Question 1

The Court does not give full protection to fighting words because

Accepted Answer

A)  insults hurt people's feelings. 
B)  such words are not part of the essential exposition of ideas. 
C)  fighting words are a form of sedition. 
D)  they are a form of obscenity. 
E)  fighting words are necessarily slanderous. 
A)  insults hurt people's feelings. 
B)  such words are not part of the essential exposition of ideas. 
C)  fighting words are a form of sedition. 
D)  they are a form of obscenity. 
E)  fighting words are necessarily slanderous.

Question 2

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 3

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 4

The Supreme Court case Near v. Minnesota established the principle that

Accepted Answer

A)  the government could block publication of newspapers during a time of crisis such as the Cold War. 
B)  only under the most extraordinary circumstances should the government prevent the publication of newspapers and magazines. 
C)  news articles that were not truthful received no First Amendment protection. 
D)  the news media could not publish obscene material. 
E)  the government cannot regulate any form of commercial speech. 
A)  the government could block publication of newspapers during a time of crisis such as the Cold War. 
B)  only under the most extraordinary circumstances should the government prevent the publication of newspapers and magazines. 
C)  news articles that were not truthful received no First Amendment protection. 
D)  the news media could not publish obscene material. 
E)  the government cannot regulate any form of commercial speech.

Question 5

The Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission was significant because it concluded that

Accepted Answer

A)  the Constitution prohibits the government from limiting campaign spending in any way. 
B)  the Constitution allows the government to prevent certain candidates from running campaign ads. 
C)  the Constitution allows the government to ban political speech funded by corporations. 
D)  the Constitution prohibits the government from regulating political speech funded by corporations. 
E)  the "millionaire's amendment" to the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act was consistent with the Constitution. 
A)  the Constitution prohibits the government from limiting campaign spending in any way. 
B)  the Constitution allows the government to prevent certain candidates from running campaign ads. 
C)  the Constitution allows the government to ban political speech funded by corporations. 
D)  the Constitution prohibits the government from regulating political speech funded by corporations. 
E)  the "millionaire's amendment" to the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act was consistent with the Constitution.

Question 6

Which rights do not fall under constitutional arguments in favor of the right to privacy?

Accepted Answer

A)  right to abortion 
B)  rights of homosexuals 
C)  right to use pornography 
D)  right to die 
E)  right to have access to birth control 
A)  right to abortion 
B)  rights of homosexuals 
C)  right to use pornography 
D)  right to die 
E)  right to have access to birth control

Question 7

In Lawrence v. Texas (2003), the Supreme Court ruled that

Accepted Answer

A)  there was no constitutional right to physician-assisted suicide. 
B)  laws criminalizing gay sexual behavior are a violation of the right to privacy. 
C)  states may compel a 48-hour waiting period before permitting a woman to have an abortion. 
D)  mandatory locker searches in public schools did not violate the Fourth Amendment. 
E)  states may require background checks for all individuals purchasing a firearm. 
A)  there was no constitutional right to physician-assisted suicide. 
B)  laws criminalizing gay sexual behavior are a violation of the right to privacy. 
C)  states may compel a 48-hour waiting period before permitting a woman to have an abortion. 
D)  mandatory locker searches in public schools did not violate the Fourth Amendment. 
E)  states may require background checks for all individuals purchasing a firearm.

Question 8

The Eighth Amendment prohibits

Accepted Answer

A)  double jeopardy. 
B)  cruel and unusual punishment. 
C)  denial of a lawyer in felony trials. 
D)  the violation of habeas corpus. 
E)  unlawful searches and seizures. 
A)  double jeopardy. 
B)  cruel and unusual punishment. 
C)  denial of a lawyer in felony trials. 
D)  the violation of habeas corpus. 
E)  unlawful searches and seizures.

