Landmark Supreme Court Cases and Government Powers Quiz

Affirmed the 'separate but equal' doctrine, allowing racial segregation as long as facilities were deemed equal.

Established the principle of judicial review, granting the Court the power to review and potentially invalidate government actions.

Grants the federal government the authority to regulate commerce between states.

Established the 'one person, one vote' principle, mandating that legislative districts have roughly equal populations for fair representation.

Prohibits the use of evidence obtained illegally or in violation of the Fourth Amendment in criminal trials.

Established the right to counsel for indigent defendants in criminal cases, ensuring fair legal representation.

Established the 'clear and present danger' test, allowing restrictions on free speech during times of imminent danger.

Legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, affirming the right to marry regardless of sexual orientation.

Established the Miranda rights, ensuring individuals have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney during police interrogations.

The Fourteenth Amendment's right to privacy formed the basis for the Roe v. Wade decision, legalizing abortion.

Held that flag burning is a form of protected symbolic speech under the First Amendment.

Established the concept of executive privilege, allowing the President to withhold certain information from the public and Congress.

Ruled that corporations have the same free speech rights as individuals, allowing unlimited spending in elections.

Affirmed the right to refuse medical treatment, establishing individual autonomy in end-of-life decisions.

Allowed the use of affirmative action in university admissions as a compelling state interest in promoting diversity.

Permitted affirmative action to achieve diversity but rejected strict racial quotas.

Limited executive privilege and affirmed the power of judicial review over presidential actions.

Declared that prior restraint, limiting freedom of the press before publication, is generally unconstitutional.

Determined that enslaved individuals were property, not citizens, and lacked legal standing.

Established the 'lemon test' to assess whether a law violates the Establishment Clause, ensuring separation of church and state.

Struck down sodomy laws, affirming the right to engage in consensual same-sex relationships as a privacy right.

Established the 'reasonable expectation of privacy' test, protecting individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures under the Fourth Amendment.

Allowed the use of eminent domain for economic development projects, even if the property is transferred to private developers.

Struck down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, stating it was unconstitutional to require certain states to seek federal approval for changes to voting laws.

Affirmed an individual's right to possess a firearm for self-defense under the Second Amendment.