POLSC432 Final Exam - Civil Liberties and Civil Rights | Practice Test / Quiz / MCQs

1. What was the outcome of the ruling in Regents of University of California v. Bakke?

The Court ruled that the use of affirmative action in school admission was categorically unconstitutional.The Court ruled that the use of affirmative action in school admission is constitutional if it treats race as one factor among many.The Court ruled that the use of affirmative action in school admission violated the equal protection clause.The Court ruled that a university's use of racial 'quotas' in its admissions process was unconstitutional, but a school's use of affirmative action to accept more minority applicants was in some circumstances.

2. What was the three-fifths clause of the Constitution?

It asserted that every five 'unfree persons,' or slaves, would count as three people when calculating the size of a state's congressional delegation.It asserted that every three 'unfree persons,' or slaves, in Northern states would count as five people when calculating the size of a state's congressional delegation.It specified the size of the majority needed in Congress to overrule institutionalized slavery.It was a policy idea that was never adopted in the Constitution that was proposed by Northern states to Southern states on how to count slaves when calculating the size of a state's congressional delegation.

3. How did the Court begin to interpret the 'cruel and unusual' clause in the Eighth Amendment as time passed?

At first, the Court was inclined to an historical style on interpretation, determining whether or not a punishment was cruel and unusual by looking to see if it or a sufficiently similar variant was considered cruel and unusual in 1789.Their interpretation was unclear at first.They simply decided whether the punishment fit the crime.They decided that they must draw its meaning from the evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society.

4. What was the outcome of the ruling in Engel v. Vitale?

It determined that it is unconstitutional for state officials to compose an official school prayer and encourage its recitation in public schools.It allowed schools to expel students who refused to salute the American flag and say the Pledge of Allegiance in school.It determined that it is constitutional for state officials to compose an official school prayer and encourage its recitation in public schools.It protected students from being forced to salute the American flag and say the Pledge of Allegiance in school.

5. How did the court rule to protect marital privacy in Griswold v. Connecticut?

They ruled that sexual relations between married citizens were not subject to legal restrictions.They ruled that citizens did not have to testify against their spouses.They ruled that the press could not investigate the spouse of a political leader.They ruled that a state's ban on the use of contraceptives violated the right to marital privacy.

6. What was the outcome of the ruling in Gitlow v. People of State of New York?

The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution does not extend the reach of freedom of speech and freedom of the press to state governments.The Court upheld Gitlow's conviction on the basis that the government may suppress or punish speech when it directly advocates the unlawful overthrowing of the government.The Court overthrew Gitlow's conviction on the basis that the government may not suppress or punish speech when it directly advocates the unlawful overthrowing of the government.None of these

7. Why did many of the early settlers of Massachusetts flee England?

They were fleeing religious persecution coming from the Church of England.They sought to practice Catholicism freely.They wanted to establish a new government that enforced the separation of church and state.They wanted to avoid heavy taxes.

8. What was the first constitutional address of the civil rights of African Americans?

Article IIThe Civil War amendments.The Preamble to the Constitution.The Bill of Rights.

9. What are the two lines of interpretation that the Court has wavered on concerning the Fourth amendment and the legality of searches?

The 'warrants-with- narrow-exceptions approach' and the 'reasonableness approach.'The 'warrants-with- broad-exceptions approach' and the 'warrant-only approach.'The 'warrants-with- broad-exceptions approach' and the 'reasonableness approach.'The 'warrants-with- narrow-exceptions approach' and the 'warrant-only approach.'

10. What was the outcome of the ruling in Baehr v. Lewin?

The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that the state's ban on same-sex marriage constituted sex discrimination under the state's constitution.The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that employers could not discriminate based on sexual preference.The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that employers' right to discriminate based on sexual preference was protected under the state's constitution.The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that the state's ban on same-sex marriage did not constitute sex discrimination under the state's constitution.

11. What does the author of 'Out of the Closets and Into the Courts' say about the impact of winning or losing in the courts on the lives of gay people?

She argues that there is little effect because courts are not designed to effect social change.She argues that the opportunities present will determine how winning and losing in the courts affects the lives of gay people.None of theseShe argues that successes are likely to serve as rallying cries for the opposition.

13. What is Rosa Parks famous for doing?

She refused to move from the front rows of a city bus in Montgomery, Alabama when the driver ordered her to give up her seat when another white person boarded the bus.She was arrested for refusing to move from a luncheon counter that served only whites.She organized the bus boycott of Montgomery, Alabama in 1955.She organized several protests of racial segregation in Alabama in the 1960s.

