FCLE Landmark Supreme Court Cases 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In Tinker v. Des Moines (1969), the Supreme Court ruled that students:
- Lose all constitutional rights while on school property
- Retain First Amendment rights as long as expression does not substantially disrupt school (Correct answer)
- May protest only outside school hours
- Cannot wear political symbols of any kind
Correct answer: Retain First Amendment rights as long as expression does not substantially disrupt school
The Court held that students do not 'shed their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse gate' unless the expression causes substantial disruption.
Question 2: What was the central issue in New York Times Co. v. United States (1971), the 'Pentagon Papers' case?
- Defamation of a public official
- Prior restraint on press freedom (Correct answer)
- Copyright infringement by a newspaper
- Access to classified congressional records
Correct answer: Prior restraint on press freedom
The Court ruled against the government's attempt to stop publication, holding that prior restraint bears a heavy presumption against its constitutional validity.
Question 3: Engel v. Vitale (1962) addressed the constitutionality of:
- Bible distribution in public schools
- State-sponsored prayer in public schools (Correct answer)
- Moments of silence in classrooms
- Religious clubs meeting on school grounds
Correct answer: State-sponsored prayer in public schools
The Court struck down a New York school board's practice of beginning the school day with a government-composed prayer, citing the Establishment Clause.
Question 4: The Supreme Court case Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) established that:
- Defendants have the right to a speedy trial
- States must provide an attorney to criminal defendants who cannot afford one (Correct answer)
- Double jeopardy applies to state courts
- Evidence obtained illegally cannot be used in state courts
Correct answer: States must provide an attorney to criminal defendants who cannot afford one
The Court unanimously ruled that the Sixth Amendment's guarantee of counsel is a fundamental right that states must provide through the Fourteenth Amendment.
Question 5: Which case established that the exclusionary rule applies to state courts, barring illegally obtained evidence?
- Weeks v. United States
- Mapp v. Ohio (Correct answer)
- Terry v. Ohio
- Katz v. United States
Correct answer: Mapp v. Ohio
Mapp v. Ohio (1961) incorporated the exclusionary rule to the states, meaning evidence seized in violation of the Fourth Amendment cannot be used in state criminal trials.
Question 6: In United States v. Nixon (1974), the Supreme Court ruled that:
- The President has absolute immunity from criminal prosecution
- Executive privilege is unlimited
- Executive privilege must yield to a demonstrated need for evidence in a criminal trial (Correct answer)
- Congress may subpoena any presidential communication
Correct answer: Executive privilege must yield to a demonstrated need for evidence in a criminal trial
The unanimous Court held that while executive privilege exists, it is not absolute and must give way to the judicial need for evidence in a criminal proceeding.
Question 7: Bush v. Gore (2000) was decided on the basis of which constitutional provision?
- First Amendment free speech
- Fourth Amendment search and seizure
- Fourteenth Amendment Equal Protection Clause (Correct answer)
- Article II presidential election powers
Correct answer: Fourteenth Amendment Equal Protection Clause
The Court held that inconsistent recount standards across Florida counties violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
FCLE Landmark Supreme Court Cases 2
In Tinker v.
Des Moines (1969), the Supreme Court ruled that students: