Question 1

Which of the following is not a kind of speech considered punishable by the U.S. Supreme Court?
A) True threats
B) Speech considered to be offensive
C) Harassment
D) Fighting words

Accepted Answer

Speech that is considered to be offensive or repugnant to others is protected by the First Amendment and is not punishable by the U.S. Supreme Court. However, speech that constitutes true threats, harassment, or fighting words may be deemed punishable if it meets certain criteria, such as being directed towards a specific individual and reasonably causing fear or harm.

Question 2

The First Amendment was devised as a shield against what kind of restraints on our basic rights?
A) Government
B) Personal
C) Private
D) Institutional

Accepted Answer

The First Amendment was specifically designed to protect against government restraints on our basic rights, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. It does not necessarily protect against restraints imposed by personal, private, or institutional entities.

Question 3

State colleges and universities are _______ the government and thus bound by the First Amendment.
A) independent of
B) not funded by
C) unconcerned with
D) legal extensions of

Accepted Answer

State colleges and universities are legal extensions of the government, which means they are subject to the First Amendment and must protect the freedom of speech and other constitutional rights of students and faculty.

Question 4

Free speech is widely regarded as a(n) _______, whatever its legal or political status.
A) absolute right
B) privilege
C) moral right
D) personal freedom

Accepted Answer

Free speech is considered a moral right because it is seen as inherently just and ethical for individuals to express themselves freely, regardless of the specific legal or political frameworks in place.

Question 5

Forms of speech that can be censored or punished are referred to as
A) offensive.
B) constitutionally unprotected.
C) disturbing.
D) nonconformist.

Accepted Answer

Forms of speech that can be censored or punished are those that fall under the category of "constitutionally unprotected" speech, which includes obscenity, fighting words, incitement to imminent lawless action, and defamation. These types of speech do not receive First Amendment protection under the U.S. Constitution.

Question 6

Scholars point out that hate speech can harm its intended victims both _______ and physiologically.
A) financially
B) accidentally
C) unconsciously
D) psychologically

Accepted Answer

Hate speech can cause psychological harm to its intended victims, leading to issues such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and even suicide.

Question 7

The view that the right of free speech must be preserved above all else and that any perceived harms, offense, or emotional distress caused by protected speech are irrelevant is called
A) constitutionalism.
B) free speech absolutism.
C) racism.
D) liberalism.

Accepted Answer

Free speech absolutism prioritizes the protection of free speech over any potential harms or offense caused by that speech. This view is often used to defend hate speech or controversial statements, and is distinct from other views that may prioritize other values such as equality or social harmony.

Question 8

For Mill, _______ is the only justified reason to limit the freedom of any member in a democratic community.
A) harm to self
B) offending others
C) immoral behavior
D) harm to others

Accepted Answer

According to Mill, the only justified reason to limit the freedom of any member in a democratic community is if their actions cause harm to others. This is known as the harm principle and is a central component of Mill's philosophy of liberalism. Mill believed that individuals should have the freedom to pursue their own interests as long as they do not harm others, and that society should only intervene in cases where harm is being caused. This means that behaviors that are offensive or considered immoral, but do not cause harm to others, should not be restricted by the government or society.

Question 9

In the context of the free speech debate, "trolls" are speakers who intend to
A) inform.
B) be provocative.
C) generate dialogue.
D) mediate disputes.

Accepted Answer

Trolls are individuals who deliberately post inflammatory, offensive, or off-topic messages online with the aim of baiting other users into reacting. They thrive on attention and thrive on causing chaos and disarray. While they may appear to be exercising their right to free speech, their behavior hinders productive dialogue and can create a toxic environment.

Question 10

A 2016 letter to first years from the University of Chicago declared that safe spaces and trigger warnings
A) would not be provided.
B) were necessary for campus safety.
C) would be provided.
D) violated free speech protections.

Accepted Answer

The 2016 letter from the University of Chicago explicitly stated that safe spaces and trigger warnings would not be provided, indicating a stance against those concepts on the basis of academic freedom and the importance of challenging ideas.

Question 11

According to Ben-Porath, curtailing free speech based on content or the presumed motivation of the speaker raises the risk of
A) upsetting free speech advocates.
B) breaking anti-censorship laws.
C) creating some version of thought police.
D) conflict among campus groups.

Accepted Answer

Curtailing free speech based on content or presumed motivations of the speaker creates a version of thought police as it restricts the free exchange of ideas and limits the ability of individuals to express their thoughts without fear of punishment or censorship.

Question 12

According to Ben-Porath, curtailing speech to prevent controversy is
A) unjustified and ineffective.
B) desirable and necessary.
C) lawful and effective.
D) considerate and respectful.

Accepted Answer

Ben-Porath argues that curtailing speech to prevent controversy is not only unjustified, but also ineffective. This is because controversial issues are often necessary for progress and diversity of thought, and trying to silence speech only leads to further polarization and resentment.

