Major Court Cases American
Government CLEP Exam 2026 Questions
and Answers
Marbury v. Madison
(1803) - Correct answer-Established Judicial Review; "midnight judges"; John
Marshall; power of the Supreme Court.
McCulloch v. Maryland
(1819) - Correct answer-Established national supremacy; established implied
powers; use of elastic clause; state unable to tax fed. Institution; John Marshall;
"the power to tax the power to destroy."
Gibbons v. Ogden
(1824) - Correct answer-Established a broad interpretation of the Commerce
Clause; determined Congress' power encompassed virtually every form of
commercial activity.
Plessy v. Ferguson
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, (1896) - Correct answer-Established "separate but equal." Gave Supreme Court
approval of Jim Crow laws.
Weeks v. U.S.
(1914) - Correct answer-Established the "Exclusionary Rule" at the federal level;
illegally obtained evidence cannot be used in court.
Schenck v. U.S.
(1919) - Correct answer-Clear and present danger test; shouting "fire" in a crowded
theater; limits on speech, especially in wartime.
Gitlow v. New York
(1925) - Correct answer-Established precedent of federalizing Bill of Rights
(applying them to the states); states cannot deny freedom of speech, protected
through due process clause of Amendment 14.
Near v. Minnesota
(1931) - Correct answer-Held that the 1st Amendment protects newspaper from
prior restraint.
Palko v. Connecticut
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVE 2
Government CLEP Exam 2026 Questions
and Answers
Marbury v. Madison
(1803) - Correct answer-Established Judicial Review; "midnight judges"; John
Marshall; power of the Supreme Court.
McCulloch v. Maryland
(1819) - Correct answer-Established national supremacy; established implied
powers; use of elastic clause; state unable to tax fed. Institution; John Marshall;
"the power to tax the power to destroy."
Gibbons v. Ogden
(1824) - Correct answer-Established a broad interpretation of the Commerce
Clause; determined Congress' power encompassed virtually every form of
commercial activity.
Plessy v. Ferguson
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVE 1
, (1896) - Correct answer-Established "separate but equal." Gave Supreme Court
approval of Jim Crow laws.
Weeks v. U.S.
(1914) - Correct answer-Established the "Exclusionary Rule" at the federal level;
illegally obtained evidence cannot be used in court.
Schenck v. U.S.
(1919) - Correct answer-Clear and present danger test; shouting "fire" in a crowded
theater; limits on speech, especially in wartime.
Gitlow v. New York
(1925) - Correct answer-Established precedent of federalizing Bill of Rights
(applying them to the states); states cannot deny freedom of speech, protected
through due process clause of Amendment 14.
Near v. Minnesota
(1931) - Correct answer-Held that the 1st Amendment protects newspaper from
prior restraint.
Palko v. Connecticut
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVE 2
