Unit 10 Supreme Court Cases

Tinker v. Des Moines was significant because it:

• Allowed for the use of affirmative action in college admissions

• Established the right to privacy in marital relations

• Recognized students' rights to free speech in schools

• Ended the death penalty for minors

What lesson did future U.S. leaders learn from the 1974 U.S. Supreme Court case United States v. Nixon?

• The president is accountable for obeying the law

• The president is responsible for enforcing the law

• The president is not allowed to hold secret talks with foreign governments.

• The president is not allowed to have private meetings with cabinet members.

Answer explanation

Nixon had tried to prevent materials from being subpoenaed in the Watergate investigation. The Court ruled that executive privilege does not apply to criminal investigations and cannot interfere with the judicial process. Rule of law states that the law applies to everyone, even the sitting president.

Which U.S. Supreme Court decision addresses the need for public schools to balance students’ rights with principals’ responsibilities?

• Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier

• Gideon v. Wainwright

• Plessy v. Ferguson

• Bush v. Gore

Answer explanation

The focus of Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier was on how to balance students’ rights, such as the right to free speech in a school setting, and principals’ responsibilities to manage the schools for which they are responsible

Which U.S. Supreme Court decision addresses the need for public schools to balance students’ rights with principals’ responsibilities?

• Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier (1988)

• Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

• Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

• Bush v. Gore (2000)

Which statement identifies the impact of United States v. Nixon (1974)?

• Rule of law applies to the president.

• Executive privilege protects the president from judicial review.

• The U.S. Supreme Court does not have the power to intervene in presidential matters.

• The president is able to record secret conversations with foreign governments and cabinet members.

Answer explanation

The decision in the case demonstrated that being president does not make someone above the law. The president must follow the same laws as all American citizens based on the rule of law found in the U.S. Constitution.

This Supreme Court case established juveniles are protected with the same constitutional rights as adults.

• Brown v. Board of Education, Topeka Kansas
• Tinker v. DesMoines
• Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier
• In re Gault

The decision in which U.S. Supreme Court case resulted in states being required to provide an attorney to defendants who cannot afford one?

• District of Columbia v. Heller

• Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier

• Gideon v. Wainwright

• Miranda v. Arizona

Answer explanation

The focus of Gideon v. Wainwright was the Sixth Amendment protection that criminal defendants have the right to counsel, which includes states paying for public defenders if the defendant cannot afford legal representation.

Juveniles accused of crimes continue to be afforded many of the same due process rights as adults because of which U.S. Supreme Court case?

• District of Columbia v. Heller

• Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier

• In re Greene

• In re Gault

Answer explanation

The U.S. Supreme Court determined in In re Gault that in criminal cases, discriminating based on age violates many due process protections. For example, denying juveniles the right to counsel or not informing them of their Miranda rights.

Which was an outcome of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education (1954)?

• Administrators may limit the content of student publications.

• Public school districts that segregate deny equal protection.

• Students have a reduced expectation of privacy in school.

• Criminal defendants have the right to an attorney.

Answer explanation

The Brown v. Board of Education case focused on school segregation. The U.S. Supreme Court decided that public schools could not segregate students based on race. The Court decided that segregating students by race violates the equal protection guaranteed by the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Which principle was the focus of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Miranda v. Arizona (1966)?

• freedom of the press

• freedom of speech

• self-incrimination

• cruel punishment

Answer explanation

The issue central to Miranda v. Arizona was the defendant’s right to remain silent to prevent self-incrimination.