Question 13

According to Stengel, what does hate speech diminish?
A) Tolerance
B) Conflict
C) Discrimination
D) Acts of violence

Accepted Answer

Stengel states that hate speech "diminishes tolerance," meaning it makes individuals less accepting and less open-minded towards people who are different from themselves.

Question 14

The First Amendment was adopted to
A) punish certain types of speech.
B) outlaw false speech.
C) give the government power over public speech.
D) limit federal power.

Accepted Answer

The First Amendment was adopted to limit federal power by prohibiting Congress from making laws that restrict freedom of speech, religion, the press, assembly, and petition. It was intended to protect individuals from government censorship and interference in their beliefs and expression. The amendment does not punish certain types of speech or outlaw false speech, and it does not give the government direct power over public speech, although certain types of speech (such as threats or incitement to violence) may be restricted in specific circumstances.

Question 15

Between 1989 and 1995, every court that examined a speech code found the code to be
A) unconstitutional.
B) aligned with the First Amendment.
C) helpful in curtailing offensive speech.
D) ineffective.

Accepted Answer

Between 1989 and 1995, every court that examined a speech code found the code to be unconstitutional. This means that the codes violated the First Amendment's protection of free speech.

Question 16

The _______ says that private schools cannot punish speech that would be deemed protected in a public institution.
A) First Amendment
B) University of Michigan speech code
C) US Supreme Court
D) Leonard Law

Accepted Answer

The Leonard Law states that private schools cannot punish speech that would be deemed protected in a public institution. The First Amendment does protect free speech, but it only applies to government actions, not private schools. The University of Michigan speech code is not relevant to private schools and the US Supreme Court may rule on cases involving free speech, but they have not specifically addressed private school speech codes.

Question 17

Often, speech codes adopted on college campuses to punish people who express offensive ideas have
A) created more inclusive college environments.
B) been helpful in that they are specific and easily enforceable.
C) resulted in people being punished for their political viewpoints.
D) been upheld when challenged in court.

Accepted Answer

Speech codes on college campuses have often resulted in people being punished for their political beliefs or viewpoints, violating the First Amendment right to free speech. This has led to controversy and legal challenges surrounding the implementation and existence of speech codes on campuses.

Question 18

According to Chemerinsky and Gillman, because campus speech codes have an intentionally broad sweep, they _______ the expression of ideas that might be seen as demeaning or insulting.
A) encourage
B) allow for
C) prohibit
D) ignore

Accepted Answer

Chemerinsky and Gillman state that campus speech codes intentionally have a broad range, which implies that they prohibit the expression of certain ideas that may be seen as demeaning or insulting.

Question 19

Chemerinsky and Gillman point out that there is _______ that the presence of hate speech laws results in more tolerant attitudes.
A) overwhelming evidence
B) no evidence
C) some evidence
D) good reason to believe

Accepted Answer

Chemerinsky and Gillman state that there is no evidence that hate speech laws result in more tolerant attitudes.

Question 20

Chemerinsky and Gillman believe that censorship of words leads inevitably to
A) censorship of ideas.
B) fewer instances of hate crimes.
C) less tolerance.
D) a more inclusive campus environment.

Accepted Answer

Chemerinsky and Gillman argue that censorship of words inevitably leads to censorship of ideas because once a society accepts the principle of censoring certain words, it opens the door to the possibility of censoring ideas that are deemed offensive or controversial. This can have a chilling effect on free speech and limit the ability to engage in open and robust debate.

Quiz 12: Free Speech and Hate Speech

Which of the following is not a kind of speech considered punishable by the U.S. Supreme Court?

The First Amendment was devised as a shield against what kind of restraints on our basic rights?

State colleges and universities are _______ the government and thus bound by the First Amendment.

Free speech is widely regarded as a(n) _______, whatever its legal or political status.

Forms of speech that can be censored or punished are referred to as

Scholars point out that hate speech can harm its intended victims both _______ and physiologically.

The view that the right of free speech must be preserved above all else and that any perceived harms, offense, or emotional distress caused by protected speech are irrelevant is called

For Mill, _______ is the only justified reason to limit the freedom of any member in a democratic community.

In the context of the free speech debate, "trolls" are speakers who intend to

A 2016 letter to first years from the University of Chicago declared that safe spaces and trigger warnings

According to Ben-Porath, curtailing free speech based on content or the presumed motivation of the speaker raises the risk of

According to Ben-Porath, curtailing speech to prevent controversy is

According to Stengel, what does hate speech diminish?

The First Amendment was adopted to

Between 1989 and 1995, every court that examined a speech code found the code to be

The _______ says that private schools cannot punish speech that would be deemed protected in a public institution.

Often, speech codes adopted on college campuses to punish people who express offensive ideas have

According to Chemerinsky and Gillman, because campus speech codes have an intentionally broad sweep, they _______ the expression of ideas that might be seen as demeaning or insulting.

Chemerinsky and Gillman point out that there is _______ that the presence of hate speech laws results in more tolerant attitudes.

Chemerinsky and Gillman believe that censorship of words leads inevitably to