FLORIDA CIVICS LITERACY EXAM / FCLE
EXAM 2024 QUESTIONS & CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A
Brown v. Board of Education - ANSWER-1954 - The Supreme Court overruled
Plessy v. Ferguson, declared that racially segregated facilities are inherently
unequal and ordered all public schools desegregated.
McCulloch v. Maryland - ANSWER-1819 - The Supreme Court ruled that
congress had the authority to establish a federal bank that could not be taxed by
states. Established that congress could have powers not explicitly described in the
constitution.
Gibbons v. Ogden - ANSWER-1824 - "The Commerce Clause." The Supreme
Court ruled that states could not interfere with the federal's regulation of interstate
commerce. Decision greatly enlarged Congress' interstate power by defining
"commerce" to include virtually all types of economic activity.
Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier - ANSWER-1988 - A school newspaper
was censored by its principal prior to publication, which Hazelwood students
claimed to be a violation of their first amendment rights. The Supreme Court held
that the principal's actions did not violate the students' free speech rights,
establishing that public school curricular student newspapers that have not been
established as forums for student expression are subject to a lower level of First
Amendment protection.
Gideon v. Wainwright - ANSWER-1963 - "Right to an attorney." The Supreme
Court ruled that the Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution requires U.S. states
to provide attorneys to criminal defendants who are unable to afford their own.
,Marbury v. Madison - ANSWER-1803 - The U.S. Supreme Court first declared an
act of Congress unconstitutional, thus establishing the doctrine of judicial review.
The court's opinion, written by Chief Justice John Marshall, is considered one of
the foundations of U.S. constitutional law.
Plessy v. Ferguson - ANSWER-1896 - U.S. Supreme Court, by a seven-to-one
majority (one justice did not participate), advanced the controversial "separate but
equal" doctrine for assessing the constitutionality of racial segregation laws.
Schenck v. United States - ANSWER-A 1919 Supreme Court decision upholding
the conviction of a socialist who had urged young men to resist the draft during
World War I. Justice Holmes declared that government can limit speech if the
speech provokes a "clear and present danger" of substantive evils.
US vs Nixon - ANSWER-1974 - Court unanimously ordered President Richard
Nixon to deliver tape recordings and other subpoenaed materials related to the
Watergate scandal to a federal district court. Established that Presidential power is
not above the law.
District of Colombia v. Heller - ANSWER-2008 - U.S. Supreme Court held that
the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to possess firearms
independent of service in a state militia, and to use firearms for traditionally lawful
purposes, including self-defense within the home. It was the first Supreme Court
case to explore the meaning of the Second Amendment since United States v.
Miller (1939).
Roe v. Wade - ANSWER-1973 - Supreme Court decision holding that a state ban
on all abortions was unconstitutional. The decision forbade state control over
abortions during the first trimester of pregnancy, permitted states to limit abortions
to protect the mother's health in the second trimester, and permitted states to
protect the fetus during the third trimester.
, Northwest Ordinance - ANSWER-Enacted in 1787, it is considered one of the
most significant achievements of the Articles of Confederation. It established a
system for setting up governments in the western territories so they could
eventually join the Union on an equal footing with the original 13 states. Written
before the US Constitution.
Alien and Sedition Acts - ANSWER-1798 - These consist of four laws passed by
Congress and signed by President Adams: the Naturalization Act, which increased
the waiting period for an immigrant to become a citizen from 5 to 14 years; the
Alien Act, which empowered the arrest and deportation dangerous aliens; the Alien
Enemy Act, which allowed for the arrest and deportation of citizens of countries at
war with the US; and the Sedition Act, which made it illegal to publish defamatory
statements about the federal government or its officials.
Judiciary Act of 1789 - ANSWER-1789 - Act passed by congress that provided for
a Supreme Court with a Chief Justice and five associates, established the office of
the Attorney General, and created federal district courts and circuits courts
Land Act of 1800 - ANSWER-1800 - An act passed to encourage settlement in the
Northwest Territory. The Land Act of 1800 reduced the minimum purchasable unit
of land from 640 acres to 320 acres at a minimum cost of $2 per acre. Also
introduced the option to buy on "credit."
Judicary act of 1801 - ANSWER-1801 - A law introduced at the end of John
Adam's presidency, allowing for new judgeships to be filled by the president. John
Adams filled those positions with so-called "midnight judges" before he left office;
it was considered a bid to remain in power by the Jefferson administration. This act
would play a role in Marbury V. Madison.
