civil rights

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.

Which of the following applications of affirmative action would the United States Supreme Court likely consider unconstitutional? A A company actively recruits women and minorities in its hiring practices for a federal contract. B A state university refuses acceptance of any new applicants from a specific race. C A university values racial diversity on its campus and considers race as one of many factors when considering applicants to its freshman class. D The United States Department of Transportation hires a contractor with a history of hiring and promoting minorities and women for the construction of an interstate highway.

A state university refuses acceptance of any new applicants from a specific race.

"...If we resort to violence then one of two things will happen: either the violence will be escalated and there will be many injuries and perhaps deaths on both sides, or there will be total demoralization of the workers. Nonviolence has exactly the opposite effect. If, for every violent act committed against us, we respond with nonviolence, we attract people's support. We can gather the support of millions who have a conscience and would rather see a nonviolent resolution to problems. We are convinced that when people are faced with a direct appeal from the poor struggling nonviolently against great odds, they will react positively. The American people and people everywhere still yearn for justice. It is to that yearning that we appeal. ...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. Then the struggle would become a mechanical thing. When you lose your sense of life and justice, you lose your strength...." César Chávez, "He Showed Us the Way," 1978 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 had been met.

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

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 rule that "the doctrine of separate but equal has no place" in the Constitution? A Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969) B Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) C Engel v. Vitale (1962) D Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)

Discrimination in public accommodations was made illegal in the United States as a direct result of the A Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka B Supreme Court decision in Sweatt v. Painter C Civil Rights Act of 1964 D Montgomery bus boycott E Voting Rights Act of 1965

Civil Rights Act of 1964

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

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.

Writing for the court in Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978), a case weighing whether race can be considered in college admissions, Justice Lewis Powell wrote: "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. . . . The freedom of a university to make its own judgments as to education includes the selection of its student body." According to the quote, what is the likely effect of the Court's ruling in the Bakke case? A Colleges can consider race but cannot use strict racial quotas in admission practices. B Affirmative action practices can never be employed 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 can consider race but cannot use strict racial quotas in admission practices.

It ought to be possible, in short, for every American to enjoy the privileges of being American without regard to his race or his color. In short, every American ought to have the right to be treated as he would wish to be treated, as one would wish his children to be treated. But this is not the case. The Negro 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, a life expectancy which is 7 years shorter, and the prospects of earning only half as much. This is not a sectional issue. Difficulties over segregation and discrimination exist in every city, in every State of the Union, producing in many cities a rising tide of discontent that threatens the public safety. Nor is this a partisan issue. In a time of domestic crisis men of good will and generosity should be able to unite regardless of party or politics. 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 principles? A One person, one vote B Equal representation in Congress C States' rights D Equal protection

Equal protection

Protection of the legal rights of women has been facilitated by the passage of which of the following? The Equal Rights Amendment The Equal Pay Act of 1963 The Civil Rights Act of 1964 The Education Amendments Act of 1972 A II only B I and III only C I and IV only D II, III, and IV only E I, II, III, and IV

II, III, and IV only

It ought to be possible, in short, for every American to enjoy the privileges of being American without regard to his race or his color. In short, every American ought to have the right to be treated as he would wish to be treated, as one would wish his children to be treated. But this is not the case. The Negro 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, a life expectancy which is 7 years shorter, and the prospects of earning only half as much. This is not a sectional issue. Difficulties over segregation and discrimination exist in every city, in every State of the Union, producing in many cities a rising tide of discontent that threatens the public safety. Nor is this a partisan issue. In a time of domestic crisis men of good will and generosity should be able to unite regardless of party or politics. 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 policy making

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 and restaurants. C Required desegregation of teaching staff. D Initially affected only schools where segregation was mandated by law. E Affected segregation in the North rather than in the South.

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.

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 doctrine of "separate by equal" referred to above had previously been upheld by which of the following Supreme Court decisions? A Dred Scott v. Sanford, 1857 B Plessy v Ferguson, 1896 C Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company v. Sawyer, 1952 D Engel v. Vitale, 1962 E Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Board of Education, 1971

Plessy v Ferguson, 1896

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

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 best explains the trend depicted in the chart above? A Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka B Imposition of a federal poll tax C Elimination of all-White primary elections D The Voting Rights Act of 1965 E The Civil Rights Act of l964

The Voting Rights Act of 1965

Which of the following is most likely responsible for the increase in the number of southern African American state legislators between 1960 and 1992 as shown in the graph? A The Civil Rights Act of 1964 B Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954) C The Voting Rights Act of 1965 D The Nineteenth Amendment

The Voting Rights Act of 1965

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

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

"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights governments are instituted, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of those who suffer from it to refuse allegiance to it, and to insist upon the institution of a new government . . ." ". . . Such has been the patient sufferance of the women under this government, and such is now the necessity which constrains them to demand the equal station to which they are entitled. The history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of man toward woman, having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over her. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world. 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. He has made her, if married, in the eye of the law, civilly dead. He has taken from her all right in property, even to the wages she earns." 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.

All of the following statements reflect positions the Supreme Court has taken with regard to the right of free speech EXCEPT: A A restriction on the right of free speech should always be viewed with skepticism. B There are no acceptable governmental restrictions on free speech. C Government has an obligation to try to ensure citizens the right to be heard. D The right to free speech is a fundamental natural right. E The First Amendments protects free speech from incursions of both the federal and state governments.

There are no acceptable governmental restrictions on free speech.

Refer to the line graph for the following question. 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.

It ought to be possible, in short, for every American to enjoy the privileges of being American without regard to his race or his color. In short, every American ought to have the right to be treated as he would wish to be treated, as one would wish his children to be treated. But this is not the case. The Negro 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, a life expectancy which is 7 years shorter, and the prospects of earning only half as much. This is not a sectional issue. Difficulties over segregation and discrimination exist in every city, in every State of the Union, producing in many cities a rising tide of discontent that threatens the public safety. Nor is this a partisan issue. In a time of domestic crisis men of good will and generosity should be able to unite regardless of party or politics. 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

Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972

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 of controversy in the Grutter v. Bollinger decision involves A national supremacy B judicial review C selective incorporation D affirmative action

affirmative action

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

Jim Crow laws, still in place in the early 1960s in the South, were outlawed by the A incorporation of the Bill of Rights B 1963 march on Washington C passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act D Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka E Supreme Court decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford

passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act

If a college's admission policy to reserve twenty seats in its incoming class for applicants belonging to racial minority groups is challenged in the courts, a judge is likely to A uphold the policy because it provides additional opportunities for minority applicants B strike down the policy because reserving seats amounts to a quota system C strike down the policy because the percentage of seats reserved is less than the percentage of minority citizens in the general population D uphold the policy because only a small percentage of the total seats for incoming students are affected E strike down the policy because it did not apply to women as well as racial minorities

strike down the policy because reserving seats amounts to a quota system

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