Question 1

The Supreme Court's decisions in Van Orden v.Perry and McCreary v.ACLU illustrate that

Accepted Answer

A)  the issue of government-sponsored displays of religious symbols has not yet been definitively settled. 
B)  there are different opinions about whether the establishment clause should apply to state governments as well as to the federal government. 
C)  the free exercise clause has still not been incorporated through the Fourteenth Amendment. 
D)  the Lemon test does not apply to cases involving school prayer. 
E)  the government will never be allowed to display any kind of religious symbols anywhere on government property. 
A)  the issue of government-sponsored displays of religious symbols has not yet been definitively settled. 
B)  there are different opinions about whether the establishment clause should apply to state governments as well as to the federal government. 
C)  the free exercise clause has still not been incorporated through the Fourteenth Amendment. 
D)  the Lemon test does not apply to cases involving school prayer. 
E)  the government will never be allowed to display any kind of religious symbols anywhere on government property.

Question 2

What was the main reason that Alexander Hamilton did not want a bill of rights?

Accepted Answer

A)  He wanted the government to have as much power as possible. 
B)  He believed that too many individual liberties destroyed the trust between citizen and government. 
C)  He believed it was unnecessary for a government that possessed only specifically delegated powers. 
D)  He believed a bill of rights would make the Constitution too long and cumbersome. 
E)  He believed a bill of rights would lead to too many frivolous lawsuits. 
A)  He wanted the government to have as much power as possible. 
B)  He believed that too many individual liberties destroyed the trust between citizen and government. 
C)  He believed it was unnecessary for a government that possessed only specifically delegated powers. 
D)  He believed a bill of rights would make the Constitution too long and cumbersome. 
E)  He believed a bill of rights would lead to too many frivolous lawsuits.

Question 3

The Bill of Rights was written because

Accepted Answer

A)  the Antifederalists demanded it as the price of ratification of the Constitution. 
B)  the Federalists realized that no constitution would last for long without a bill of rights. 
C)  the federal government in the early days of the Republic was violating too many individual rights. 
D)  Alexander Hamilton advocated the measure very forcefully. 
E)  the Supreme Court ruled that a bill of rights was needed. 
A)  the Antifederalists demanded it as the price of ratification of the Constitution. 
B)  the Federalists realized that no constitution would last for long without a bill of rights. 
C)  the federal government in the early days of the Republic was violating too many individual rights. 
D)  Alexander Hamilton advocated the measure very forcefully. 
E)  the Supreme Court ruled that a bill of rights was needed.

Question 4

Which of the following rights is not found in the original,unamended Constitution?

Accepted Answer

A)  guarantee of habeas corpus 
B)  prohibition of ex post facto laws 
C)  prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment 
D)  guarantee of trial by jury in the state where the crime was committed 
E)  prohibition of bills of attainder 
A)  guarantee of habeas corpus 
B)  prohibition of ex post facto laws 
C)  prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment 
D)  guarantee of trial by jury in the state where the crime was committed 
E)  prohibition of bills of attainder

Question 5

Which of the following is the most recent constitutional issue concerning fighting words?

Accepted Answer

A)  university harassment and hate speech codes 
B)  racial profiling 
C)  terrorist threats 
D)  vulgar and offensive satire and parodies 
E)  antibullying rules in elementary schools 
A)  university harassment and hate speech codes 
B)  racial profiling 
C)  terrorist threats 
D)  vulgar and offensive satire and parodies 
E)  antibullying rules in elementary schools

Question 6

Which of the following is the best description of the Supreme Court's first ruling on the issue of the nationalization of the Bill of Rights in 1833?

Accepted Answer

A)  The takings clause restricts national and state governments but not city governments. 
B)  The Bill of Rights should not be used if a state's constitution already contains its own bill of rights. 
C)  The takings clause does not cover accidents caused by government officials. 
D)  The Bill of Rights limits the national government but not state governments. 
E)  The Bill of Rights limits state governments but not the national government. 
A)  The takings clause restricts national and state governments but not city governments. 
B)  The Bill of Rights should not be used if a state's constitution already contains its own bill of rights. 
C)  The takings clause does not cover accidents caused by government officials. 
D)  The Bill of Rights limits the national government but not state governments. 
E)  The Bill of Rights limits state governments but not the national government.

