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Landmark Supreme Court Cases Trivia Quiz

Here are a few of the more important Supreme Court decisions. Break out your law books!

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

Author
sportcon

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
13,560

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
2669

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In 1856 the Supreme Court handed down its decision in Scott v. Sanford, better know as the Dred Scott Decision. Who was the Chief Justice who wrote the majority opinion for the Court? Hint

Roger B. Taney

Benjamin R. Curtis

Salmon P. Chase

Levi Woodbury

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Question 2 of 10

2. In 1896 the Supreme Court decided a case that resulted in what was known as 'the separate but equal' doctrine. What was the name of the case? Hint

Muller v. Oregon

Plessy v. Ferguson

Buck v. Bell

Korematsu v. U.S.

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Question 3 of 10

3. In 1966 the Supreme Court handed down their opinion in Miranda v. Arizona. Who was the Chief Justice who wrote the majority opinion for the Court? Hint

Earl Warren

William J. Brennan, Jr.

John M. Harlan

William O. Douglas

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Question 4 of 10

4. Mapp v. Ohio, decided by the Supreme Court in 1961, dealt with what constitutional issue? Hint

right to counsel

freedom of speech

right to bear arms

search and seizure

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Question 5 of 10

5. Ohio was again the scene of a landmark Supreme Court case decided in 1968. What was the name of the case that resulted in the 'stop and frisk' doctrine? Hint

U.S. v. Matlock

Katz v. U.S.

Terry v. Ohio

Olmstead v. U.S.

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Question 6 of 10

6. The 'Carroll Doctrine' resulted from the decision in Carroll v. U.S. in 1925. What does the doctrine deal with? Hint

wiretapping

trial by jury

hot pursuit

warrantless vehicle searches

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Question 7 of 10

7. Who argued for the plantiff in Brown v. Board of Education before the Supreme Court in 1955? Hint

Thurgood Marshall

Clarence Thomas

Clarence Darrow

Johnnie Cochran

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Question 8 of 10

8. In the 1803 case Marbury v. Madison the Supreme Court established the doctrine of: Hint

judicial restraint

legislative superiority

concurrent power

judicial review

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Question 9 of 10

9. In 1963 the Supreme Court ruled that an indigent defendant in a criminal trial has a fundamental right to the assistance of counsel. What was the name of this landmark case? Hint

Betts v. Brady

Gideon v. Wainwright

Kent v. U.S.

In re Gault

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Question 10 of 10

10. Roe v. Wade was decided by the Supreme Court in what year? Hint

1970

1973

1974

1977

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In 1856 the Supreme Court handed down its decision in Scott v. Sanford, better know as the Dred Scott Decision. Who was the Chief Justice who wrote the majority opinion for the Court?

Answer: Roger B. Taney

Taney, himself a slave owner, wrote that the Constitution did not consider blacks to be citizens. The 14th Amendment (1868) set aside this decision.

2. In 1896 the Supreme Court decided a case that resulted in what was known as 'the separate but equal' doctrine. What was the name of the case?

Answer: Plessy v. Ferguson

Homer Plessy took a seat in the 'white only' car of the East Louisiana Railway in 1892. He refused to move to the 'colored' car and was arrested.

3. In 1966 the Supreme Court handed down their opinion in Miranda v. Arizona. Who was the Chief Justice who wrote the majority opinion for the Court?

Answer: Earl Warren

This case resulted in the now well known 'Miranda Rights' police are required to read to arrested persons prior to questioning.

4. Mapp v. Ohio, decided by the Supreme Court in 1961, dealt with what constitutional issue?

Answer: search and seizure

Mrs. Mapp had pornographic material in her Cleveland, Ohio basement.

5. Ohio was again the scene of a landmark Supreme Court case decided in 1968. What was the name of the case that resulted in the 'stop and frisk' doctrine?

Answer: Terry v. Ohio

This ruling allows police to stop and frisk persons that have been acting suspiciously.

6. The 'Carroll Doctrine' resulted from the decision in Carroll v. U.S. in 1925. What does the doctrine deal with?

Answer: warrantless vehicle searches

Carroll allows warrantless vehicle searches, provided probable cause is present, because vehicles can be moved.

7. Who argued for the plantiff in Brown v. Board of Education before the Supreme Court in 1955?

Answer: Thurgood Marshall

This case ended segregation in public elementary schools. Marshall later became the first African American Supreme Court justice.

8. In the 1803 case Marbury v. Madison the Supreme Court established the doctrine of:

Answer: judicial review

The decision was written by John Marshall and permitted the Court to review the constitutionality of laws passed by Congress. Marshall served as Chief Justice and Secretary of State, simultaneously in the Adams administration.

9. In 1963 the Supreme Court ruled that an indigent defendant in a criminal trial has a fundamental right to the assistance of counsel. What was the name of this landmark case?

Answer: Gideon v. Wainwright

Clarence Earl Gideon was convicted of breaking in to a poolhall. He was convicted after acting as his own attorney. He wrote his appeal on a roll of toilet paper. His story was later made in to a movie called 'Gideon's Trumpet'.

10. Roe v. Wade was decided by the Supreme Court in what year?

Answer: 1973

Roe challenged a Texas statute which outlawed abortion except for the purpose of saving the mother's life.

Source: Author sportcon

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
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