in 1981 by Ronald Reagan to be an associate justice and served the Supreme Court for over twenty four years. Who was she? Hint


Question 14 of 15
14. The sixteenth Chief Justice of the United States. His black justice robe has four gold stripes that he had added after being inspired by a theater production. This Chief Justice served as a law clerk underneath Associate Justice Robert Jackson. He was appointed to be an associate justice by Richard Nixon, and was later appointed Chief Justice by President Ronald Reagan. He served the Supreme Court until his death in 2005. Who was he? Hint


Question 15 of 15
15. A United States flag on fire surrounded by hostile protesters: though some consider it highly disrespectful for someone to light flames to this banner of pride in protest manner, the Supreme Court ruled that this is legal under the first amendment in the United States Constitution, which guarantees all individuals freedom of speech. Which of the following was a case concerning the burning of the flag as protest? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The original United States Constitution is displayed at the United States National Archives and Records Administration in Washington D.C. Although this handwritten document is really old, it is crucial concerning the Supreme Court. The parts of the Constitution focused in this picture are the articles. Articles were paragraphs that addressed and set up the main parts of the United States government. What Article of the Constitution sets up the Supreme Court?

Answer: Article III

Article III establishes the Supreme Court and consists of three sections. The first section gives judicial power to federal courts:, "The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.

The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behavior, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services a Compensation which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office." It establishes the Supreme Court and lower courts.

It also establishes that justices are appointed for life, and no law can decrease their salaries.
2. The first session the Supreme Court ever had was held on February 1, 1790. However, the Supreme Court didn't have an official building until 1935. During the 145 years the court had no building, the Supreme Court convened in different locations. From 1800 to 1935, the Supreme Court met in the Capitol Building, except for the years during the War of 1812.

Answer: True

The Supreme Court met for the first time in the Merchants Exchange Building in New York City. When the United States capitol moved to Philadelphia, the Supreme Court moved there and met in Independence Hall and the Old City Hall. When the nations capital was built at Washington D.C, no arrangements had been made for a Supreme Court building. Congress lent the Supreme Court various rooms of the Capitol Building until Supreme Court Justice Taft persuaded them that this was no longer suitable.

The Supreme Court moved to its new building in 1935.

The building was designed by Cass Gilbert, and is made mostly from marble.
3. In this painting by Gilbert Stuart, the first Chief Justice of the United States seems like an old man in a elaborate red and black robe. However, he was in his forties when he was appointed by George Washington. Before he was appointed to be a justice of the Supreme Court, he had been a part of the First and Second Continental Congresses, an ambassador to Spain and France, an author of the Federalist Papers, and Chief Justice of the New York Supreme Court. From the time President George Washington appointed him in 1789, to the time he resigned in 1795, this man served as Chief Justice for six years. One of the most famous cases he judged was Chisholm v. Georgia in 1793. Who was he?

Answer: John Jay

John Jay had been an active participant in the American Revolution and is considered one of the United States' founding fathers. Prior to becoming the 1st Supreme Court Justice, John Jay was a diplomat to France and Spain, and Secretary of Foreign Affairs (known today as the United States Secretary of State).

He was appointed to the position of Chief Justice by President George Washington on October 19, 1789, and served for a little over five years. He resigned his position to become the 2nd Governor of New York. Years later when John Adams offered him the position of Chief Justice again, John Jay declined due to ill health.

He died on May 17, 1829.
4. This is a painting of the 4th Chief Justice of the United States. Among his facial appearances is this man's remarkably dark eyes and thin smile. He was appointed by John Adams in 1801, and served until his death in 1835. His most famous achievement as Chief Justice was establishing judicial review, which gave the Supreme Court the power to strike down laws that are unconstitutional. During the years he served the Supreme Court he heard the case of Marbury vs. Madison. Who was he?

Answer: John Marshall

John Marshall was appointed to Chief Justice on February 4, 1801, by President John Adams. Prior to become the 4th Chief Justice of the United States, he had been a member of the House of Representatives, and had served John Adams as Secretary of State. He was known as the Great Chief Justice, because of his decisions in Supreme Court cases. He served the Supreme Court for over thirty years until his death on July 6, 1835. John Adams said, "John Marshall was my gift to the American people."
5. The Danish ship, The Flying Fish, is an old merchant ship that was involved in a case concerning whether a president has the right to ignore a law written by Congress. In which of these cases was the Flying Fish arrested by the U.S.S Boston concerning an order of John Adams?

Answer: Little vs. Barreme

This was one of the cases that took place during John Marshall's term as Chief Justice, and is not as well known as some of his other decisions. On December 2, 1799, the Flying Fish was arrested by the U.S.S Boston, a Navy frigate commanded by Captain George Little. John Adams had made an order to arrest any ship that was carrying goods to or from France. However Congress had passed a law that only allowed the Navy to arrest American vessels that were carrying goods to France, in an effort to control trade with France. Captain Little followed the president's orders that conflicted with the law passed by Congress.

