Civic Literacy Court cases- Florida
Civic Literacy Exam |86 Questions &
Answers
United States v. Lopez (1995) Short summary - -Alfonzo Lopez was a Texas
high school senior who took a concealed weapon inside his school. Federal
charges were soon imposed because he violated the Gun-Free School Zones
Act of 1990. The act stated that individuals could not possess firearms within
school zones based on the premise of the Commerce Clause.
- United States v. Lopez (1995) constitutional issue: - -This case explored a
constitutional issue involving the commerce clause, whether the Gun free
school Zone act of 1990 exceeded the power allowed by the cause
- United States v. Lopez (1995) holdings and constitutional principle: - -In
the ruling, the law was considered unconstitutional since having a gun at the
school zone did not substantially affect interstate commerce,
- McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) summary - -In 1816, the Second Bank of the
United States was chartered; soon after, in 1818, however, Maryland decided
to pass a law that imposed taxes on the bank. James McCulloch, who served
as a cashier at the Baltimore branch of the Second Bank, decided not to pay
the tax. The state court had ruled that the Bank was unconstitutional, to
begin with, and that the federal government did not have the authority to
charter a bank
- McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) holdings and constitutional principles - -
Congress concluded based on the Necessary & Proper Clause thatCongress is
not limited by its expressed powers. It was decided that through Congress'
implied powers, theyhad the ability to create a bank. Congress also
concluded based on the Supremacy Clause that because thenational laws
were superior to state laws, the states were not allowed to tax the federal
government.
- McCulloch v. Maryland implied powers: - -implied powers expand upon the
enumerated powers that are listed in the Constitution.Congress is allowed to
borrow money, coin money, and tax expressly by the Constitution. The
impliedpower of creating a national bank allows for the federal government
to implement this expressed power
- Engel v. Vitale (1962) summary - -The New York Board of Regents had
authorized that at the beginning of each day, a short but voluntary prayer
would be recited. Several organizations filed suit against the Board of
, Regents, claiming that the prayer violated the Constitution. The New York
Court of Appeals dismissed their arguments.
- Engel v. Vitale (1962) constitutional issue - -This case was significant and
interesting because this prayer was both voluntary and non-denominational.
However, the organizations filed suit based on a violation of the
Establishment Clause of the Constitution, which states that a law could not
be made "respecting an establishment of religion."
- Engel v. Vitale (1962) holdings and principle - -The court held that states
could not hold prayers in public schoolEVEN IF it was voluntary and EVEN IF
the prayer did not adhere to a specific religion. Because the act ofprayer was
considered a religious activity, having it occur in a public school (which is
funded by thegovernment) would go against the establishment clause of the
First Amendment
- Engel v. Vitale (1962) main idea - -School sponsorship of religious
activities = violation of First Amendment
- Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) - -Jonas Yoder, as well as other Amish parents,
refused to send their children to school afterthe 8th grade. In accordance
with their religion, they did not agree with high school attendance. They
were later charged under a Wisconsin law that required students to attend
school until age 16
- Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) summary - -Jonas Yoder, as well as other Amish
parents, refused to send their children to school after the 8th grade. In
accordance with their religion, they did not agree with high school
attendance. They were later charged under a Wisconsin law that required
students to attend school until age 16.
- wisconsin v. Yoder constitutional issue - -The court held that the
requirement to send children to school beyond the eighth grade was
unconstitutional. It stated that an individual's interest in the free exercise of
religion was more powerful than a federal interest in sending children to
school beyond the eighth grade
- Wisconsin v. Yoder- holdings and constitutional principle: - -The court held
that the requirement to send children to school beyond the eighth grade was
unconstitutional. It stated that an individual's interest in the free exercise of
religion was more powerful than a federal interest in sending children to
school beyond the eighth grade
- Tinker v. Des Moines (1969) summary - -Students in an Iowa school were
suspended for wearing black armbands to protest the Vietnam war. Ruled
Civic Literacy Exam |86 Questions &
Answers
United States v. Lopez (1995) Short summary - -Alfonzo Lopez was a Texas
high school senior who took a concealed weapon inside his school. Federal
charges were soon imposed because he violated the Gun-Free School Zones
Act of 1990. The act stated that individuals could not possess firearms within
school zones based on the premise of the Commerce Clause.
