FCLE Landmark Supreme Court Cases Questions and Answers 5

Question 1

Which Supreme Court case established the principle of 'one person, one vote' in legislative apportionment?

Accepted Answer

Both B and C

Answer

Reynolds v. Sims applied the equal population principle to state legislatures, while Wesberry v. Sanders applied it to U.S. House districts.

Question 2

In Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier (1988), the Supreme Court held that school administrators may:

Accepted Answer

Censor school-sponsored publications for legitimate educational reasons

Answer

The Court ruled that school officials have broad authority over school-sponsored expressive activities like student newspapers as long as their actions are reasonably related to legitimate pedagogical concerns.

Question 3

The Supreme Court case Furman v. Georgia (1972) effectively halted the death penalty in the United States by ruling that its application was:

Accepted Answer

Arbitrary and capricious, constituting cruel and unusual punishment

Answer

The Court's fractured 5-4 ruling found that the arbitrary way states applied the death penalty violated the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments.

Question 4

What was the significance of Korematsu v. United States (1944)?

Accepted Answer

It upheld Japanese American internment, applying the first 'strict scrutiny' standard to racial classifications

Answer

Although the Court upheld internment, it introduced the strict scrutiny standard for racial classifications — a standard later used to strike down racial discrimination.

Question 5

In Citizens United v. FEC (2010), the Supreme Court held that political spending by corporations and unions is:

Accepted Answer

A form of protected free speech under the First Amendment

Answer

The Court ruled 5-4 that restricting independent political expenditures by corporations, unions, and other associations violates the First Amendment.

FCLE - Florida Civic Literacy Exam Practice Test

FCLE - Florida Civic Literacy Exam Practice Test

FCLE Landmark Supreme Court Cases Questions and Answers 5