AZ Bar Constitutional Law 3

Question 1

Under the Contract Clause, states are prohibited from enacting laws that:

Accepted Answer

Substantially impair existing private contract obligations without adequate justification

Answer

Article I, Section 10 prohibits states from passing laws that substantially impair the obligations of existing private contracts without adequate justification.

Question 2

Which test does the Supreme Court use to determine whether a government action constitutes an establishment of religion?

Accepted Answer

The Lemon test and its progeny, including the endorsement test

Answer

Courts use the Lemon test (purpose, effect, entanglement) and related tests like the endorsement test to evaluate Establishment Clause challenges.

Question 3

A state law that facially discriminates against interstate commerce will be upheld only if:

Accepted Answer

It is narrowly tailored to serve a compelling state interest and no nondiscriminatory alternatives exist

Answer

Facially discriminatory state laws receive strict scrutiny under the dormant Commerce Clause and are almost always struck down unless no nondiscriminatory alternative exists.

Question 4

The right to privacy recognized in Griswold v. Connecticut is grounded in:

Accepted Answer

Penumbras and emanations of several Bill of Rights provisions

Answer

In Griswold, the Court found a right to privacy in the penumbras and emanations from the First, Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Ninth Amendments.

Question 5

Under the Second Amendment, the Supreme Court held in District of Columbia v. Heller that:

Accepted Answer

Individuals have a right to keep handguns in the home for self-defense

Answer

Heller held that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess firearms for traditionally lawful purposes, including self-defense within the home.

AZ Bar - Arizona Bar Exam Practice Test

AZ Bar - Arizona Bar Exam Practice Test

AZ Bar Constitutional Law 3