Question 1

The Supreme Court's decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. was significant because

Accepted Answer

A)  it signaled that the Court would no longer hear cases on sexual harassment. 
B)  it overturned significant portions of the Violence Against Women Act. 
C)  it ultimately led Congress to pass a new law giving workers expanded rights to sue in cases where they learn of discriminatory treatment well after it has started. 
D)  it struck down Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act as unconstitutional. 
E)  It ruled that state-sponsored schools must be open to both men and women. 
A)  it signaled that the Court would no longer hear cases on sexual harassment. 
B)  it overturned significant portions of the Violence Against Women Act. 
C)  it ultimately led Congress to pass a new law giving workers expanded rights to sue in cases where they learn of discriminatory treatment well after it has started. 
D)  it struck down Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act as unconstitutional. 
E)  It ruled that state-sponsored schools must be open to both men and women. C

Question 2

Many advances in civil rights have been accomplished through federal legislation. Describe the different parts of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. What has it accomplished, and what kind of enforcement mechanisms have been established? What civil rights legislation has been passed since 1964?

Accepted Answer

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a landmark piece of federal legislation that aimed to end segregation and discrimination in public facilities, employment, and voting. It is composed of several key parts:

1. Title I: This section prohibits discrimination in public accommodations, such as hotels, restaurants, and theaters, based on race, color, religion, or national origin.

2. Title II: This section prohibits discrimination in employment based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It also established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to enforce these provisions.

3. Title III: This section prohibits discrimination in public facilities, such as schools and public transportation, based on race, color, religion, or national origin.

4. Title IV: This section authorizes the U.S. Attorney General to file lawsuits to desegregate public schools and other public facilities.

5. Title V: This section establishes the Commission on Civil Rights to investigate and report on issues related to discrimination and civil rights.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 has accomplished significant advancements in civil rights by outlawing segregation and discrimination in public spaces and employment. It has also paved the way for further civil rights legislation and has contributed to the ongoing fight for equality and justice.

In terms of enforcement mechanisms, the Act established the EEOC to investigate and address complaints of employment discrimination. It also empowered the U.S. Attorney General to take legal action against entities that violated the Act's provisions.

Since 1964, several other significant pieces of civil rights legislation have been passed, including the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Fair Housing Act of 1968, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Civil Rights Act of 1991. These laws have further expanded and protected civil rights in various areas, such as voting rights, housing discrimination, and disability rights.

Question 3

Desegregating schools in northern states proved to be difficult because

Accepted Answer

A)  very few minorities lived in the North. 
B)  segregation in the North was generally de facto, the product of both segregated housing and acts of private discrimination that were hard to prove. 
C)  discrimination in the South was so visible and pervasive that little attention had been given to other parts of the country. 
D)  there was less hostility toward segregation in the North. 
E)  there was less tax revenue to fund integration efforts in the North than in the South. 
A)  very few minorities lived in the North. 
B)  segregation in the North was generally de facto, the product of both segregated housing and acts of private discrimination that were hard to prove. 
C)  discrimination in the South was so visible and pervasive that little attention had been given to other parts of the country. 
D)  there was less hostility toward segregation in the North. 
E)  there was less tax revenue to fund integration efforts in the North than in the South. B

Question 4

Under what conditions can a plaintiff successfully bring a sexual harassment charge?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is possible only if the plaintiff can prove both economic and psychological harm. 
B)  It is possible only if the plaintiff can prove either economic or psychological harm. 
C)  The plaintiff need prove neither economic nor psychological harm. 
D)  Only quid pro quo forms of harassment may be brought into court. 
E)  Only harassment that creates offensive or intimidating employment conditions that amount to a hostile environment. 
A)  It is possible only if the plaintiff can prove both economic and psychological harm. 
B)  It is possible only if the plaintiff can prove either economic or psychological harm. 
C)  The plaintiff need prove neither economic nor psychological harm. 
D)  Only quid pro quo forms of harassment may be brought into court. 
E)  Only harassment that creates offensive or intimidating employment conditions that amount to a hostile environment.

Question 5

Which of the following statements best describes the impact of the Voting Rights Act on voter registration in southern states?

Accepted Answer

A)  A smaller percentage of blacks registered to vote in Southern states after passage of the Voting Rights Act. 
B)  A much larger percentage of whites registered to vote in Southern states after passage of the Voting Rights Act. 
C)  The percentage of blacks registering to vote did not change at all after passage of the Voting Rights Act. 
D)  The gap between the percentage of whites registering to vote and the percentage of blacks registering to vote declined significantly after passage of the Voting Rights Act. 
E)  The gap between the percentage of whites registering to vote and the percentage of blacks registering to vote increased significantly after passage of the Voting Rights Act. 
A)  A smaller percentage of blacks registered to vote in Southern states after passage of the Voting Rights Act. 
B)  A much larger percentage of whites registered to vote in Southern states after passage of the Voting Rights Act. 
C)  The percentage of blacks registering to vote did not change at all after passage of the Voting Rights Act. 
D)  The gap between the percentage of whites registering to vote and the percentage of blacks registering to vote declined significantly after passage of the Voting Rights Act. 
E)  The gap between the percentage of whites registering to vote and the percentage of blacks registering to vote increased significantly after passage of the Voting Rights Act.

