The Right to Equal Protection

Description: This quiz covers the topic of the Right to Equal Protection, which is a fundamental principle in the United States legal system that prohibits discrimination based on certain characteristics, such as race, religion, and gender. The questions will test your understanding of the legal principles and landmark cases related to equal protection.
Number of Questions: 14
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Tags: constitutional law equal protection discrimination
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What is the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution?

  1. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.

  2. No state shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.

  3. No state shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

  4. No state shall pass any law impairing the obligation of contracts.


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits states from denying any person within their jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. This means that states cannot discriminate against individuals based on certain characteristics, such as race, religion, or gender.

What is the legal test used by courts to determine whether a law or government action violates the Equal Protection Clause?

  1. The strict scrutiny test

  2. The intermediate scrutiny test

  3. The rational basis test

  4. The compelling interest test


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The strict scrutiny test is the most rigorous level of judicial review used by courts to determine whether a law or government action violates the Equal Protection Clause. Under this test, the government must have a compelling interest in the law or action, and the law or action must be narrowly tailored to achieve that interest.

Which landmark case established the strict scrutiny test for laws that discriminate on the basis of race?

  1. Brown v. Board of Education

  2. Loving v. Virginia

  3. Obergefell v. Hodges

  4. Korematsu v. United States


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

In Loving v. Virginia (1967), the Supreme Court ruled that laws prohibiting interracial marriage violated the Equal Protection Clause. The Court held that the state had no compelling interest in preventing interracial marriage and that the laws were not narrowly tailored to achieve any legitimate interest.

What is the intermediate scrutiny test used for?

  1. Laws that discriminate on the basis of race

  2. Laws that discriminate on the basis of gender

  3. Laws that discriminate on the basis of religion

  4. Laws that discriminate on the basis of national origin


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The intermediate scrutiny test is used to review laws that discriminate on the basis of gender. Under this test, the government must have an important interest in the law or action, and the law or action must be substantially related to achieving that interest.

Which landmark case established the intermediate scrutiny test for laws that discriminate on the basis of gender?

  1. Reed v. Reed

  2. Frontiero v. Richardson

  3. Craig v. Boren

  4. United States v. Virginia


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

In Reed v. Reed (1971), the Supreme Court ruled that a state law giving preference to men over women in the administration of estates violated the Equal Protection Clause. The Court held that the state had no important interest in preferring men over women in this context and that the law was not substantially related to achieving any legitimate interest.

What is the rational basis test used for?

  1. Laws that discriminate on the basis of race

  2. Laws that discriminate on the basis of gender

  3. Laws that discriminate on the basis of religion

  4. Laws that discriminate on the basis of economic status


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The rational basis test is the least rigorous level of judicial review used by courts to determine whether a law or government action violates the Equal Protection Clause. Under this test, the government must have a rational basis for the law or action, and the law or action must be rationally related to achieving that basis.

Which landmark case established the rational basis test?

  1. Williamson v. Lee Optical

  2. Dandridge v. Williams

  3. San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez

  4. City of Cleburne v. Cleburne Living Center


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

In Williamson v. Lee Optical (1955), the Supreme Court ruled that a state law prohibiting optometrists from fitting or selling eyeglasses without a prescription from an ophthalmologist did not violate the Equal Protection Clause. The Court held that the state had a rational basis for the law, which was to protect the public from unqualified practitioners.

What is the doctrine of suspect classifications?

  1. A doctrine that prohibits the government from discriminating against certain groups of people

  2. A doctrine that requires the government to use strict scrutiny when reviewing laws that discriminate against certain groups of people

  3. A doctrine that allows the government to use intermediate scrutiny when reviewing laws that discriminate against certain groups of people

  4. A doctrine that allows the government to use rational basis review when reviewing laws that discriminate against certain groups of people


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The doctrine of suspect classifications requires the government to use strict scrutiny when reviewing laws that discriminate against certain groups of people, such as racial minorities, religious minorities, and national origin minorities. This means that the government must have a compelling interest in the law or action, and the law or action must be narrowly tailored to achieve that interest.

What is the doctrine of heightened scrutiny?

  1. A doctrine that prohibits the government from discriminating against certain groups of people

  2. A doctrine that requires the government to use strict scrutiny when reviewing laws that discriminate against certain groups of people

  3. A doctrine that allows the government to use intermediate scrutiny when reviewing laws that discriminate against certain groups of people

  4. A doctrine that allows the government to use rational basis review when reviewing laws that discriminate against certain groups of people


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The doctrine of heightened scrutiny is a synonym for the doctrine of suspect classifications. It requires the government to use strict scrutiny when reviewing laws that discriminate against certain groups of people, such as racial minorities, religious minorities, and national origin minorities.

What is the doctrine of intermediate scrutiny?

  1. A doctrine that prohibits the government from discriminating against certain groups of people

  2. A doctrine that requires the government to use strict scrutiny when reviewing laws that discriminate against certain groups of people

  3. A doctrine that allows the government to use intermediate scrutiny when reviewing laws that discriminate against certain groups of people

  4. A doctrine that allows the government to use rational basis review when reviewing laws that discriminate against certain groups of people


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The doctrine of intermediate scrutiny allows the government to use intermediate scrutiny when reviewing laws that discriminate against certain groups of people, such as women and aliens. Under this doctrine, the government must have an important interest in the law or action, and the law or action must be substantially related to achieving that interest.

What is the doctrine of rational basis review?

  1. A doctrine that prohibits the government from discriminating against certain groups of people

  2. A doctrine that requires the government to use strict scrutiny when reviewing laws that discriminate against certain groups of people

  3. A doctrine that allows the government to use intermediate scrutiny when reviewing laws that discriminate against certain groups of people

  4. A doctrine that allows the government to use rational basis review when reviewing laws that discriminate against certain groups of people


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The doctrine of rational basis review allows the government to use rational basis review when reviewing laws that discriminate against certain groups of people, such as economic status and age. Under this doctrine, the government must have a rational basis for the law or action, and the law or action must be rationally related to achieving that basis.

Which of the following is an example of a law that would be subject to strict scrutiny under the Equal Protection Clause?

  1. A law that prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race

  2. A law that prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of religion

  3. A law that prohibits discrimination in public accommodations on the basis of national origin

  4. A law that prohibits discrimination in voting on the basis of age


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

A law that prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race would be subject to strict scrutiny under the Equal Protection Clause because race is a suspect classification. This means that the government would have to have a compelling interest in the law, and the law would have to be narrowly tailored to achieve that interest.

Which of the following is an example of a law that would be subject to intermediate scrutiny under the Equal Protection Clause?

  1. A law that prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of gender

  2. A law that prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of familial status

  3. A law that prohibits discrimination in public accommodations on the basis of disability

  4. A law that prohibits discrimination in voting on the basis of wealth


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

A law that prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of gender would be subject to intermediate scrutiny under the Equal Protection Clause because gender is an intermediate classification. This means that the government would have to have an important interest in the law, and the law would have to be substantially related to achieving that interest.

Which of the following is an example of a law that would be subject to rational basis review under the Equal Protection Clause?

  1. A law that prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of height

  2. A law that prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of weight

  3. A law that prohibits discrimination in public accommodations on the basis of hair color

  4. A law that prohibits discrimination in voting on the basis of political affiliation


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

A law that prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of height would be subject to rational basis review under the Equal Protection Clause because height is not a suspect or intermediate classification. This means that the government would only have to have a rational basis for the law, and the law would only have to be rationally related to achieving that basis.

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