civil rights quiz

To enforce the Fourteenth Amendment more clearly, Congress passed the A Civil Rights Act of 1964 B Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act C Social Security Act D Twenty-sixth Amendment E War Powers Resolution

Civil Rights Act of 1964

A black baby born in America today, regardless of the section of the Nation in which he is born, has about one-half as much chance of completing a high school as a white baby born in the same place on the same day, one-third as much chance of completing college, one-third as much chance of becoming a professional man, twice as much chance of becoming unemployed, about one-seventh as much chance of earning $10,000 a year... President John F. Kennedy, Report to the American People on Civil Rights, June 11, 1963 Which of the following pieces of legislation was most likely a result of the passage? A The Civil Rights Act of 1964 B The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 C The Voting Rights Act of 1965 D Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972

The Civil Rights Act of 1964

The clause of the United States Constitution that was used in the Supreme Court's ruling in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954) was A The due process clause B The necessary and proper clause C The free exercise clause D The equal protection clause

The equal protection clause

The Supreme Court addressed the admissions policy of the University of Michigan Law School in Grutter v. Bollinger (2003). Justice Sandra Day O'Connor wrote for the court, "in the context of its individualized inquiry into the possible diversity contributions of all applicants, the Law School's race-conscious admissions program does not unduly harm nonminority applicants." The primary issue in the Grutter v. Bollinger decision involves A national supremacy B judicial review C selective incorporation D affirmative action

affirmative action

The Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection clause declares that "No State shall . . . deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." In which of the following scenarios is this clause most likely to be used by the Supreme Court in its decision? A A state law levies a tax on a bank established by the federal government. B Congress uses the commerce clause to establish a gun-free school zone. C A media company is prevented from publishing a classified document. D A local school district mandates racially segregated schools.

A local school district mandates racially segregated schools.

". . . When victory comes through violence, it is a victory with strings attached. If we beat the growers at the expense of violence, victory would come at the expense of injury and perhaps death. Such a thing would have a tremendous impact on us. We would lose regard for human beings." Which of the following is a similarity between the views expressed in the excerpt above and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail"? A Unlike César Chávez, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. supported the use of violence after all other means had been exhausted. B Unlike Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., César Chávez supported the use of violence as a means to start the movement. C Both César Chávez and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. argued for the continued use of nonviolence to further their causes. D Both César Chávez and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. argued for the use of nonviolence after standards of equality ha

Both César Chávez and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. argued for the continued use of nonviolence to further their causes.

Which of the following did the most to expand civil rights in the 1950's? A State legislative decisions desegregating public accommodations B State court decisions outlawing poll taxes C The passage of voting-rights legislation by Congress D Executive orders mandating affirmative action E The Supreme Court decision declaring state-mandated school segregation to be unconstitutional

The Supreme Court decision declaring state-mandated school segregation to be unconstitutional

Which of the following constitutional clauses was most relevant to the right to privacy? A Commerce clause B Free exercise clause C Due process clause D Equal protection clause

due process clause

The Supreme Court addressed policies related to government hiring practices and race in City of Richmond v. J. A. Croson Company. In 1983, the local government in Richmond, Virginia enacted a regulation that required companies that received contracts from the city to subcontract at least 30 percent of that work to minority business enterprises. When the J.A. Croson Company lost a contract due to this regulation, they sued the city. The court found in favor of the business, reasoning that racial quotas were not protected by the Fourteenth Amendment and were an impermissible requirement for employment Which of the following issues was the primary concern in City of Richmond v. J. A. Croson Company? A Policies supporting popular sovereignty at all levels of government, including state and local governments. B Affirmative action policies intended to address workplace and educational disparities. C Limited government poli

Affirmative action policies intended to address workplace and educational disparities.

A school district in Seattle used the race of students as a tie-breaking factor to determine which students would be admitted to the more popular schools in an attempt to maintain racial diversity. In the case Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1 (2007), the Supreme Court ruled this plan unconstitutional under the Fourteenth Amendment. Which of the following statements offers the most accurate comparison between this case and the decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954) ? A Both cases involved the use of affirmative action in public schools. B Both cases ruled against the school district based on the equal protection clause. C Both cases struck down plans to segregate students. D Both cases ruled in favor of students based on the due process clause.

Both cases ruled against the school district based on the equal protection clause.

In the case Boynton v. Virginia (1960), the Supreme Court ruled that segregation at a bus stop restaurant was illegal based on the Interstate Commerce Act. Which of the following explains how this case is similar to Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954) ? A Both cases were related to school bussing. B Both cases were primarily about the application of the commerce clause to address segregation. C Both cases ruled that the federal government did not have the authority to address segregation. D Both cases struck down local ordinances that prescribed segregation.

Both cases struck down local ordinances that prescribed segregation.

