WGU C963 Court Cases Form A (Latest 2023 - 2024)
With 100% Verified Answers
- Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District (1st amendment)
Answer: - Supreme Court case defined the First Amendment rights of public
school students, upheld the students free speech rights.
Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District was a 7-2 decision issued in 1969. The Tinkers were public school students who wore black armbands to school to protest the Vietnam War. School policy disallowed such apparel, but the Supreme Court overturned this policy. The Court held that the First Amendment applies to public schools, and that if the school administration wishes to suppress free speech, they must demonstrate that the speech in question will "materially and substantially interfere" with the operation of the school.
- Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (1st amendment)
Answer: - Supreme Court case held that the government cannot restrict
independent political expenditures by corporations.
Citizens United v. FEC was a 5-4 ruling issued in 2010. The dispute involved a conservative non-profit corporation interested in broadcasting a film critical of Hillary Clinton. Doing so violated the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, which prohibited such corporate or union expenditures. The Court held that, "If the First Amendment has any force, it prohibits Congress from fining or jailing citizens, or associations of citizens, for simply engaging in political speech." The ruling enabled unlimited election spending by corporations and by groups known as super PACs.
- Gideon v. Wainwright (14th & 6th amendment)
Answer: Supreme Court case held that state courts are required by the
Fourteenth Amendment to provide counsel to defendants in criminal cases, 1 / 2
extending this Sixth Amendment federal requirement to the states.
Gideon v. Wainwright was a unanimous ruling issued in 1963. The Court held
that the assistance of counsel is: a fundamental right under the Constitution,
binding on the states, and essential for a fair trial and due process of law.
- Miranda v. Arizona (5th amendment)
Answer: Supreme Court case established that police must advise criminal
suspects of their Constitutional rights before question- ing them.
Miranda v. Arizona was a 5-4 decision made in 1966. The Court held that state- ments made in response to police interrogation are admissible at trial
only if the prosecution: can show that the defendant was informed of the right
to consult with an attorney before, and during the questioning, and was also informed of the right against self-incrimination. For the statements to be admissible, the defendant must have learned, understood, and voluntarily waived these rights.
- Texas v. Johnson (1st amend-covered under freedom of expression)
Answer: - Supreme Court case held that the act of burning a flag is protected
"speech" under the First Amendment and found the law, as applied to flag desecration, to be unconstitutional.First Amendment/Freedom of Speech/symbolic speech - flag burning is protected speech
Texas v. Johnson was a 5-4 ruling issued in 1989. The Court held that Johnson's burning of the flag constituted expressive conduct and permitted him to invoke the First Amendment in defense. This decision invalidated the laws against desecrating the American flag that were in place in 48 of the 50 states.
- Mapp v. Ohio (4th amendment, exclusionary rule 14th amendment)
Answer: - Supreme Court case established that evidence obtained through
unreasonable searches and seizures, in violation of the Fourth Amendment,
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