The Power of Judicial Review (Court Cases)

Which statement identifies the significance of the U.S. Supreme Court decisions in Brown v. Board of Education (1954)?

• It overturned racial segregation in public schools. 
• It overturned the earlier decision of Gideon v. Wainwright.
• It upheld state laws requiring the payment of poll taxes to vote.
• It upheld state laws requiring racial segregation on railroad cars. 

This passage is from the U.S. Supreme Court decision In re Gault (1967).
"From the inception of the juvenile court system, wide differences have been tolerated . . . between the procedural rights accorded to adults and those of juveniles.  In practically all jurisdictions, there are rights granted to adults, which are withheld from juveniles. 
History has again demonstrated that unbridled discretion, however motivated, is frequently a poor substitute for principle and procedure. . . "
Which conclusion did the Court draw from this reasoning?

• Evidence cannot be presented in a court of law if obtained by police in an unlawful search.
• States must provide minors accused of crimes with most of the same "due process" rights given to adults. 
• Suspects must be informed of their Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights prior to police interrogation. 
• A person accused of a felony who is unable to afford an attorney is entitled to have one  provided by the court. 

In which U.S. Supreme Court decision did Chief Justice John Marshall establish the power of the Court to invalidate a "law repugnant to [in conflict with] the Constitution? 

• Bush v. Gore
• Miranda v. Arizona
• Marbury v. Madison
• Brown v. Board of Education

This passage is from the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
"We consider the underlying fallacy of the plaintiff's argument to consist in the assumption that the enforced separation of the two races stamps the colored race with a badge of inferiority.  If this be so, it is not by reason of anything found in the act, but solely because the colored race chooses to put that construction upon it . . .
If the civil and political rights of both races be equal, one cannot be inferior to the other civilly or politically.  If one race be inferior to the other socially, the constitution of the United States cannot put them upon the same plane." 
What was the impact of the reasoning above? 

• Racial segregation remained in place in the South for another half century.
• Southern state governments were forced to end their practice of racial segregation.
• State governments had to ensure the economic and socially equality of their residents. 
• State governments no longer had to provide equal facilities to members of different races. 

This passage is from the U.S. Supreme Court case Tinker v. Des Moines (1969).
In our system, state-operated schools may not be enclaves of totalitarianism.  School officials do not possess absolute authority over their students.  Students in school as well as out of school are "persons" under our Constitution.  They are possessed of fundamental rights . . . In the absence of a specific showing of constitutionally valid reasons to regulate their speech, students are entitled to freedom of expression of their views. 
Based on this reasoning, what did the U.S. Supreme Court conclude? 

• Students have the right to wear armbands in school to express their political beliefs.
• Students can express their political views in student newspapers but not in classrooms.
• Students will cause too much disruption if they wear armbands to school.
• Students have the right to express their political opinions at home but not in school. 

How did the Supreme Court's decision in Bush v. Gore (2000) differ from its decision in Brown v. Board of Education (1954)? 

• The Brown decision was unanimous, while the Justices divided along suspected party lines in Bush v. Gore. 
• Bush v. Gore affected the entire nation, while Brown only had an impact on a handful of people.
• Brown was decided at a time of economic prosperity, while Bush v. Gore was decided during an economic depression.
• Bush v. Gore prohibited racial segregation in schools, while Brown affected state voting procedures. 

The passage below is from the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education (1954):
"Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has detrimental effect upon the colored children.  The impact is greater when it has the sanction of the law, for the policy of separating the races is usually interpreted as denoting the inferiority of [African-American] group . . . We concluded that, in the field of public education, the doctrine of "separate but equal" had not place."
What was the impact of this reasoning by the U.S. Supreme Court?

• Racial segregation was discontinued in public elementary schools but continued in higher grades.
• Southern states were forced to end all racial segregation in public schools. 
• Southern states were required to ensure the economic and social equality of all races.
• Southern states could maintain separate schools for African-American and white children if they were of equal quality. 

What was the outcome of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Bush v. Gore (2000)?

• A recount of votes in Florida was stopped and George W. Bush became the next president.
• The U.S. Supreme court confirmed the ruling of the Supreme Court of Florida to conduct a recount.
• The U.S. Supreme Court used the results of the popular vote in place of the Electoral College.
• The U.S. Supreme Court ordered a new election to be held in Florida. 

The passage below is from the 1969 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Tinker v. Des Moines.
"Clearly, the prohibition of expression of one particular opinion, at least without evidence that it is necessary to avoid material and substantial interference with schoolwork or discipline, is not constitutionally permissible."
What did the Court conclude on the basis of this reasoning?

• School authorities could censor school-sponsored publications.
• Students were entitled to free speech rights even in a school setting.
• Students could not public statements that criticized government policies.
• Students could not publish statements that identified other students by name. 

Which statement describes the significance of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Miranda v. Arizona (1966)?

• Southern states could no longer maintain racially segregated public schools.
• States could no longer have racial quotas as part of their affirmative action programs.
• Individuals accused of serious crimes unable to pay for an attorney were entitled to a state-sponsored one.
• Suspects had to be told of their right to have an attorney present or to remain silent during police interrogations.