The Supreme Court and the Role of Government Assignment

Which statements describe the reasons why the Supreme Court found the RFRA to be unconstitutional? Check all that apply. Congress had not taken strong enough action to interpret the First Amendment. Congress had changed the meaning of the First Amendment, rather than enforcing it. Congress had given states too much freedom to interpret the First Amendment. Congress had created a law that was not proportional to the problem it was fixing. Congress had taken away states' rights by passing the RFRA.

B. Congress had changed the meaning of the First Amendment, rather than enforcing it D. Congress had created a law that was not proportional to the problem it was fixing. E. Congress had taken away states' rights by passing the RFRA.

Which statement explains why Justice Kennedy found the RFRA unconstitutional? It violated the First Amendment and intruded on religious freedom. It upheld the First and Fourteenth Amendments. It violated separation of powers and intruded on states' rights. It was a state law that took power away from the federal government.

C. It violated separation of powers and intruded on states' rights

When the Supreme Court reviewed whether the Religious Freedom Restoration Act was legal under the Constitution, which power was the Court using? federal supremacy regulation of interstate commerce judicial review power to pass legislation

C. Judicial Review

Why did the Supreme Court rule against Archbishop Flores? The RFRA violated the Constitution. Flores had violated the RFRA passed by Congress. The RFRA had interfered with Flores's religious freedom. Boerne had violated Flores's religious rights.

A. The RFRA violated the Constitution

In one paragraph, compare Boerne v. Flores to Marbury v. Madison. Which power was used by the Supreme Court in each case? How were the Supreme Court's rulings similar in each case?

Boerne v. Flores is an example of judicial review, which was created in Marbury v. Madison. The court can use cases such as Boerne to determine the constitutionality of laws passed by Congress. In Marbury, the Court ruled that Congress had overstepped its constitutional powers with the Judiciary Act of 1789. In Boerne, the Court again ruled that Congress overstepped its powers. Congress must abide by the principle of limited government, and it must respect separation of powers.