Florida Civics Literacy Exam

POS2041 National Government

Abington School District v. Schempp (1963)

Warren

public schools cannot sponsor Bible readings and recitations of the Lord’s prayer

1st Amendment – establishment clause

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Warren

redistricting is an issue that federal courts can hear cases on

14th Amendment – equal protection clause

Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969)

Warren

the government can’t punish inflammatory speech unless that speech is “directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action”

1st Amendment

Brown v. Board of Education I (1954)

Warren

U.S. state laws establishing racial segregation in public schools are unconstitutional

14th Amendment – equal protection clause

Brown v. Board of Education II (1955)

Warren

the task of implementing programs to achieve desegregation in public schools belongs to the schools themselves

Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

Burger

while the government can limit how much individuals contribute to political campaigns, it cannot place limits on campaign expenditures

1st Amendment

Bush v. Gore (2000)

Rehnquist

Florida did not need to recount in the 2000 presidential election because it couldn’t be done in a constitutional way

14th Amendment - equal protection clause

Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission (2010)

Roberts

corporate funding of independent political broadcast in elections cannot be limited

2nd Amendment

District of Columbia v. Heller (2008)

Roberts

protected an individual’s right to own firearms for certain purposes

2nd Amendment

Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022)

Roberts

the Constitution doesn’t give the right to an abortion, and the authority to regulate abortion is returned to “the people and their elected representatives”

Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)

Taney

enslaved people were not U.S. citizens and couldn’t sue in federal court

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Warren

the state cannot hold prayers in public schools, even if participation is not required and the prayer Is not tied to a particular religion

1st Amendment

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

Marshall

the federal government has exclusive power over interstate commerce

Commerce clause

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Warren

U.S. states must provide attorneys to criminal defendants unable to pay for their own

6th and 14th Amendments

Gitlow v. New York (1925)

Taft

the protection of free speech applies to state governments, but states can impose reasonable restrictions on speech that threatens public safety

1st Amendment

Gratz v. Bollinger (2003)

Rehnquist

a public university using an undergraduate admissions policy in which race is the sole reason for awarding 20% of the minimum points required for admission

14th Amendment – Equal Protection clause

Gregg v. Georgia (1976)

Burger

death penalty for murder was not in and of itself cruel and unusual punishment

4th and 8th Amendments

Griswold v. Connecticut (1965)

Warren

protected the right of marital privacy against state restrictions on contraception

4th and 9th Amendments

Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier (1988)

White

held that schools could limit student speech in school-sponsored activities if the restrictions are reasonably related to legitimate educational concerns

Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States (1964)

Warren

the government can prevent private businesses from discriminating based on race

Commerce clause

Korematsu v. United States (1944)

Stone

the evacuation order violated by Fred Korematsu, an American-born citizen of Japanese descent, was valid

Lawrence v. Texas (2003)

Rehnquist

same-sex sexual activity is legal in every state and U.S. territory

14th Amendment – Due Process clause

Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971)

Burger

two states violated the establishment clause by making state financial aid available to “church-related educational institutions”

1st Amendment – establishment clause

Loving v. Virginia (1967)

Warren

laws banning interracial marriage violate the equal protection and due process clauses

14th Amendment – Equal Protection clause and Due Process clause

Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

Warren

evidence obtained illegally may not be used against someone in a court of law

4th Amendment

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Marshall

the principle of judicial review, which gives the federal courts the power to declare laws, executive actions, and administrative actions unconstitutional

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Marshall

Congress has the power to incorporate a federal bank and Maryland could not tax instruments of the national government employed in the execution of constitutional powers

Necessary and Proper clause

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

Roberts

the right to bear arms is applicable to state and local governments

14th Amendment – Due Process clause

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

Warren

an arrested individual is entitled to rights against self-incrimination and to an attorney

5th and 6th Amendments

National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius (2012)

Roberts

upheld the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

New Jersey v. T.L.O. (1985)

Burger

established that students have a reduced expectation of privacy in school settings, allowing for reasonable searches by school officials

New York Times v. Sullivan (1964)

Warren

to win a libel lawsuit, a public official must prove that the defendant acted with “actual malice,” meaning that they knew the statement was false or disregarded the truth

1st Amendment

New York Times v. United States (1971)

Burger

the President’s attempt to prevent the publication was a violence of freedom of press

Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)

Roberts

all states required to license marriages between same-sex couples and to recognize all marriages that were lawfully performed out of state

14th Amendment – Due Process clause and Equal Protection clause

Oregon Employment Division v. Smith (1990)

Rehnquist

a person cannot use a religious motivation as a reason not to obey generally applicable laws

1st Amendment

Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992)

Rehnquist

the right to an abortion is upheld, as established in Roe v. Wade, and states cannot impose an “undue burden” on individuals seeking an abortion before viability

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Fuller

upheld a Louisiana law that required separate but equal accommodations for Black and white people on trains

14th Amendment

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978)

Burger

a university’s admission criteria which used race as a definite and exclusive basis for an admission decision violated the Equal Protection clause