14. What is selective incorporation?

It allowed the court to use the Fourteenth Amendment to incorporate the protections afforded to citizens by the Bill of Rights to actions by state and local governments.It allowed the court to use the Sixteenth Amendment to incorporate the protections afforded to citizens by the Bill of Rights to actions by state and local governments.It allowed the court to use the Fifteenth Amendment to incorporate the protections afforded to citizens by the Bill of Rights to actions by state and local governments.It allowed the court to use the Fourteenth Amendment to incorporate the protections afforded to citizens by the Bill of Rights to actions by the Federal government.

15. How did the Court initially interpret the 'cruel and unusual' clause in the Eighth Amendment?

Their interpretation was unclear at first.They decided that they must draw its meaning from the evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society.They simply decided whether the punishment fit the crime.At first, the Court was inclined to an historical style on interpretation, determining whether or not a punishment was cruel and unusual by looking to see if it or a sufficiently similar variant was considered cruel and unusual in 1789.

16. What did Colorado's Amendment 2 accomplish?

It validated all existing state and local provisions that discriminated against gays.It created same-sex medical benefits.It legalized gay marriage in Colorado.It invalidated all existing state and local provisions that discriminated against gays and prohibited any future enactment of any such legislation.

17. What was the outcome of the ruling in Cooper v. Aaron?

The Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional.The Court ruled that states could not pass legislation undermining the Court's previous ruling that segregation of schools was unconstitutional.The Court established the 'separate but equal' doctrine.The Court ruled that Americans of African descent, whether free or slave, were not American citizens and could not sue in federal court.

18. Which of the following statements best describes the historical philosophy behind the Fourth Amendment?

It was solely a response to the colonial experience.It was primarily a response to experience back in England.It strictly came from French philosophy.It was born out of both the colonial experience and experience back in England.

20. What do the authors argue in the famous article, 'The Right to Privacy'?

That the Constitution does not make allowances for individual privacy.That the courts should not recognize individual privacy.That the media should have the right to print whatever they see fit because of the freedom of speech.That the courts should recognize individual privacy.

21. What was the outcome of the ruling in Brown v. Board of Education?

The Court established the 'separate but equal' doctrine.The Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional.The Court ruled that Americans of African descent, whether free or slave, were not American citizens and could not sue in federal court.The Court ruled that states could not pass legislation undermining the Court's previous ruling that segregation of schools was unconstitutional.

22. What were the early colonists seeking in the new land in terms of religion?

Religious freedom for all.The freedom to practice their own religion.A government that did not endorse any specific religion.Freedom for Catholics.

23. According to the Fifth Amendment, is it legal for the government to take citizen's private property?

Yes, but only with just compensation / Yes, but only if that citizen has committed a crime and is afforded the due process of lawYes, but only with just compensation.No, not under any circumstance.Yes, but only if that citizen has committed a crime and is afforded the due process of law.

24. What are the primary purposes of the Fifth Amendment?

To assure that people charged with capital crimes are done only through indictments by Grand Juries.All of theseTo not force people to be a witness against themselves in a criminal trial.To prevent people from being charged for the same crime twice.

25. What is the central point of the article entitled, 'Navigating Religious Rights of Teachers and Students: Establishment, Accommodation, Neutrality, or Hostility?'

The Supreme Court rulings on religion in public schools can be summarized by saying public schools have the right to coerce or compel students to participate in religious activities.The Supreme Court rulings on religion in public schools can be summarized by saying that religious expression should be neither promoted nor inhibited in public schools.The Supreme Court rulings on religion in public schools can be summarized by saying that religious expression should be inhibited in public schools.The Supreme Court rulings on religion in public schools can be summarized by saying that public schools need not accommodate religion just as they do other non-curricular activities.

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25 Questions

❤ If you liked Fatskills, consider supporting us by checking out The Life Manuals You Never Got.

About | Explore | User Guide | Topics | Subjects | Doubt Solver | Career Aptitude Test | Answers | Free Tools | OSHA Basics Quiz | What Should We Know? Privacy | Terms |

Without work one finishes nothing. - Ralph Waldo Emerson© 2026 Fatskills.com

All trademarks, logos and brand names are the property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, trademarks and brands does not imply endorsement.

About | Explore | User Guide | Topics | Subjects | Doubt Solver | Career Aptitude Test | Answers | Free Tools | OSHA Basics Quiz | What Should We Know?
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Without work one finishes nothing. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
© 2026 Fatskills.com