AP U.S. Government & Politics: Landmark Supreme Court Cases
This assignment was created in response to an AP Government and Politics Facebook posting on March 30. Neither the multiple-choice questions (MCQs) nor the short-answer questions (SAQs) have yet been field-tested. Therefore, I suggest that teachers, before assigning, give it a go, see what happens, and if they think changes are needed, they can clone my assignment and then edit it, including adding their own rubric. Otherwise, I am directing the rubric to score on a point/no point basis for all MCQs and SAQs, with SAQs to be answered in 2-4 sentences and spelling and function not assessed, though students must write in full sentences.
Group 1
Answer the following multiple-choice questions about landmark Supreme Court cases. Choose the best answer for each question.
Question 1a
What was the significance of Marbury v. Madison (1803)?
It established the principle of judicial review.
It declared that the federal government could not regulate interstate commerce.
It ruled that separate but equal facilities were constitutional.
It upheld the constitutionality of the national bank.
Question 1b
Which case established the supremacy of federal law over state law?
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
Schenck v. United States (1919)
Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
Engel v. Vitale (1962)
Question 1c
In Schenck v. United States (1919), what was the main issue at hand?
Whether the Espionage Act violated the First Amendment right to free speech.
Whether the government could regulate child labor.
Whether the federal government could impose taxes on state banks.
Whether school prayer is constitutional.
Question 1d
What was the outcome of Brown v. Board of Education (1954)?
It declared that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.
It upheld the constitutionality of school prayer.
It ruled that the right to counsel is fundamental.
It determined that flag burning is protected speech.
Question 1e
Which case ruled that school-sponsored prayer in public schools is unconstitutional?
Engel v. Vitale (1962)
Baker v. Carr (1962)
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)
Question 1f
What was the key issue in Baker v. Carr (1962)?
Whether federal courts could intervene in redistricting cases.
Whether the right to counsel is fundamental.
Whether symbolic speech is protected by the First Amendment.
Whether the government could censor the press during wartime.
Question 1g
Which case guaranteed the right to an attorney for criminal defendants in state courts?
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)
New York Times Co. v. United States (1971)
Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)
Question 1h
What was the main issue in Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)?
Whether students have free speech rights in public schools.
Whether the government could censor the press during wartime.
Whether school-sponsored prayer is constitutional.
Whether racial segregation in public schools was constitutional.
Question 1i
In New York Times Co. v. United States (1971), what did the Supreme Court rule regarding the Pentagon Papers?
The government could not prevent their publication, as it would violate the First Amendment.
The government could censor the press to protect national security.
The press had to obtain government approval before publishing classified information.
The publication of the Pentagon Papers was considered treason.
Question 1j
What was the decision in Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)?
The Court ruled that Amish children could not be forced to attend school past the eighth grade.
The Court upheld the constitutionality of school prayer.
The Court ruled that students have free speech rights in public schools.
The Court declared that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.
Question 1k
Which case addressed the issue of racial gerrymandering?
Shaw v. Reno (1993)
United States v. Lopez (1995)
McDonald v. Chicago (2010)
Citizens United v. FEC (2010)
Question 1l
What was the significance of United States v. Lopez (1995)?
It limited the power of Congress under the Commerce Clause.
It upheld the constitutionality of campaign finance restrictions.
It expanded the right to bear arms to state and local governments.
It ruled that racial gerrymandering is unconstitutional.
Question 1m
In McDonald v. Chicago (2010), what did the Supreme Court decide?
The Second Amendment right to bear arms is applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment.
The federal government could regulate firearms under the Commerce Clause.
The right to an attorney is fundamental for state trials.
The government could not prevent the publication of classified documents.
Question 1n
What was the outcome of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)?
The Court ruled that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts in candidate elections cannot be limited under the First Amendment.
The Court upheld restrictions on corporate campaign spending.
The Court ruled that the government could limit the publication of classified information.
The Court decided that racial gerrymandering is unconstitutional.
Question 1o
Which case established the principle of "one person, one vote"?
Baker v. Carr (1962)
Engel v. Vitale (1962)
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)
Question 1p
Which case involved the issue of symbolic speech in schools?
Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)
Engel v. Vitale (1962)
Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
Question 1q
What was the main legal question in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)?
Whether Congress had the authority to establish a national bank.
Whether the federal government could regulate interstate commerce.
Whether the right to bear arms applied to state governments.
Whether the government could censor the press during wartime.
Question 1r
Which case addressed the issue of prior restraint on the press?
New York Times Co. v. United States (1971)
Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)
Schenck v. United States (1919)
Shaw v. Reno (1993)
Question 1s
Which case involved the free exercise of religion in education?
Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)
Engel v. Vitale (1962)
Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)
Question 1t
What was the main issue in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)?
Whether restrictions on independent political expenditures by corporations and unions violate the First Amendment.
Whether the Second Amendment applies to state and local governments.
Whether racial gerrymandering is constitutional.
Whether the government could limit the publication of classified information.
Group 2
Answer the following short-answer questions about landmark Supreme Court cases. Provide a brief response in 2-4 sentences for each question.
Question 2a
Provide a brief summary of the facts of Marbury v. Madison (1803).
Question 2b
What was the issue the Court had to decide in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)?
Question 2c
Explain the Court's decision and reasoning in Schenck v. United States (1919).
Question 2d
Describe one long-term impact of Brown v. Board of Education (1954).
Question 2e
Provide a brief summary of the facts of Engel v. Vitale (1962).
Question 2f
What was the issue the Court had to decide in Baker v. Carr (1962)?
Question 2g
Explain the Court's decision and reasoning in Gideon v. Wainwright (1963).
Question 2h
Describe one long-term impact of Tinker v. Des Moines (1969).
Question 2i
Provide a brief summary of the facts of New York Times Co. v. United States (1971).
Question 2j
What was the issue the Court had to decide in Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)?
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