Question 7

The First Amendment protects religious freedoms in two different ways.What are the free exercise clause and the establishment clause,and how do they differ from each other? Describe some recent controversies surrounding the maintenance of a "wall of separation" between church and state.What are some recent controversies involving the free exercise of religion,and how have they been solved?

Accepted Answer

The First Amendment protects religious f

Question 8

The current prohibition on states to criminalize abortion is based on

Accepted Answer

A)  the right to the due process of law. 
B)  equal protection against sexual discrimination. 
C)  the right to privacy. 
D)  the right against cruel and unusual punishment. 
E)  the free exercise clause. 
A)  the right to the due process of law. 
B)  equal protection against sexual discrimination. 
C)  the right to privacy. 
D)  the right against cruel and unusual punishment. 
E)  the free exercise clause.

Question 9

Which of the following statements concerning the death penalty is false?

Accepted Answer

A)  The United States is the only Western democracy to use the death penalty as a criminal sanction. 
B)  Thirty-six states have legalized the death penalty. 
C)  Congress has imposed capital punishment for more than fifty federal crimes. 
D)  The death penalty was never used in the United States prior to the 1950s. 
E)  Texas has executed more people than any other state. 
A)  The United States is the only Western democracy to use the death penalty as a criminal sanction. 
B)  Thirty-six states have legalized the death penalty. 
C)  Congress has imposed capital punishment for more than fifty federal crimes. 
D)  The death penalty was never used in the United States prior to the 1950s. 
E)  Texas has executed more people than any other state.

Question 10

The rights to assembly and petition are guaranteed by the same amendment guaranteeing

Accepted Answer

A)  free speech. 
B)  due process. 
C)  privacy. 
D)  the right to bear arms. 
E)  equal protection of the laws. 
A)  free speech. 
B)  due process. 
C)  privacy. 
D)  the right to bear arms. 
E)  equal protection of the laws.

Question 11

The Supreme Court's 2010 ruling in McDonald v.Chicago was significant because

Accepted Answer

A)  it applied the Second Amendment to state governments for the first time. 
B)  it rejected the idea that the Second Amendment applies to state governments. 
C)  it concluded that the Second Amendment applies only to state governments and not to the federal government. 
D)  it banned assault rifles in the United States. 
E)  it upheld the state of Illinois's restrictions on gun ownership by former felons. 
A)  it applied the Second Amendment to state governments for the first time. 
B)  it rejected the idea that the Second Amendment applies to state governments. 
C)  it concluded that the Second Amendment applies only to state governments and not to the federal government. 
D)  it banned assault rifles in the United States. 
E)  it upheld the state of Illinois's restrictions on gun ownership by former felons.

Question 12

What is the standard for determining guilt in criminal cases?

Accepted Answer

A)  Guilt must be proven "beyond a reasonable doubt." 
B)  Guilt must be proven "beyond any possible doubt whatsoever." 
C)  Guilt is determined by "the preponderance of the evidence." 
D)  Guilt is determined by "which side has the better argument." 
E)  Guilt is determined according to different standards based on the severity of the crime. 
A)  Guilt must be proven "beyond a reasonable doubt." 
B)  Guilt must be proven "beyond any possible doubt whatsoever." 
C)  Guilt is determined by "the preponderance of the evidence." 
D)  Guilt is determined by "which side has the better argument." 
E)  Guilt is determined according to different standards based on the severity of the crime.

Question 13

The Bill of Rights was not formally ratified until 1833.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

It is unconstitutional to burn the American flag.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

About what did Justice Potter Stewart confess,"I know it when I see it"?

Accepted Answer

A)  fighting words 
B)  speech inciting violence 
C)  pornography 
D)  sedition 
E)  slander 
A)  fighting words 
B)  speech inciting violence 
C)  pornography 
D)  sedition 
E)  slander

Question 16

What was the Supreme Court case that declared the exclusionary rule?

Accepted Answer

A)  Miranda v.Arizona 
B)  Near v.Minnesota 
C)  Mapp v.Ohio 
D)  Palko v.Connecticut 
E)  Griswold v.Connecticut 
A)  Miranda v.Arizona 
B)  Near v.Minnesota 
C)  Mapp v.Ohio 
D)  Palko v.Connecticut 
E)  Griswold v.Connecticut

Question 17

The procedural restraints found in the Bill of Rights

Accepted Answer

A)  put limits on what government shall and shall not have the power to do. 
B)  define how the government is supposed to act. 
C)  define why the government is supposed to act. 
D)  discuss why the government is or is not supposed to do something. 
E)  define which powers each branch of government possesses. 
A)  put limits on what government shall and shall not have the power to do. 
B)  define how the government is supposed to act. 
C)  define why the government is supposed to act. 
D)  discuss why the government is or is not supposed to do something. 
E)  define which powers each branch of government possesses.

