Question 1

The original Constitution explicitly defined equality.

Accepted Answer

The original Constitution did not explicitly define equality.

Question 2

Discuss the significance of the Dred Scott v. Sandford decision in relation to the authors' statement, "In the Beginning, an Absence of Civil Rights." Do you agree or disagree with this sentiment? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

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Question 3

The Supreme Court's decision that allowed women the right to an abortion was

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court's decision allowing women the right to an abortion was in the landmark case of Roe v. Wade in 1973.

Question 4

The Supreme Court recently upheld the federal Partial-Birth Abortion Act.

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court upheld the federal Partial-Birth Abortion Act in 2007 in the case of Gonzales v. Carhart.

Question 5

While the issue of sexual harassment captures much media attention, its incidence is really quite low.

Accepted Answer

While it's difficult to determine the exact incidence of sexual harassment, studies have shown that it is widespread and often goes unreported. A 2018 survey by the Stop Street Harassment organization found that 81% of women and 43% of men had experienced some form of sexual harassment or assault in their lifetime. Therefore the statement that the incidence of sexual harassment is quite low is false.

Question 6

Trace the history of affirmative action in higher education. What has the Court typically upheld in its rulings? What has it typically struck down?

Accepted Answer

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Question 7

Explain the nature and significance of "strict scrutiny." For what categories does the Court reserve this level? Why does it do so?

Accepted Answer

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Question 8

Despite the reversal in integration trends in the region, the school integration record of the South remains better than that of any other region of the country.

Accepted Answer

Despite historical challenges, the South has made significant progress in school integration since the Civil Rights Movement, surpassing other regions in the United States in terms of integrating black and white students in public schools.

Question 9

Which of these is NOT true in terms of the advances of women's rights?

Accepted Answer

The equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment refers to all persons, not just women, and has been used to protect the rights of various marginalized groups. However, it is not exclusively responsible for the advances made in women's rights.

Question 10

Downsizing companies often lay off older workers first because

Accepted Answer

Older workers often have higher pay and more benefits than younger workers due to their experience and tenure with the company. Therefore, in a downsizing situation where the company needs to reduce labor costs, they may choose to lay off older workers first to save money.

Question 11

Which of the following statements best reflects the current status of affirmative action programs?

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court has recognized diversity as a compelling interest that can justify affirmative action in higher education, although recent rulings have imposed limitations.

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT related to Jim Crow segregation?

Accepted Answer

The glass ceiling refers to invisible barriers that prevent women and minorities from advancing to high-level positions in the workplace, and is not directly related to Jim Crow segregation. The other options are all related to Jim Crow segregation in different ways.

Question 13

Think about the most recent cases, including Gratz v. Bollinger, that have dealt with affirmative action. What has the Court ruled? Do you agree with its reasoning? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Think about the most recent cases, including...

Question 14

Under what type of scrutiny does the Supreme Court examine sexual discrimination suits?

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court applies intermediate scrutiny to cases of sexual discrimination, which requires the government or other actor to demonstrate that the differential treatment serves an important government interest and is substantially related to that interest. This is a higher level of scrutiny than ordinary scrutiny but less stringent than strict scrutiny, which is reserved for cases involving suspect classifications such as race or national origin.

Question 15

Women got the right to vote in the United States in 1920.

Accepted Answer

The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified on August 18, 1920, granting women the right to vote in the United States.

Question 16

In 1944, the Supreme Court finally declared that ______ was a suspect classification that demanded strict judicial scrutiny.

Accepted Answer

In 1944, the Supreme Court declared that race was a suspect classification that demanded strict judicial scrutiny in the case of Korematsu v. United States. This ruling paved the way for future civil rights cases and challenged discriminatory policies that targeted individuals based on their race. While other categories such as gender and age have also been the subject of legal scrutiny, they have not been declared as suspect classifications in the same way that race has.

Question 17

The great legal breakthrough for racial equality was Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka.

Accepted Answer

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka was a landmark United States Supreme Court case in which the Court declared separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional. This decision is widely considered to be one of the most important legal victories for the civil rights movement and is often cited as a key turning point in the struggle for racial equality in the United States.

Question 18

Suspect classification is the

Accepted Answer

Suspect classification refers to the categorization of groups by the government or other entities for special treatment that is arbitrary, irrational, or invidious. This can include discrimination based on race, gender, religion, or national origin. It has often been used to justify unequal treatment and has been found to violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. The other choices are not accurate descriptions of suspect classification.

Question 19

How was the "grandfather clause" used to keep African Americans from voting in the South?

Accepted Answer

The grandfather clause allowed whites who could not meet certain requirements, such as a literacy test or poll tax, to vote if their ancestor had been eligible to vote prior to 1867. Since African Americans were not allowed to vote until after 1867, this clause effectively excluded them from voting.

Question 20

What do the Constitution and the Bill of Rights say about equality?

Accepted Answer

The Constitution and the Bill of Rights ensure that all Americans are entitled to due process in the courts, as stated in the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments.

Quiz 16: Civil Rights: the Struggle for Political Equality