In the case Guey Heung Lee v. Johnson (1971), the parents of Chinese American students who attended a primarily Asian American school challenged San Francisco's effort to desegregate the public schools, arguing that their culture and language would be diluted if their children were dispersed from their local school. The Supreme Court denied the challenge from the parents basing their decision on the Fourteenth Amendment. Which of the following cases was most likely used in the decision as a precedent? A Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969) B Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954) C Engel v. Vitale (1962) D Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)

In which case did the Supreme Court hold that race based school segregation violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment? A Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969) B Shaw v. Reno (1993) C Engel v. Vitale (1962) D Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)

Which of the following scenarios best explains how the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment has influenced political behavior? A Grassroots libertarian advocacy organizations have advocated in favor of less economic regulation of the marketplace. B The Supreme Court has ruled that Fifth Amendment prohibition on double jeopardy was made applicable to the states. C Civil Rights leaders such as Martin Luther King, Jr., cited constitutional arguments as a basis for opposing segregation and inequality. D President Franklin D. Roosevelt's State of the Union address urged Congress to pass legislation that would ensure greater economic security for the American people

Civil Rights leaders such as Martin Luther King, Jr., cited constitutional arguments as a basis for opposing segregation and inequality.

"Preferring members of any one group for no reason other than race or ethnic origin is discrimination for its own sake. This the Constitution forbids. . . . The . . . goal asserted by petitioner is the attainment of a diverse student body. This clearly is a constitutionally permissible goal for an institution of higher education. . . . " According to the quote, what was the likely effect of the Court's ruling in the Bakke case? A Colleges could have considered race but could not use strict racial quotas in admission practices. B Affirmative action practices could include racial quotas in college admission decisions. C As a result of the Bakke decision, colleges and universities stopped considering race as a factor in admissions. D The Bakke decision affected the admissions practices only at private colleges, not at public universities.

Colleges could have considered race but could not use strict racial quotas in admission practices.

A black baby born in America today, regardless of the section of the Nation in which he is born, has about one-half as much chance of completing a high school as a white baby born in the same place on the same day, one-third as much chance of completing college, one-third as much chance of becoming a professional man, twice as much chance of becoming unemployed, about one-seventh as much chance of earning $10,000 a year... President John F. Kennedy, Report to the American People on Civil Rights, June 11, 1963 The issues identified in the passage reflect a failure to uphold which of the following constitutional clauses? A Necessary and Proper clause B Due Process clause C Reserved powers clause D Equal protection clause

Equal protection clause

A black baby born in America today, regardless of the section of the Nation in which he is born, has about one-half as much chance of completing a high school as a white baby born in the same place on the same day, one-third as much chance of completing college, one-third as much chance of becoming a professional man, twice as much chance of becoming unemployed, about one-seventh as much chance of earning $10,000 a year... President John F. Kennedy, Report to the American People on Civil Rights, June 11, 1963 Which of the following expresses the most significant political concern in the passage? A Improved understanding of the flaws of the legal system B Greater funding for education in urban areas C Increased awareness of citizen inequalities that need to be addressed D Decreased partisanship in congressional policymaking

Increased awareness of citizen inequalities that need to be addressed

The following questions are based on the following excerpt from a major Supreme Court decision. "Such considerations apply with added force to children in grade and high schools. To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone..." ...We conclude that in the field of public education the doctrine of "separate but equal" has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently inequal. Therefore, we hold that the plaintiffs...are, by reason of the segregation complained of, deprived of the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment." The Supreme Court decision quoted above did which of the following? A Brought a rapid end to school segregation in the South. B Prohibited segregation in hotels an

Initially affected only schools where segregation was mandated by law.

Which of the following is true of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 ? A It was unnecessary because the Fifteenth Amendment effectively guaranteed African Americans the right to vote. B It has never been applied to any group except southern African Americans. C It has been a major instrument for increasing the number of African American and other minority voters. D It was declared unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court in Shaw v. Reno. E It requires that minority officeholders be elected.

It has been a major instrument for increasing the number of African American and other minority voters.

Which of the following scenarios best explains the inclusion of Title IX as part of the Education Amendments of 1972 ? A Members of Congress added the amendment to the bill in response to social movements seeking to address inequality in education for women. B Paid lobbyists added the amendment on behalf of teachers unions in order to increase pay and tenure for public school teachers. C President Lyndon Johnson used the power of the bully pulpit to pressure members of Congress to pass a bill that would legally desegregate schools. D The Department of Justice added the amendment in order to provide legal guidance to states to enforce the Equal Rights Amendment.

Members of Congress added the amendment to the bill in response to social movements seeking to address inequality in education for women.

In Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, the Supreme Court established which of the following principles? A A school official can search a student for drugs. B Everyone must go to school at least until the age of 16. C Tuition for private schools cannot be tax deductible. D Separation of students by race, even in equally good schools, is unconstitutional. E A moment of silent prayer at the beginning of the school day is allowable under the First Amendment.