Question 18

The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 was struck down by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional because it violated the separation of powers principle.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

The Fourth,Fifth,Sixth,and Eighth amendments are largely about

Accepted Answer

A)  protections for those accused of committing a crime. 
B)  the right to privacy and travel. 
C)  the demands that citizens be treated equally. 
D)  the limits of Congress regarding economic regulation. 
E)  the process of amending the Constitution. 
A)  protections for those accused of committing a crime. 
B)  the right to privacy and travel. 
C)  the demands that citizens be treated equally. 
D)  the limits of Congress regarding economic regulation. 
E)  the process of amending the Constitution.

Question 20

Which of the following is the best example of a substantive civil liberty?

Accepted Answer

A)  "The accused shall enjoy a right to a speedy trial." 
B)  "Cruel and unusual punishments shall not be inflicted." 
C)  "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion." 
D)  "The right of the people against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated." 
E)  "Excessive bail shall not be required,nor excessive fines imposed." 
A)  "The accused shall enjoy a right to a speedy trial." 
B)  "Cruel and unusual punishments shall not be inflicted." 
C)  "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion." 
D)  "The right of the people against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated." 
E)  "Excessive bail shall not be required,nor excessive fines imposed."

The Supreme Court's decisions in Van Orden v.Perry and McCreary v.ACLU illustrate that

What was the main reason that Alexander Hamilton did not want a bill of rights?

The Bill of Rights was written because

Which of the following rights is not found in the original,unamended Constitution?

Which of the following is the most recent constitutional issue concerning fighting words?

Which of the following is the best description of the Supreme Court's first ruling on the issue of the nationalization of the Bill of Rights in 1833?

The current prohibition on states to criminalize abortion is based on

Which of the following statements concerning the death penalty is false?

The rights to assembly and petition are guaranteed by the same amendment guaranteeing

The Supreme Court's 2010 ruling in McDonald v.Chicago was significant because

What is the standard for determining guilt in criminal cases?

The Bill of Rights was not formally ratified until 1833.

It is unconstitutional to burn the American flag.

About what did Justice Potter Stewart confess,"I know it when I see it"?

What was the Supreme Court case that declared the exclusionary rule?

The procedural restraints found in the Bill of Rights

The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 was struck down by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional because it violated the separation of powers principle.

The Fourth,Fifth,Sixth,and Eighth amendments are largely about

Which of the following is the best example of a substantive civil liberty?

American Political Culture

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Rights

Public Opinion

The Media

Political Participation and Voting

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

Groups and Interests

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy in a Democracy

The Federal Courts

Government and the Economy

Social Policy

Foreign Policy and Democracy

Filters

Exam 4: Civil Liberties

The Supreme Court's decisions in Van Orden v.Perry and McCreary v.ACLU illustrate that

What was the main reason that Alexander Hamilton did not want a bill of rights?

The Bill of Rights was written because

Which of the following rights is not found in the original,unamended Constitution?

Which of the following is the most recent constitutional issue concerning fighting words?

Which of the following is the best description of the Supreme Court's first ruling on the issue of the nationalization of the Bill of Rights in 1833?

The current prohibition on states to criminalize abortion is based on

Which of the following statements concerning the death penalty is false?

The rights to assembly and petition are guaranteed by the same amendment guaranteeing

The Supreme Court's 2010 ruling in McDonald v.Chicago was significant because

What is the standard for determining guilt in criminal cases?

The Bill of Rights was not formally ratified until 1833.

It is unconstitutional to burn the American flag.

About what did Justice Potter Stewart confess,"I know it when I see it"?

What was the Supreme Court case that declared the exclusionary rule?

The procedural restraints found in the Bill of Rights

The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 was struck down by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional because it violated the separation of powers principle.

The Fourth,Fifth,Sixth,and Eighth amendments are largely about

Which of the following is the best example of a substantive civil liberty?

American Political Culture

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Rights

Public Opinion

The Media

Political Participation and Voting

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

Groups and Interests

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy in a Democracy

The Federal Courts

Government and the Economy

Social Policy

Foreign Policy and Democracy

Filters