Question 6

Which area was not covered by the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

Accepted Answer

A)  employment 
B)  public accommodations 
C)  school desegregation 
D)  voting 
E)  military service 
A)  employment 
B)  public accommodations 
C)  school desegregation 
D)  voting 
E)  military service

Question 7

What happened to California's Proposition 187?

Accepted Answer

A)  A federal court declared it constitutional. 
B)  A federal court declared most of it a violation of the U.S. Constitution. 
C)  It was ruled a violation of the state constitution but not the U.S. Constitution. 
D)  It was negated by a law passed by the California state legislature. 
E)  There was never a court challenge to its legality and it remains in effect. 
A)  A federal court declared it constitutional. 
B)  A federal court declared most of it a violation of the U.S. Constitution. 
C)  It was ruled a violation of the state constitution but not the U.S. Constitution. 
D)  It was negated by a law passed by the California state legislature. 
E)  There was never a court challenge to its legality and it remains in effect.

Question 8

The 1947 federal court case Mendez v. Westminster was significant because

Accepted Answer

A)  its decision to uphold policies that created separate schools for Mexican American and white students in California was eventually overturned by Brown v. Board of Education. 
B)  its decision to overturn school segregation of Mexican American students in California served as a precursor to Brown v. Board of Education. 
C)  it was the first court case in American history to rule on the issue of segregation. 
D)  it granted amnesty to all unauthorized immigrants. 
E)  it overturned state laws on who can and who cannot become an American citizen. 
A)  its decision to uphold policies that created separate schools for Mexican American and white students in California was eventually overturned by Brown v. Board of Education. 
B)  its decision to overturn school segregation of Mexican American students in California served as a precursor to Brown v. Board of Education. 
C)  it was the first court case in American history to rule on the issue of segregation. 
D)  it granted amnesty to all unauthorized immigrants. 
E)  it overturned state laws on who can and who cannot become an American citizen.

Question 9

Explain the rise of the civil rights movement in the United States. What role did the NAACP play, and what kind of political strategy did it adopt? What actions of the Supreme Court and the executive branch signaled a willingness to challenge Jim Crow laws? Why was Brown v. Board of Education such an important case?

Accepted Answer

The civil rights movement in the United

Question 10

In the University of Michigan affirmative action cases, the Supreme Court

Accepted Answer

A)  rejected mechanical point systems for university admissions but upheld highly individualized affirmative action policies that were designed to promote diversity. 
B)  upheld mechanical point systems for university admissions but rejected highly individualized affirmative action policies. 
C)  rejected all affirmative action policies that address university admissions. 
D)  declared that affirmative action policies would no longer be subject to strict scrutiny. 
E)  asserted for the first time that affirmative action policies would be subject to strict scrutiny. 
A)  rejected mechanical point systems for university admissions but upheld highly individualized affirmative action policies that were designed to promote diversity. 
B)  upheld mechanical point systems for university admissions but rejected highly individualized affirmative action policies. 
C)  rejected all affirmative action policies that address university admissions. 
D)  declared that affirmative action policies would no longer be subject to strict scrutiny. 
E)  asserted for the first time that affirmative action policies would be subject to strict scrutiny.

Question 11

The end of the Civil War led to ten new amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, a plaintiff was required to show that an employer deliberately discriminated against them in order to win a lawsuit.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

The Supreme Court case Franklin v. Gwinnett County Public Schools (1992) is important because it

Accepted Answer

A)  asserted that violations of Title IX of the 1972 Education Act could be remedied with monetary damages. 
B)  permitted public schools to experiment with gender segregation. 
C)  required states to fund schools on Indian reservations at the same levels as all other public schools. 
D)  narrowed the free speech rights that students enjoyed at school. 
E)  found busing to integrate schools unconstitutional. 
A)  asserted that violations of Title IX of the 1972 Education Act could be remedied with monetary damages. 
B)  permitted public schools to experiment with gender segregation. 
C)  required states to fund schools on Indian reservations at the same levels as all other public schools. 
D)  narrowed the free speech rights that students enjoyed at school. 
E)  found busing to integrate schools unconstitutional.

Question 14

The Supreme Court's ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson

Accepted Answer

A)  established the separate but equal rule. 
B)  upheld the Civil Rights Act of 1875. 
C)  declared that segregation by race was unconstitutional. 
D)  ruled that the equal protection clause did not cover private acts of discrimination. 
E)  ruled that the equal protection clause applied only to the federal government and not to state governments. 
A)  established the separate but equal rule. 
B)  upheld the Civil Rights Act of 1875. 
C)  declared that segregation by race was unconstitutional. 
D)  ruled that the equal protection clause did not cover private acts of discrimination. 
E)  ruled that the equal protection clause applied only to the federal government and not to state governments.