John Marshall delivered the opinion of the Supreme Court, and ruled that no action by a president that is a contradiction of Congress is legal. The seizure of the Flying Fish was considered unlawful and the Supreme Court ruled that Captain Little was responsible for damages.
6. John Ross, a chief of the Cherokee Nation, brought the issue of Native American's rights to Supreme Court in the case Cherokee Nation vs. Georgia in 1830. In this case, the Cherokee Nation went to the Supreme Court and asked for the Supreme Court to nullify Georgia's laws that attempted to remove Cherokee's from their possessions. The Cherokee's claimed that Georgia's laws concerning the Cherokee people violated the U.S. Constitution, United States-Cherokee treaties, and United States intercourse laws. What did the decision did the Supreme Court make?

Answer: The Supreme Court did not have original jurisdiction in the Constitution to hear a suit brought by the Cherokee Nation which was considered an Indian tribe, not a sovereign nation.

The case of Cherokee Nation vs. Georgia, was one of five cases concerning Native Americans rights. The Supreme Court ruled that they could not grant an injunction against the state of Georgia, because they were not granted jurisdiction power under Article III of the Constitution for such a case. Article III gave the Supreme Court power to settle arguments "between a state or the citizens thereof, and foreign states, citizens, or subjects".

They ruled that the Cherokee Nation was not a sovereign state, but an Indian tribe, and the Supreme Court had no power to judge a cases under these conditions.
7. Franklin D. Roosevelt, the thirty second president of the United States, was famous for his attempted "court packing" plan, or the Judiciary Reorganization Bill of 1937, which would have allowed him to appoint an extra justice for every justice serving that was over seventy years old. His plan failed, but because he served so many terms as president, Roosevelt was able to appoint nine justices to the Supreme Court, the most ever appointed by a single president since George Washington. Which of these was NOT a Supreme Court justice appointed by President Roosevelt?

Answer: Pierce Butler

President Roosevelt appointed Harlan Fiske Stone as Chief Justice, along with associate justices Hugo Black, Stanley Reed, Felix Frankfurter, William O. Douglas, Frank Murphy, James Byrnes, Robert H. Jackson, and Wiley Rutledge. Pierce Butler was appointed by President Warren Harding years earlier, and was succeeded by Frank Murphy, one of the justices appointed by President Roosevelt.
8. This Chief Justice that was a former president of the United States. His appearance is that of a jolly man, his fine white mustache standing alone, with his dark hair parted at the middle. He was nominated for Chief Justice by President Harding. One of his accomplishments as Chief Justice was convincing the United States Congress to build a building for the Supreme Court. He served the Supreme Court for seventeen years, and then retired on February 3, 1930 due to ill health. He died a month later on March 8, 1930. Who was he?

Answer: William Howard Taft

William Howard Taft had a lifelong dream of becoming a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. His dream came true in 1911 when he was appointed by President Warren G. Harding, to take the place of former Chief Justice Edward White. As Chief Justice, Taft swore into office of the United States President, Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover. During his time as Chief Justice, William Taft wrote over 256 opinions for the Supreme Court. Taft died on March 3, 1930, and became the first president to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
9. Fred. M. Vinson was the Chief Justice that preceded Chief Justice Harlan Stone. During his years as a justice Fred Vinson was a big man, with white hair and baggy eyes, who had aged much since his athletic years. In his younger years, Fred Vinson had played baseball for Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. Prior to his appointment, he had experience with all three branches of government, by serving his home state of Kentucky in Congress. Which president was he appointed by?

Answer: Harry Truman

Fred M. Vinson was appointed as Chief Justice by Harry S. Truman in 1946. Vinson had been a longtime friend to Harry Truman, and with the bitter unrest between justices in the court, Truman appointed him because of his experience in government, and his ability to deal with people.

When he became Chief Justice, the court was badly divided by Associate Justices Robert Jackson and Hugo Black, who had both wanted the position of Chief Justice. During his term as Chief Justice the case of Emerson vs. Board of Education was decided.
10. Chief Justice Vinson, who died of a heart attack, was succeeded by a giant of a man; he was over six feet tall and weighed over 200 pounds. He had striking blue eyes, and bright white hair. He was a strong republican and campaigned for President Eisenhower who nominated him to be Chief Justice in 1953. This justice was serving his third term as governor of California, when he was appointed to the Supreme Court. Who was he?

Answer: Earl Warren

Earl Warren was the fourteenth Chief Justice of the United States. He was active in Republican politics, and had been Thomas Dewey's nominee for vice president on the Republican ticket during the election campaign against President Harry Truman in 1948.

He was the thirtieth governor of California, and was serving his third term when he was appointed by Eisenhower to succeed Chief Justice Vinson who had died of a heart attack. During his term as Chief Justice, the Supreme Court decided many landmark cases, including Brown vs. Board of Education, which ended segregation in public schools.
11. A vice principal searching through a student's purse: this event concerned the case was known as New Jersey vs. T.L.O. In this case a fourteen year old girl was accused of smoking in her high school. She was brought to the vice principal's office where she denied having ever smoked a cigarette and claimed she had never smoked one before. The vice principal demanded to see her purse, and upon searching her purse found cigarettes and other items that gave evidence that she had been marijuana dealing to other students. Which one of these did the Supreme Court rule concerning the case?

