Civic Literacy Exam cases

brown vs board of education

The Court ruled that separate but equal educational facilities for racial minorities is inherently unequal, violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Overturned Plessy v Ferguson.

Tinker vs Des Moines

The Supreme Court's majority ruled that neither students nor teachers "shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate." The Court took the position that school officials could not prohibit only on the suspicion that the speech might disrupt the learning environment

Hazelwood vs Kuhlmeier

The Court held that the First Amendment did not require schools to affirmatively promote particular types of student speech.

Engel vs Vitale

The Court ruled that it is unconstitutional for state officials to compose an official school prayer and encourage its recitation in public schools, due to violation of the First Amendment

Morse vs Frederick

The Court's majority opinion held that although students do have some right to political speech even while in school, this right does not extend to pro-drug messages that may undermine the school's important mission to discourage drug use.

Regents of University of California vs Bakke

the court decided to grant Bakke admission to the UC Davis Medical School because the admissions policy violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the Equal Protection Clause. 14th Amendment

Grutter vs Bollinger

The Court held that the Equal Protection Clause does not prohibit University of Michigan's Law School's narrowly tailored use of race in admissions decisions. 14TH Amendment.

Texas vs Johnson

was a 1989 Supreme Court case that ruled that burning the American flag is protected by the First Amendment as symbolic speech

Korematsu vs United States

The Court ruled that the evacuation order violated by Korematsu was valid and did not violate the 5th amendment. The majority found that the Executive Order did not show racial prejudice but rather responded to the strategic imperative of keeping the U.S. and particularly the West Coast (the region nearest Japan) secure from invasion.

Loving vs Virginia

Court order that struck down state laws banning marriages between indivivuals of different races stating they violated the Due Process and Equal Protection clauses of the 14th Amendment.

Mapp vs Ohio

Supreme Court ruled that the 4th Amendment's protections against illegal search and seizures apply to state courts as well as federal courts.

Miranda vs Arizona

Supreme Court ruled the 5th Amendment requires suspects be advised of their right to remain silent and obtain an attorney before interrogation while in police custody.

Gideon vs Wainwright

In an unanimous decision the Court ruled that the 6th Amendment’s guarantee of right to counsel applies to criminal defendants in state court by way of the 14th Amendment. Felony breaking and entering case in Florida.

Plessy vs Ferguson

Supreme Court ruling that upheld the constitutionality

Of racial segregation laws that required “separate but equal” facilities.