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Questions and Answers
What type of law is created by legislation passed by Congress or state legislatures?
Which court primarily decides questions of law rather than the facts of a case?
What is a key characteristic of criminal cases?
Which power allows Congress to regulate behaviors and raise revenue through taxation?
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Which of the following best describes the concept of precedent?
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What determines the relationship between federal and state law in cases of conflict?
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Which clause gives Congress the power to regulate business activities that affect multiple states?
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What authority does police power provide to the states?
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What does the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment prohibit?
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What is the primary focus of the incorporation process?
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Which legal standard requires the government to prove a law is necessary to achieve a compelling interest?
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Under which scrutiny standard does the government carry a partial burden of proof in gender discrimination cases?
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What do statutory rights primarily derive from?
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Which of the following accurately defines Equal Protection under the law?
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What is the purpose of the Free Exercise Clause in the First Amendment?
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Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the Rational Basis standard?
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What does the right to privacy, as defined by the Supreme Court, generally protect?
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Which landmark case first established that the 14th Amendment's due process clause includes the right to privacy?
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In Lawrence v. Texas, what right did the Supreme Court affirm?
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What aspect of the 14th Amendment relates to the concept of due process?
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What was the main outcome of Windsor v. United States?
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What was the legal challenge in Moore v. City of East Cleveland centered around?
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In Loving v. Virginia, what was the primary issue that the Supreme Court addressed?
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What does delegation allow local governments to do?
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What was the outcome of the Hodges case regarding same-sex marriage?
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In Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, what principle did Hobby Lobby cite to deny contraception coverage?
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What does the Religious Freedom Restoration Act allow for profit companies?
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Which states were involved in the legal challenges to same-sex marriage addressed by the Hodges decision?
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What was the primary argument in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby against the Affordable Care Act's mandate?
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Which fundamental right was affirmed by the Supreme Court in the Loving v. Virginia case?
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If a citizen challenges a law banning certain forms of birth control in Massachusetts based on substantive due process, what must the state prove?
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What major issue did the Affordable Care Act address that was contested in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby?
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Study Notes
Key Legal Concepts
- Constitutional Law: Governs the interpretation and application of the U.S. Constitution and state constitutions.
- Statutory Law: Laws created by legislatures, including acts passed by the U.S. Congress or state governments.
- Trial Courts: Courts that hear testimonies, consider evidence, and determine facts in disputes.
- Appellate Courts: Focus on legal questions rather than facts; consist of judges without juries and hear appeals from lower courts.
- United States Supreme Court: The highest federal court in the United States, with ultimate judicial authority.
- Criminal Cases: Legal matters involving crimes or violations of public order.
- Civil Cases: Initiated by citizens to resolve private disputes, including torts and contract breaches.
- Precedent: Legal decisions serving as examples for future cases.
- Power to Tax: Congress has the authority to tax and regulate behaviors, provided it raises revenue.
- Spending Power: Government's ability to tax and allocate funds for public welfare and objectives.
- Commerce Clause: Provides Congress with the authority to regulate interstate commerce, affecting business activities across state lines.
- Police Power: Authority of states to enact laws to promote health, safety, and morals based on inferred traditional government powers.
- Supremacy and Preemption: Federal law overrides conflicting state laws.
- Civil Liberties: Constitutional guarantees protecting individual freedoms.
- State Action: Actions taken by government entities; private conduct is not subject to constitutional lawsuits.
- The Bill of Rights: The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, safeguarding individual freedoms.
- Incorporation: Extends Bill of Rights protections against state and local government actions.
- Establishment Clause: Prohibits the government from establishing an official religion.
- Free Exercise Clause: Prevents government interference with the practice of religion.
- Substantive Due Process: Protects fundamental rights, including the right to privacy.
- Equal Protection: Ensures laws apply equally to all individuals, regardless of personal characteristics.
- Strict Scrutiny: A rigorous standard applied when laws affect fundamental rights or involve racial discrimination; government must prove necessity.
- Intermediate Scrutiny: Used in gender discrimination cases, balancing proof burden between government and challengers.
- Rational Basis: The easiest standard to meet; government actions are constitutional if they serve a reasonable interest.
- Statutory Rights: Rights established by laws enacted at different government levels.
- Constitutional Rights: Rights guaranteed to all citizens by the U.S. Constitution.
- Delegation: Process allowing local governments to regulate under state police powers.
- Due Process: Ensures fair treatment in the judicial system.
- Right to Privacy: Protects personal decisions regarding home and family life.
- 14th Amendment: Guarantees due process and equal protection under the law.
Landmark Supreme Court Cases
- Lawrence v. Texas (2003): Confirmed the right to privacy encompasses consensual homosexual activity free from government interference.
- Griswold v. Connecticut: Asserted that the 14th Amendment includes a right to privacy.
- Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health: Challenged abortion rights.
- Moore v. City of East Cleveland: Involved due process related to family living arrangements; failed strict scrutiny.
- Loving v. Virginia (1967): Declared that racial classifications in marriage are subject to strict scrutiny, striking down interracial marriage bans.
- Windsor v. United States (2013): Ruled that DOMA is unconstitutional, preventing discrimination against same-sex couples in federal benefits.
- Obergefell v. Hodges (2015): Legalized same-sex marriage nationwide; states required to license and recognize same-sex marriages.
- Burwell v. Hobby Lobby: Allowed for-profit companies to object to providing contraception coverage due to religious beliefs under the Affordable Care Act.
Practice Questions
- US Constitution Purpose: A primary aim is to restrain federal government powers.
- Supremacy and Preemption: State laws conflicting with federal laws are deemed invalid.
- Outcome of Loving v. Virginia: Established marriage as a fundamental right and subjected racial classifications to strict scrutiny.
- Substantive Due Process Challenge: The state must prove a compelling interest that justifies the law being challenged.
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Description
Test your knowledge on essential legal terms such as constitutional law, statutory law, and the role of trial courts. This quiz explores landmark Supreme Court cases that have shaped American law and governance. Perfect for law students or anyone interested in understanding the legal system.