Question 15

At what level of scrutiny do courts review cases involving gender discrimination?

Accepted Answer

A)  strict scrutiny 
B)  intermediate scrutiny 
C)  loose scrutiny 
D)  stare decisis 
E)  rational basis 
A)  strict scrutiny 
B)  intermediate scrutiny 
C)  loose scrutiny 
D)  stare decisis 
E)  rational basis

Question 16

During the late nineteenth century, the equal protection clause was

Accepted Answer

A)  used as a strong tool for engineering racial equality. 
B)  severely limited in scope by the Supreme Court. 
C)  ruled to be unconstitutional. 
D)  more strongly defended by individual states than by the federal government. 
E)  not implemented because of a lack of tax revenue. 
A)  used as a strong tool for engineering racial equality. 
B)  severely limited in scope by the Supreme Court. 
C)  ruled to be unconstitutional. 
D)  more strongly defended by individual states than by the federal government. 
E)  not implemented because of a lack of tax revenue.

Question 17

Which city was the setting for a major racial confrontation concerning school busing?

Accepted Answer

A)  Atlanta 
B)  New Orleans 
C)  Boston 
D)  Dallas 
E)  Miami 
A)  Atlanta 
B)  New Orleans 
C)  Boston 
D)  Dallas 
E)  Miami

Question 18

The American experience with civil rights suggests which of the following things about political change in the United States?

Accepted Answer

A)  Political change can only be achieved when citizens bypass the courts and the legislatures entirely. 
B)  Political change is easiest to achieve when the courts and the legislatures frequently overturn each other's actions. 
C)  The courts are far more powerful than the legislature and, therefore, can advance political change on their own. 
D)  The legislatures are far more powerful than the courts and, therefore, can advance political change on their own. 
E)  Legislatures need constitutional authority to act from the courts, and the courts need legislative assistance to implement court orders and focus political support. 
A)  Political change can only be achieved when citizens bypass the courts and the legislatures entirely. 
B)  Political change is easiest to achieve when the courts and the legislatures frequently overturn each other's actions. 
C)  The courts are far more powerful than the legislature and, therefore, can advance political change on their own. 
D)  The legislatures are far more powerful than the courts and, therefore, can advance political change on their own. 
E)  Legislatures need constitutional authority to act from the courts, and the courts need legislative assistance to implement court orders and focus political support.

Question 19

Which of the following statements best describes the number of peaceful civil rights demonstrations during the 1950s and 1960s?

Accepted Answer

A)  The most demonstrations were held in the mid-1950s, and the number of demonstrations declined throughout the 1960s. 
B)  There were almost no demonstrations prior to 1968. 
C)  The number of demonstrations grew in the early 1960s and peaked in 1965. 
D)  There were many demonstrations in the mid-1950s and many demonstrations in the late 1960s but none in between. 
E)  There were almost no demonstrations during the 1950s and 1960s. 
A)  The most demonstrations were held in the mid-1950s, and the number of demonstrations declined throughout the 1960s. 
B)  There were almost no demonstrations prior to 1968. 
C)  The number of demonstrations grew in the early 1960s and peaked in 1965. 
D)  There were many demonstrations in the mid-1950s and many demonstrations in the late 1960s but none in between. 
E)  There were almost no demonstrations during the 1950s and 1960s.

Question 20

It was during the tenure of Chief Justice ______ that the Supreme Court established gender discrimination as a highly visible area of civil rights law.

Accepted Answer

A)  Taft 
B)  Warren 
C)  Burger 
D)  Rehnquist 
E)  Marshall 
A)  Taft 
B)  Warren 
C)  Burger 
D)  Rehnquist 
E)  Marshall

Exam 5: Civil Rights

The Supreme Court's decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. was significant because

Many advances in civil rights have been accomplished through federal legislation. Describe the different parts of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. What has it accomplished, and what kind of enforcement mechanisms have been established? What civil rights legislation has been passed since 1964?

Desegregating schools in northern states proved to be difficult because

Under what conditions can a plaintiff successfully bring a sexual harassment charge?

Which of the following statements best describes the impact of the Voting Rights Act on voter registration in southern states?

Which area was not covered by the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

What happened to California's Proposition 187?

The 1947 federal court case Mendez v. Westminster was significant because

In the University of Michigan affirmative action cases, the Supreme Court

The end of the Civil War led to ten new amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, a plaintiff was required to show that an employer deliberately discriminated against them in order to win a lawsuit.

The Supreme Court case Franklin v. Gwinnett County Public Schools (1992) is important because it

The Supreme Court's ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson

At what level of scrutiny do courts review cases involving gender discrimination?

During the late nineteenth century, the equal protection clause was

Which city was the setting for a major racial confrontation concerning school busing?

The American experience with civil rights suggests which of the following things about political change in the United States?

Which of the following statements best describes the number of peaceful civil rights demonstrations during the 1950s and 1960s?

It was during the tenure of Chief Justice ______ that the Supreme Court established gender discrimination as a highly visible area of civil rights law.

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