First Amendment Quiz

Which of the following is a violation of the First Amendment?

• The government making it illegal to sell alcohol on Sundays

• The government providing funds to pay teachers working at a Jewish school

• The government regulating church-affiliated hospitals the same way as other hospitals

• The government requiring religious schools to use state-approved mathematics textbooks

The phrase ". . . no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States." means

• Church and state should be kept separate.

• All citizens are free to run for elected office.

• Public officials cannot openly express their religious beliefs.

The First Amendment protect the expression of unpopular opinions based on the Supreme Court ruling in Snyder v. Phelps (2011) which states-

"Speech is powerful. It can stir people to action, move them to tears of both joy and sorrow, and—as it did here—inflict great pain. On the facts before us, we cannot react to that pain by punishing the speaker. As a Nation we have chosen a different course—to protect even hurtful speech on public issues to ensure that we do not stifle public debate."

• True

• False

Which of the following scenarios would not be protected by the First Amendment?

• A boy wears a shirt to school protesting a government decision.

• A group organizes a meeting to discuss controversial political issues.

• A politician gives a speech encouraging citizens to spy for another country.

Which of the following scenarios is protected by the First Amendment right to petition the government?

• writing a newspaper editorial about unnecessary health-care and defense spending

• putting a lawn sign on one’s property showing support for a presidential candidate

• sending an email to family and friends complaining about incompetent bureaucrats

If people in a town meet to protest a recent local government decision and it turns into a riot, will they be protected by the First Amendment?

• Yes

• No

Which scenario involves a violation of a U.S. citizen’s constitutional rights?

• Citizens are arrested for staging a violent protest.

• A women is detained for refusing the police to search her car even though they have a warrant.

• Members of a peaceful protest against the government are fined for organizing a planned and permitted march on the capitol.

Which right or freedom allows people to participate in town hall meetings?

• Freedom of the press

• Freedom of Association

• Freedom of Petition

First Amendment freedoms can be limited if they

• Pose a threat to others

• Are expressed in a private home

• Take place at a public school

• All of the above