Answer: All of these

This was one of the cases that was heard while Warren Burger was Chief Justice. The Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision, that the search was reasonable and school officials are allowed to search students if they have reasonable suspicion. T.L.O had been caught in the act, and had denied her companions accusations which was enough evidence for the vice principal to assume she had cigarettes in her possession and search the purse.

Justice White, speaking for the court said: "This standard will, we trust, neither unduly burden the efforts of school authorities to maintain order in their schools nor authorize unrestrained intrusions upon the privacy of schoolchildren. By focusing attention on the question of reasonableness, the standard will spare teachers and school administrators the necessity of schooling themselves in the niceties of probable cause and permit them to regulate their conduct according to the dictates of reason and common sense."
12. This associate justice was the first African American to sit on the Supreme Court. Though this picture shows the justice as an large old man, wearing thick glasses, with an expression outlined by a small mustache, it does not highlight his stunning accomplishments from his younger years. As a lawyer, he had argued thirty two cases in the Supreme Court, winning twenty nine of them. His most famous case, during his career as a lawyer, was Brown vs. Board of Education. Who was he?

Answer: Thurgood Marshall

Thurgood had a stunning career as a lawyer, bringing many cases to the Supreme Court. Thurgood Marshall was fifty eight years old when he was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1967. President Johnson commented on his appointment by saying Thurgood's appointment to the Supreme Court was the "the right thing to do, the right time to do it, the right man and the right place". On the court, Thurgood often disagreed with the constitutionality of the death penalty.

Thurgood Marshall served the Supreme Court for twenty four years, and retired in 1991. He was awarded the Philadelphia Liberty Medal in 1992 for his work of protecting individual rights throughout his career. Marshall died of heart failure at the age of 84.
13. This lady was the first woman to be a Supreme Court justice. She had been a schoolmate at law school with the sixteenth Chief Justice. She was in her fifties when she was appointed in 1981 by Ronald Reagan to be an associate justice and served the Supreme Court for over twenty four years. Who was she?

Answer: Sandra Day O'Connor

Sandra Day O' Conner was appointed in 1981 by Ronald Reagan. Prior to becoming an associate Justice she had been a Senator from Arizona and had also served in the Arizona State Senate. She received her law degree at Stanford University, the same school that was attended by the Chief Justice she served under. In 2001, the Ladies Home Journal named her the second most powerful woman in the world.

In July 2005, Sandra Day O'Connor announced her retirement and was replaced in 2006 by Justice Samuel Alito. Ruth Joan Bader Ginsburg was the second female justice to be appointed to the Supreme Court, and was appointed by Bill Clinton. Judith Sheindlin is the celebrity "Judge Judy", that is a former family court judge that hosts a show based on small claims cases.
14. The sixteenth Chief Justice of the United States. His black justice robe has four gold stripes that he had added after being inspired by a theater production. This Chief Justice served as a law clerk underneath Associate Justice Robert Jackson. He was appointed to be an associate justice by Richard Nixon, and was later appointed Chief Justice by President Ronald Reagan. He served the Supreme Court until his death in 2005. Who was he?

Answer: William Rehnquist

William Rehnquist went to law school at Stanford University. After it, he became a law clerk underneath Justice Robert Jackson. He was appointed first as an associate justice by Richard Nixon in 1972, serving as an associate justice for about fourteen years. He disqualified himself from judging the famous case The United States vs. Nixon concerning the Watergate Scandal during his term as an associate justice. In 1986, he was appointed to Chief Justice by Ronald Reagan.

During his term as Chief Justice he oversaw the impeachment trials of Bill Clinton, and the case of Bush vs. Gore. Rehnquist said, "The Supreme Court is an institution far more dominated by centrifugal forces, pushing toward individuality and independence, than it is by centripetal forces pulling for hierarchical ordering and institutional unity."
15. A United States flag on fire surrounded by hostile protesters: though some consider it highly disrespectful for someone to light flames to this banner of pride in protest manner, the Supreme Court ruled that this is legal under the first amendment in the United States Constitution, which guarantees all individuals freedom of speech. Which of the following was a case concerning the burning of the flag as protest?

Answer: Texas vs. Johnson

In Texas vs. Johnson, Gregory Lee Johnson was participating in a protest against President Ronald Reagan's policies during the Republican National Convention in Dallas, when an individual handed him a flag from one of the targeted buildings. Johnson poured kerosene on the flag and lit it on fire. Johnson was charged with violating a Texas law concerning vandalism of respected objects, was fined $2000 dollars and sentenced to one year in prison.

The Texas Court of Appeals overturned his conviction saying it was his right underneath the first amendment. Texas asked the Supreme Court to hear the case, and the case was heard in 1989. In a 5-4 decision the Supreme Court agreed with the Texas Court of Appeals, and ruled that the Texas law was unconstitutional. Among the justices that disagreed were Chief Justice William Rehnquist, and Associate Justices White, O'Connor, and Stevens.
Source: Author exceller

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