AP Government Must Know Court Cases

Which of the following options represents the majority opinion in US v Lopez?

• Individuals have the right to own and carry guns

• The power of the federal government in relation to state governments is limited in this case

• The Commerce Clause gives Congress broad powers to determine the constitutionality of laws

• Even small, local events ultimately have an effect on interstate commerce

In the McCulloch v Maryland 1819 decision, which two provisions in the Constitution were upheld and strengthened?

• Congress's power to regulate commerce and to levy taxes

• The necessary and proper clause and the Supremacy Clause

• The 1st and 10th Amendment

• The Full Faith and Credit Clause and the extradition clause

Which of the following statements is true regarding the Court's decision in Marbury v Madison 1803?

• It resolved a dispute about Congress's commerce power

• It established the principle of stare decisis

• It overturned part of an act of Congress

• It established the supremacy of federal law

What was the effect of the opinion in Schenck v United States?

• People can say or express anything as long as the nation is not at war

• During wartime, no person can criticize the US government

• Free speech was expanded in the US

• As long as speech does not present a clear and present danger, it is allowed

In what way do the decisions in Engel v Vitale and Wisconsin v Yoder differ?

• One suggests a public policy creates an establishment of religion, while the other suggests a public policy denies a free exercise of religion

• One was decided on free speech grounds and one was decided on free press grounds

• One preserved the governmental policy and the other struck down a governmental policy

• One was during wartime and one was during peacetime

Which of the following is a result of the Gideon v Wainwright decision?

• Evidence acquired without a warrant will be excluded from the defendant's trial.

• No state can prevent a woman from having an abortion

• Police must tell arrested suspects that they have a right against self-incrimination

• States must provide poor defendants with public defense attorneys

In Brown v Board of Education, the Supreme Court based its decision on which provision of the 14th Amendment?

• Automatic citizenship for persons born in the US

• Equal Protection under the law

• Due Process Clause

• Fellowship Clause of Rights

Which of the following did the Supreme Court permit in New York Times v. United States?

• printing military strategies during the Vietnam War

• publishing papers regarding government decisions during the Vietnam War

• Nixon’s invocation of executive privilege

• investigations into presidential corruption

Which of the following statements identifies the Supreme Court’s decision in Tinker v. Des Moines?

• Schools can suspend students whose actions stimulate class discussions

• The First Amendment protects non-disruptive expression within schools

• Students can express their opinions in any way they choose in school

• Clothing cannot be categorized as a form of speech

The doctrine of prior restraint says that the government cannot prevent speech or publication __________.

• that is critical of the government

• that is illegal

• after the fact

• before the fact