Separation of students by race, even in equally good schools, is unconstitutional.

Which of the following was an argument used by the Supreme Court in upholding federal statutes outlawing segregation in public accommodations? A Such segregation affected interstate commerce, and Congress therefore had the authority to outlaw it. B Such segregation was wrong in principle, and Congress had moral authority to outlaw it even though the statutes lacked a strict constitutional basis C Such segregation violated the First Amendment's protection of the right to free assembly, and Congress therefore had the authority to outlaw it. D Such segregation violated the Tenth Amendment's reservation of power to state governments, and Congress therefore had the authority to outlaw it. E Since such segregation affected citizens of different states, it fell under the original jurisdiction of the federal courts and could therefore be outlawed by Congress.

Such segregation affected interstate commerce, and Congress therefore had the authority to outlaw it.

In Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954), the Supreme Court ruling limited state action in segregating public school students based on their race, stating "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." The Court pointed to which of the following amendments to the United States Constitution to achieve this ruling? A The First Amendment B The Fifth Amendment C The Thirteenth Amendment D The Fourteenth Amendment

The Fourteenth Amendment

The United States Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka was based on which of the following? A The First Amendment's right to freedom of expression B The Fourteenth Amendment's due process clause C The Fourteenth Amendment's guarantee of equal protection D The Fourth Amendment's exclusionary rule E The Fifth Amendment's power of eminent domain

The Fourteenth Amendment's guarantee of equal protection

In Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954), the Supreme Court stated that the plaintiffs "seek the aid of the courts in obtaining admission to the public schools of their community on a non-segregated basis. In each instance, they had been denied admission to schools attended by white children under laws requiring or permitting segregation according to race." The Supreme Court ruled "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." Which of the following provisions of the United States Constitution did the Supreme Court use to strike down racial segregation in state public schools? A The due process clause of the Fifth Amendment B The due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment C The equal protection clause of the Fifth Amendment D The equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment

The equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment

"He has never permitted her to exercise her inalienable right to the elective franchise. "He has compelled her to submit to laws, in the formation of which she had no voice. "He has withheld from her rights which are given to the most ignorant and degraded men. . . . "Having deprived her of this first right of a citizen, the elective franchise, thereby leaving her without representation in the halls of legislation, he has oppressed her on all sides. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Seneca Falls Convention, 1848 Which of the following best captures a portion of the author's argument? A Women elected officials have not done enough to pass laws promoting women's rights. B Men and women are legally equal, but women are morally superior to men. C The government has made women subservient by denying them the right to vote. D Women have faced too much suffrage due to the actions of the government.

The government has made women subservient by denying them the right to vote.

Which of the following statements is true regarding the right to privacy? A The right to privacy has not been the topic of Supreme Court cases. B The right to privacy is explicitly named in the Bill of Rights. C The right to privacy is not explicitly named in the Constitution. D The right to privacy has been acknowledged as a core American value.

The right to privacy is not explicitly named in the Constitution.

Which of the following statements presents the most important limitation of the data in the graph? A The time frame for the data is misleading. B There is no information about the total number of state legislators. C There are insufficient data points to detect a trend. D The trend over time is potentially misleading and would be easier to read in a pie chart.

There is no information about the total number of state legislators.

The Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution, the Equal Rights Amendment, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 were all directed toward the goal of A protecting the rights of minority children in the schools B overcoming discrimination based on sexual orientation C racial justice D equality for women E affirmative action

equality for women

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954) was a significant Supreme Court ruling because it A placed limitations on the federal government and affirmed the rights of people and of the states B made it illegal for members of the Communist party to be schoolteachers C upheld laws allowing for the internment of ethnic groups during wartime D applied the freedom of press provisions of the First Amendment to the states by means of the Fourteenth Amendment E held the "separate but equal" concept to be a violation of the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment

held the "separate but equal" concept to be a violation of the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment

Civil rights activists, such as those who campaign for gay and lesbian equal rights and those who advocated for racial equality in the 1950s and 1960s, often find the most effective way to secure those rights is A through mass demonstrations to raise awareness of their cause B through lobbying of individual members of Congress for support on legislation C through litigation in the courts to gain legal protections against discrimination D by launching educational campaigns to increase the level of public support for their cause E by persuading presidents to issue executive orders that prevent discrimination within the federal workforce

through litigation in the courts to gain legal protections against discrimination

The passing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a significant political event because it A scaled back the provisions of the Fifteenth Amendment B was used to emancipate southern African Americans C was declared unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court in Shaw v. Reno D was instrumental in increasing the number of African American and other minority voters E required that minority officeholders be elected

was instrumental in increasing the number of African American and other minority voters