- United States v. Lopez (1995) constitutional issue: - -This case explored a
constitutional issue involving the commerce clause, whether the Gun free
school Zone act of 1990 exceeded the power allowed by the cause
- United States v. Lopez (1995) holdings and constitutional principle: - -In
the ruling, the law was considered unconstitutional since having a gun at the
school zone did not substantially affect interstate commerce,
- McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) summary - -In 1816, the Second Bank of the
United States was chartered; soon after, in 1818, however, Maryland decided
to pass a law that imposed taxes on the bank. James McCulloch, who served
as a cashier at the Baltimore branch of the Second Bank, decided not to pay
the tax. The state court had ruled that the Bank was unconstitutional, to
begin with, and that the federal government did not have the authority to
charter a bank
- McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) holdings and constitutional principles - -
Congress concluded based on the Necessary & Proper Clause thatCongress is
not limited by its expressed powers. It was decided that through Congress'
implied powers, theyhad the ability to create a bank. Congress also
concluded based on the Supremacy Clause that because thenational laws
were superior to state laws, the states were not allowed to tax the federal
government.
- McCulloch v. Maryland implied powers: - -implied powers expand upon the
enumerated powers that are listed in the Constitution.Congress is allowed to
borrow money, coin money, and tax expressly by the Constitution. The
impliedpower of creating a national bank allows for the federal government
to implement this expressed power
- Engel v. Vitale (1962) summary - -The New York Board of Regents had
authorized that at the beginning of each day, a short but voluntary prayer
would be recited. Several organizations filed suit against the Board of
, Regents, claiming that the prayer violated the Constitution. The New York
Court of Appeals dismissed their arguments.
- Engel v. Vitale (1962) constitutional issue - -This case was significant and
interesting because this prayer was both voluntary and non-denominational.
However, the organizations filed suit based on a violation of the
Establishment Clause of the Constitution, which states that a law could not
be made "respecting an establishment of religion."
- Engel v. Vitale (1962) holdings and principle - -The court held that states
could not hold prayers in public schoolEVEN IF it was voluntary and EVEN IF
the prayer did not adhere to a specific religion. Because the act ofprayer was
considered a religious activity, having it occur in a public school (which is
funded by thegovernment) would go against the establishment clause of the
First Amendment
- Engel v. Vitale (1962) main idea - -School sponsorship of religious
activities = violation of First Amendment
- Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) - -Jonas Yoder, as well as other Amish parents,
refused to send their children to school afterthe 8th grade. In accordance
with their religion, they did not agree with high school attendance. They
were later charged under a Wisconsin law that required students to attend
school until age 16
- Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) summary - -Jonas Yoder, as well as other Amish
parents, refused to send their children to school after the 8th grade. In
accordance with their religion, they did not agree with high school
attendance. They were later charged under a Wisconsin law that required
students to attend school until age 16.
- wisconsin v. Yoder constitutional issue - -The court held that the
requirement to send children to school beyond the eighth grade was
unconstitutional. It stated that an individual's interest in the free exercise of
religion was more powerful than a federal interest in sending children to
school beyond the eighth grade
- Wisconsin v. Yoder- holdings and constitutional principle: - -The court held
that the requirement to send children to school beyond the eighth grade was
unconstitutional. It stated that an individual's interest in the free exercise of
religion was more powerful than a federal interest in sending children to
school beyond the eighth grade
- Tinker v. Des Moines (1969) summary - -Students in an Iowa school were
suspended for wearing black armbands to protest the Vietnam war. Ruled
