FLORIDA CIVICS LITERACY EXAM / FCLE
EXAM 2024 QUESTIONS & CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A
Brown v. Board of Education - ANSWER-1954 - The Supreme Court overruled Plessy v. Ferguson, declared that racially segregated facilities are inherently unequal and ordered all public schools desegregated.
McCulloch v. Maryland - ANSWER-1819 - The Supreme Court ruled that congress had the authority to establish a federal bank that could not be taxed by states. Established that congress could have powers not explicitly described in the constitution.
Gibbons v. Ogden - ANSWER-1824 - "The Commerce Clause." The Supreme Court ruled that states could not interfere with the federal's regulation of interstate commerce. Decision greatly enlarged Congress' interstate power by defining "commerce" to include virtually all types of economic activity.
Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier - ANSWER-1988 - A school newspaper was censored by its principal prior to publication, which Hazelwood students claimed to be a violation of their first amendment rights. The Supreme Court held that the principal's actions did not violate the students' free speech rights, establishing that public school curricular student newspapers that have not been established as forums for student expression are subject to a lower level of First Amendment protection.
Gideon v. Wainwright - ANSWER-1963 - "Right to an attorney." The Supreme Court ruled that the Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution requires U.S. states to provide attorneys to criminal defendants who are unable to afford their own. 1 / 3
Marbury v. Madison - ANSWER-1803 - The U.S. Supreme Court first declared an act of Congress unconstitutional, thus establishing the doctrine of judicial review.The court's opinion, written by Chief Justice John Marshall, is considered one of the foundations of U.S. constitutional law.
Plessy v. Ferguson - ANSWER-1896 - U.S. Supreme Court, by a seven-to-one majority (one justice did not participate), advanced the controversial "separate but equal" doctrine for assessing the constitutionality of racial segregation laws.
Schenck v. United States - ANSWER-A 1919 Supreme Court decision upholding the conviction of a socialist who had urged young men to resist the draft during World War I. Justice Holmes declared that government can limit speech if the speech provokes a "clear and present danger" of substantive evils.
US vs Nixon - ANSWER-1974 - Court unanimously ordered President Richard Nixon to deliver tape recordings and other subpoenaed materials related to the Watergate scandal to a federal district court. Established that Presidential power is not above the law.
District of Colombia v. Heller - ANSWER-2008 - U.S. Supreme Court held that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to possess firearms independent of service in a state militia, and to use firearms for traditionally lawful purposes, including self-defense within the home. It was the first Supreme Court case to explore the meaning of the Second Amendment since United States v.Miller (1939).
Roe v. Wade - ANSWER-1973 - Supreme Court decision holding that a state ban on all abortions was unconstitutional. The decision forbade state control over abortions during the first trimester of pregnancy, permitted states to limit abortions to protect the mother's health in the second trimester, and permitted states to protect the fetus during the third trimester. 2 / 3
Northwest Ordinance - ANSWER-Enacted in 1787, it is considered one of the most significant achievements of the Articles of Confederation. It established a system for setting up governments in the western territories so they could eventually join the Union on an equal footing with the original 13 states. Written before the US Constitution.
Alien and Sedition Acts - ANSWER-1798 - These consist of four laws passed by
Congress and signed by President Adams: the Naturalization Act, which increased
the waiting period for an immigrant to become a citizen from 5 to 14 years; the Alien Act, which empowered the arrest and deportation dangerous aliens; the Alien Enemy Act, which allowed for the arrest and deportation of citizens of countries at war with the US; and the Sedition Act, which made it illegal to publish defamatory statements about the federal government or its officials.
Judiciary Act of 1789 - ANSWER-1789 - Act passed by congress that provided for a Supreme Court with a Chief Justice and five associates, established the office of the Attorney General, and created federal district courts and circuits courts
Land Act of 1800 - ANSWER-1800 - An act passed to encourage settlement in the Northwest Territory. The Land Act of 1800 reduced the minimum purchasable unit of land from 640 acres to 320 acres at a minimum cost of $2 per acre. Also introduced the option to buy on "credit."
Judicary act of 1801 - ANSWER-1801 - A law introduced at the end of John Adam's presidency, allowing for new judgeships to be filled by the president. John Adams filled those positions with so-called "midnight judges" before he left office; it was considered a bid to remain in power by the Jefferson administration. This act would play a role in Marbury V. Madison.
Indian Removal Act - ANSWER-1830 - Act authorized the president to grant Indian tribes unsettled western prairie land in exchange for their desirable
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