14th Amendment – Equal Protection clause

Reynolds v. United States (1879)

Waite

a federal law prohibiting polygamy did not violate the free exercise clause

1st Amendment – free exercise clause

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Burger

a person’s right to privacy extends to the right to have an abortion

14th Amendment

Schenck v. United States (1919)

White

freedom of speech and freedom of press could be limited only if the words in the circumstances created a “clear and present danger”

1st Amendment

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Rehnquist

race cannot be the primary factory in drawing congressional districts

14th Amendment – Equal Protection clause

Shelby County v. Holder (2013)

Roberts

ruled the preclearance formula in Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act unconstitutional

Texas v. Johnson (1989)

Rehnquist

burning the American flag is protected speech

1st Amendment

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

Warren

students and teachers do not give up their First Amendment rights when they enter school

1st Amendment

United States v. Lopez (1995)

Rehnquist

the Gun-Free School Zones Act (1990) was unconstitutional because it is outside Congress’ power to regulate interstate commerce

Commerce clause

United States v. Nixon (1974)

Burger

the President does not have executive privilege in immunity from subpoenas or other civil court actions

United States v. Windsor (2013)

Roberts

Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was unconstitutional and the federal government cannot discriminate against married same-sex couples for the purposes of determining federal benefits and protections

5th Amendment – Due Process clause

Wesberry v. Sanders (1963)

Warren

states must draw congressional districts of general equal population

West Virginia Board of Education v. Barnett (1943)

Stone

students may not be required to salute the American flag or recite the Pledge of Allegiance at public schools

1st Amendment

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

Burger

Wisconsin’s compulsory school attendance law violated free exercise of religion

1st Amendment – free exercise of religion clause

What is the supreme law of the land?

the Constitution

What does the Constitution do?

set up the government/define the government/protect basic rights of Americans

The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?

“We the People”

What is an amendment?

a change or an addition to the Constitution

What do we call the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution?

the Bill of Rights

What are the rights protected in the 1st Amendment?

speech/religion/assembly/press/petitioning the government

How many amendments does the Constitution have?

27

What did the Declaration of Independence do?

announced independence from Great Britain

What rights are listed in the Declaration of Independence?

life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness

What is freedom of religion?

the ability to practice or not practice a religion

What is the economic system in the United States?

capitalist/market economy

What is the ‘rule of law’?

everyone must follow the law and no one is above the law

What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

checks and balances and separation of powers

Who is in charge of the executive branch?

the President

Who makes federal laws?

the legislative branch → Congress → the Senate and the House of Representatives

How many U.S. Senators are there?

100

How long are terms for a U.S. Senator?

6 years

How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?

435

How long are terms for a U.S. Representative?

2 years

Who is the U.S. Representative for your district?

Jared Moskowitz

Who does the U.S. Senator represent?

all people of the state

Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

because of varying populations

In what month do we vote for President?

November

If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

the Vice President

If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

the speaker of the House

Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?

the President

Who signs bills to become laws?

the President

Who vetoes bills?

the President

What does the President’s Cabinet do?

advise the President

What are some Cabinet-level positions?

Secretary of (Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, etc.), Attorney General, Vice President

What does the judicial branch do?

• review laws

• explain laws

• resolve disputes

• decide if a law is constitutional

What is the highest court in the United States?

the Supreme Court

How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

9

Who is the current Chief Justice of the United States?

John G. Roberts, Jr.

What are some powers of the federal government under the Constitution?

• printing money

• declaring war

• creating an army

• making treaties

What are some powers of the states under the Constitution?

• providing schooling and education

• providing protection (police)

• providing safety (fire departments)

• giving a driver’s license

• approving zoning and land use

Who is the current governor of Florida?

Ron DeSantis

What is the capital of Florida?

Tallahassee

Who is the current Speaker of the House of Representatives?

Mike Johnson

There are four constitutional amendments regarding voting ability. What are they?

• citizens 18 and older can vote

• you don’t have to pay to vote

• any citizen can vote regardless of gender

• any citizen can vote regardless of race

What are responsibilities of only U.S. citizens?

serving on a jury and voting in a federal election

What rights do only U.S. citizens have?

voting in a federal election and running for federal office

What are rights that everyone living in the U.S. has?

freedom of expression, speech, assembly and religion, freedom to petition the government, and the right to bear arms

What do we show loyalty to when we recite the Pledge of Allegiance?

the U.S. / the flag

What promises do you make when you become a U.S. citizen?

• giving up your loyalty to other countries

• defending the Constitution and the laws of the U.S.

• obeying the laws of the U.S.

• serving in the U.S. military

• serving the nation

• being loyal to the U.S.

What are ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?

• voting

• joining a political party

• helping with a campaign

• joining a community group

• joining a civil group

• running for office

• writing to a newspaper

What is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?

April 15

When must all men register for the Selective Service?

age 18

Why did colonists come to America?

• freedom

• political liberty

• religious freedom

• economic opportunity