Question 9

The wall of separation between church and state is best found in what clause of the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

A)  the free exercise clause 
B)  the establishment clause 
C)  the equal protection clause 
D)  the wall of separation clause 
E)  the full faith and credit clause 
A)  the free exercise clause 
B)  the establishment clause 
C)  the equal protection clause 
D)  the wall of separation clause 
E)  the full faith and credit clause

Question 10

The Religious Freedom Restoration Act, passed by Congress in 1993, was an attempt to

Accepted Answer

A)  recognize Judeo-Christianity as the unofficial religion of the United States. 
B)  give more protection to religious freedoms than the Supreme Court was allowing. 
C)  establish a federal school voucher program. 
D)  permit prayer in public schools. 
E)  limit the kinds of religious ceremonies that nonmainstream religious organizations conduct at their services. 
A)  recognize Judeo-Christianity as the unofficial religion of the United States. 
B)  give more protection to religious freedoms than the Supreme Court was allowing. 
C)  establish a federal school voucher program. 
D)  permit prayer in public schools. 
E)  limit the kinds of religious ceremonies that nonmainstream religious organizations conduct at their services.

Question 11

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 12

When the government blocks the publication of material it does not want released, this is known as

Accepted Answer

A)  sedition. 
B)  speech plus. 
C)  prior restraint. 
D)  clear and present danger. 
E)  libel. 
A)  sedition. 
B)  speech plus. 
C)  prior restraint. 
D)  clear and present danger. 
E)  libel.

Question 13

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 14

The constitutional basis for the nationalization of the Bill of Rights is

Accepted Answer

A)  the First Amendment. 
B)  the Tenth Amendment. 
C)  the Fourteenth Amendment. 
D)  Plessy v. Ferguson. 
E)  Roe v. Wade. 
A)  the First Amendment. 
B)  the Tenth Amendment. 
C)  the Fourteenth Amendment. 
D)  Plessy v. Ferguson. 
E)  Roe v. Wade.

Question 15

The Terri Schiavo case was an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  the controversy surrounding the so-called right to die. 
B)  the limits of the Fourth Amendment. 
C)  selective incorporation of the Bill of Rights. 
D)  the Supreme Court's difficulty in defining "cruel and unusual punishment." 
E)  the difference between the establishment clause and the free exercise clause. 
A)  the controversy surrounding the so-called right to die. 
B)  the limits of the Fourth Amendment. 
C)  selective incorporation of the Bill of Rights. 
D)  the Supreme Court's difficulty in defining "cruel and unusual punishment." 
E)  the difference between the establishment clause and the free exercise clause.

Question 16

Evidence obtained by an illegal search cannot be used as evidence in a criminal trial.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Why did the Supreme Court rule the Communications Decency Act unconstitutional?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because it attempted to impose prior restraint on newspapers. 
B)  Because it violated the First Amendment's right to freedom of assembly. 
C)  Because it granted too much authority to the executive branch and, therefore, violated the separation of powers. 
D)  Because it attempted to protect children by suppressing speech that adults have a constitutional right to receive. 
E)  Because it imposed penalties that were too severe for certain forms of hate speech. 
A)  Because it attempted to impose prior restraint on newspapers. 
B)  Because it violated the First Amendment's right to freedom of assembly. 
C)  Because it granted too much authority to the executive branch and, therefore, violated the separation of powers. 
D)  Because it attempted to protect children by suppressing speech that adults have a constitutional right to receive. 
E)  Because it imposed penalties that were too severe for certain forms of hate speech.

Question 18

The first modern free speech case arose immediately after World War I.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Some framers of the Constitution believed that adding a bill of rights would be dangerous.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

The Bill of Rights was not formally ratified until 1833.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 4: Civil Liberties

The Court does not give full protection to fighting words because

The current prohibition on states to criminalize abortion is based on

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

The Supreme Court case Near v. Minnesota established the principle that

The Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission was significant because it concluded that

Which rights do not fall under constitutional arguments in favor of the right to privacy?

In Lawrence v. Texas (2003), the Supreme Court ruled that

The Eighth Amendment prohibits

The wall of separation between church and state is best found in what clause of the Constitution?

The Religious Freedom Restoration Act, passed by Congress in 1993, was an attempt to

The Bill of Rights was written because

When the government blocks the publication of material it does not want released, this is known as

The constitutional basis for the nationalization of the Bill of Rights is

The Terri Schiavo case was an example of

Evidence obtained by an illegal search cannot be used as evidence in a criminal trial.

Why did the Supreme Court rule the Communications Decency Act unconstitutional?

The first modern free speech case arose immediately after World War I.

Some framers of the Constitution believed that adding a bill of rights would be dangerous.

The Bill of Rights was not formally ratified until 1833.

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