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AP Gov: Landmark Supreme Court Cases Quiz

Scenario questions on the required AP Government Supreme Court cases, plus other landmark rulings, so you can match facts to the right precedent and constitutional clause.

by Kill h.17 questionsCreated Nov 8, 2026, 08:03 PM

Government & Politics· Civics#apgov#supremecourt#constitution#cases

17 questions

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1
Which case established the Supreme Court's power of judicial review, the power to strike down laws that violate the Constitution?
- A
  McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
- Marbury v. Madison (1803)
- C
  Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)
- D
  Fletcher v. Peck (1810)
Chief Justice John Marshall struck down part of the Judiciary Act of 1789 in Marbury. McCulloch was about implied powers and federal supremacy.
2
Maryland tries to tax a branch of the national bank. The Supreme Court rules that Congress could create the bank and that the state cannot tax it. Which case is this?
- A
  Marbury v. Madison
- B
  United States v. Lopez
- McCulloch v. Maryland
- D
  Gibbons v. Ogden
McCulloch upheld implied powers under the Necessary and Proper Clause and federal supremacy ('the power to tax involves the power to destroy').
3
During World War I, a man is convicted for distributing leaflets urging resistance to the draft. The Court upholds the conviction and creates the 'clear and present danger' test. Which case?
- A
  Tinker v. Des Moines
- B
  New York Times Co. v. United States
- C
  Brandenburg v. Ohio
- Schenck v. United States
Schenck (1919) held that speech can be limited when it creates a clear and present danger. Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969) later replaced that test with the stricter 'imminent lawless action' standard.
4
Brown v. Board of Education (1954) ruled that:
- Racial segregation in public schools violates the Equal Protection Clause
- B
  Separate but equal facilities are constitutional
- C
  Affirmative action in admissions is unconstitutional
- D
  Busing to integrate schools is required in every district
Brown overturned Plessy v. Ferguson's 'separate but equal' doctrine in public education. 'Separate is inherently unequal.'
5
A city's legislative districts have not been redrawn in 60 years, so rural votes count far more than urban votes. Which case allowed federal courts to hear such challenges?
- A
  Shaw v. Reno
- Baker v. Carr
- C
  Citizens United v. FEC
- D
  Engel v. Vitale
Baker v. Carr (1962) held that apportionment is a justiciable question under the Equal Protection Clause, opening the door to the 'one person, one vote' principle. Shaw v. Reno concerns racial gerrymandering.
6
A public school district has teachers lead students in a short, voluntary, nondenominational prayer each morning. Which case says this is unconstitutional?
- A
  Wisconsin v. Yoder
- B
  Tinker v. Des Moines
- Engel v. Vitale
- D
  Lemon v. Kurtzman
Engel v. Vitale (1962) found that school-sponsored prayer violates the Establishment Clause, even if voluntary and nondenominational. Yoder is a Free Exercise case.
7
A man charged with a felony in Florida cannot afford a lawyer and is convicted after defending himself. Which ruling guaranteed him a court-appointed attorney?
- A
  Miranda v. Arizona
- Gideon v. Wainwright
- C
  Mapp v. Ohio
- D
  Escobedo v. Illinois
Gideon (1963) applied the Sixth Amendment right to counsel to the states through the 14th Amendment. Miranda concerns warnings before police interrogation.
8
Students wear black armbands to school to protest the Vietnam War and are suspended. The Court rules for the students. Which case, and what is the standard?
- Tinker v. Des Moines; schools may restrict student speech only if it causes substantial disruption
- B
  Schenck v. United States; speech creating a clear and present danger is unprotected
- C
  Engel v. Vitale; schools must stay neutral toward religion
- D
  Bethel v. Fraser; schools may ban any political speech
Tinker (1969) held that students do not 'shed their constitutional rights... at the schoolhouse gate.' Symbolic speech is protected unless it substantially disrupts school.
9
The Nixon administration tries to stop newspapers from publishing the Pentagon Papers. Which case, and what principle?
- A
  Schenck v. United States; national security outweighs speech in wartime
- B
  Citizens United v. FEC; corporations have free-speech rights
- C
  United States v. Nixon; executive privilege is not absolute
- New York Times Co. v. United States; a heavy presumption against prior restraint
In 1971 the Court ruled the government had not met the heavy burden needed to block publication in advance. United States v. Nixon (1974) is the Watergate tapes case.
10
Amish parents refuse to send their children to school after eighth grade, citing their religion. Which case sided with the parents?
- A
  Engel v. Vitale
- Wisconsin v. Yoder
- C
  Tinker v. Des Moines
- D
  Employment Division v. Smith
Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) held that the Free Exercise Clause outweighed the state's interest in two more years of compulsory schooling.
11
North Carolina draws an oddly shaped congressional district designed mainly around race. Which case held that such districts are subject to strict scrutiny?
- A
  Baker v. Carr
- B
  Reynolds v. Sims
- Shaw v. Reno
- D
  Brown v. Board of Education
Shaw v. Reno (1993) held that racial gerrymandering can violate the Equal Protection Clause. Baker v. Carr was about malapportionment, not race.
12
Congress bans guns near schools, citing its power to regulate interstate commerce. The Court strikes down the law. Which case?
- A
  McDonald v. Chicago
- B
  McCulloch v. Maryland
- C
  Gibbons v. Ogden
- United States v. Lopez
Lopez (1995) was the first case in decades to limit the Commerce Clause: carrying a gun near a school is not economic activity. It is a key federalism case on the AP exam.
13
Chicago bans most handgun ownership. The Court rules that the Second Amendment applies to state and local governments. Which case?
- McDonald v. Chicago
- B
  District of Columbia v. Heller
- C
  United States v. Lopez
- D
  Mapp v. Ohio
McDonald (2010) incorporated the Second Amendment against the states through the 14th Amendment. Heller (2008) recognized the individual right but applied only to federal territory (D.C.).
14
Citizens United v. FEC (2010) held that:
- A
  Corporations may contribute unlimited amounts directly to candidates
- The government may not limit independent political spending by corporations and unions
- C
  Public financing of campaigns is unconstitutional
- D
  Political action committees must disclose no donors
The ruling treated independent expenditures as protected political speech, which led to super PACs. Direct contributions to candidates are still limited.
15
A suspect confesses during police questioning without being told he can remain silent or have a lawyer. Which case makes the confession inadmissible?
- A
  Gideon v. Wainwright
- B
  Mapp v. Ohio
- Miranda v. Arizona
- D
  Terry v. Ohio
Miranda (1966) requires warnings about the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney before custodial interrogation, based on the Fifth and Sixth Amendments.
16
Police search a home without a valid warrant and find evidence. Which case applied the exclusionary rule to state courts, barring that evidence?
- Mapp v. Ohio
- B
  Miranda v. Arizona
- C
  Gideon v. Wainwright
- D
  Plessy v. Ferguson
Mapp (1961) incorporated the Fourth Amendment's exclusionary rule against the states. Miranda involves confessions, not physical evidence from searches.
17
Which case upheld state laws requiring 'separate but equal' railroad cars for Black and white passengers?
- A
  Dred Scott v. Sandford
- B
  Brown v. Board of Education
- C
  Korematsu v. United States
- Plessy v. Ferguson
Plessy (1896) legitimized Jim Crow segregation for nearly 60 years until Brown v. Board (1954) rejected it in public education.