Indian Removal Act - ANSWER-1830 - Act authorized the president to grant
Indian tribes unsettled western prairie land in exchange for their desirable
EXAM 2024 QUESTIONS & CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A
Brown v. Board of Education - ANSWER-1954 - The Supreme Court overruled
Plessy v. Ferguson, declared that racially segregated facilities are inherently
unequal and ordered all public schools desegregated.
McCulloch v. Maryland - ANSWER-1819 - The Supreme Court ruled that
congress had the authority to establish a federal bank that could not be taxed by
states. Established that congress could have powers not explicitly described in the
constitution.
Gibbons v. Ogden - ANSWER-1824 - "The Commerce Clause." The Supreme
Court ruled that states could not interfere with the federal's regulation of interstate
commerce. Decision greatly enlarged Congress' interstate power by defining
"commerce" to include virtually all types of economic activity.
Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier - ANSWER-1988 - A school newspaper
was censored by its principal prior to publication, which Hazelwood students
claimed to be a violation of their first amendment rights. The Supreme Court held
that the principal's actions did not violate the students' free speech rights,
establishing that public school curricular student newspapers that have not been
established as forums for student expression are subject to a lower level of First
Amendment protection.
Gideon v. Wainwright - ANSWER-1963 - "Right to an attorney." The Supreme
Court ruled that the Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution requires U.S. states
to provide attorneys to criminal defendants who are unable to afford their own.
,Marbury v. Madison - ANSWER-1803 - The U.S. Supreme Court first declared an
act of Congress unconstitutional, thus establishing the doctrine of judicial review.
The court's opinion, written by Chief Justice John Marshall, is considered one of
the foundations of U.S. constitutional law.
Plessy v. Ferguson - ANSWER-1896 - U.S. Supreme Court, by a seven-to-one
majority (one justice did not participate), advanced the controversial "separate but
equal" doctrine for assessing the constitutionality of racial segregation laws.
Schenck v. United States - ANSWER-A 1919 Supreme Court decision upholding
the conviction of a socialist who had urged young men to resist the draft during
World War I. Justice Holmes declared that government can limit speech if the
speech provokes a "clear and present danger" of substantive evils.
US vs Nixon - ANSWER-1974 - Court unanimously ordered President Richard
Nixon to deliver tape recordings and other subpoenaed materials related to the
Watergate scandal to a federal district court. Established that Presidential power is
not above the law.
District of Colombia v. Heller - ANSWER-2008 - U.S. Supreme Court held that
the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to possess firearms
independent of service in a state militia, and to use firearms for traditionally lawful
purposes, including self-defense within the home. It was the first Supreme Court
case to explore the meaning of the Second Amendment since United States v.
Miller (1939).
Roe v. Wade - ANSWER-1973 - Supreme Court decision holding that a state ban
on all abortions was unconstitutional. The decision forbade state control over
abortions during the first trimester of pregnancy, permitted states to limit abortions
to protect the mother's health in the second trimester, and permitted states to
protect the fetus during the third trimester.
, Northwest Ordinance - ANSWER-Enacted in 1787, it is considered one of the
most significant achievements of the Articles of Confederation. It established a
system for setting up governments in the western territories so they could
eventually join the Union on an equal footing with the original 13 states. Written
before the US Constitution.
Alien and Sedition Acts - ANSWER-1798 - These consist of four laws passed by
Congress and signed by President Adams: the Naturalization Act, which increased
the waiting period for an immigrant to become a citizen from 5 to 14 years; the
Alien Act, which empowered the arrest and deportation dangerous aliens; the Alien
Enemy Act, which allowed for the arrest and deportation of citizens of countries at
war with the US; and the Sedition Act, which made it illegal to publish defamatory
statements about the federal government or its officials.
Judiciary Act of 1789 - ANSWER-1789 - Act passed by congress that provided for
a Supreme Court with a Chief Justice and five associates, established the office of
the Attorney General, and created federal district courts and circuits courts
Land Act of 1800 - ANSWER-1800 - An act passed to encourage settlement in the
Northwest Territory. The Land Act of 1800 reduced the minimum purchasable unit
of land from 640 acres to 320 acres at a minimum cost of $2 per acre. Also
introduced the option to buy on "credit."
Judicary act of 1801 - ANSWER-1801 - A law introduced at the end of John
Adam's presidency, allowing for new judgeships to be filled by the president. John
Adams filled those positions with so-called "midnight judges" before he left office;
it was considered a bid to remain in power by the Jefferson administration. This act
would play a role in Marbury V. Madison.
Indian Removal Act - ANSWER-1830 - Act authorized the president to grant
Indian tribes unsettled western prairie land in exchange for their desirable
