Civic Literacy Workshop at Florida Atlantic University

Introduction

• Presenter: Dr. Jennifer Biebergel, Associate Dean for Retention and Academic Support at FAU
• Disclaimer: Not an attorney or constitutional lawyer
• Objective: Help students learn landmark Supreme Court cases for the civic literacy exam

Workshop Overview

• Duration: Approximately one hour
• Content:
  • Review civic literacy requirement
  • Discuss 22 landmark Supreme Court cases likely on the test
  • Opportunity to take a practice test
  • Information about final workshop and test signup

Civic Literacy Requirement

• Applies to all Florida state universities and colleges
• Needed for Associate of Arts or Bachelor's degree
• Ways to Satisfy Requirement:
  • Courses: Government of the U.S. (POS 2041), U.S. History since 1877 (MH 2020)
  • AP Test scores
  • CLEP Test (costs about $100)
  • Free Option: Civic literacy test at FAU
    • 100-question exam, 60% passing score
    • Offered Monday-Friday, 9-2
    • Can finish early; scores provided immediately

Landmark Supreme Court Cases

14th Amendment Cases

1. Dred Scott v. Sanford

   • Slave Dred Scott sued for freedom
   • Supreme Court ruled he was not a citizen, nullifying Missouri Compromise

2. Plessy v. Ferguson

   • Upheld "separate but equal" doctrine
   • Racial segregation constitutional

3. Brown v. Board of Education

   • Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson
   • Declared "separate but equal" unconstitutional

4. Regents of the University of California v. Bakke

   • Racial quotas in admissions unconstitutional
   • Race can be a factor among others

5. Bush v. Gore

   • Concerned 2000 election recount in Florida
   • Different vote counting methods violated equal protection

1st Amendment Cases

1. Citizens United v. FEC

   • Political spending is protected speech
   • Corporations and unions can fund political broadcasts

2. Engel v. Vitale

   • School-led prayer in public schools unconstitutional

3. West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette

   • Students cannot be forced to salute the flag or recite the Pledge

4. Texas v. Johnson

   • Flag burning is protected as symbolic speech

5. Tinker v. Des Moines

   • Wearing armbands in protest is symbolic speech
   • Students have free speech rights

6. Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier

   • School can censor student newspapers
   • Legitimate educational concerns justify censorship

2nd Amendment Case

• District of Columbia v. Heller
  • Individuals have the right to possess firearms
  • Struck down DC's handgun ban

4th Amendment Cases

1. Mapp v. Ohio

   • Evidence from unlawful search inadmissible

2. New Jersey v. T.L.O.

   • Schools can conduct searches with reasonable suspicion

5th and 6th Amendment Cases

1. Miranda v. Arizona

   • Established Miranda rights

2. Gideon v. Wainwright

   • Right to counsel; states must provide public defenders

Additional Landmark Cases

1. Roe v. Wade

   • Legalized first trimester abortion
   • States cannot prohibit first trimester abortions

2. Korematsu v. United States

   • Upheld internment of Japanese Americans during WWII

3. Marbury v. Madison

   • Established judicial review
   • Constitution is the supreme law

4. Gibbons v. Ogden

   • Federal government controls interstate commerce

5. McCulloch v. Maryland

   • Established implied powers of Congress
   • States cannot tax federal entities

6. United States v. Nixon

   • President is not above the law

Conclusion

• Encouragement to take the civic literacy test
• Reminder about test registration and preparation
• Mention of a final workshop for further practice

These notes cover the key points from each section of the lecture and provide a comprehensive summary of the landmark Supreme Court cases discussed. For detailed information, refer to the full lecture content or specific case summaries.