The Rights of Suspects

The Supreme Court case known as Kelo v. City of New London was controversial because it ________.

  1. allowed greater use of the power of eminent domain
  2. regulated popular ride-sharing services like Lyft and Uber
  3. limited the application of the death penalty
  4. made it harder for police to use evidence obtained without a warrant

Hint:

A

Which of the following rights is not protected by the Sixth Amendment?

  1. the right to trial by an impartial jury
  2. the right to cross-examine witnesses in a trial
  3. the right to remain silent
  4. the right to a speedy trial

The double jeopardy rule in the Bill of Rights forbids which of the following?

  1. prosecuting someone in a state court for a criminal act he or she had been acquitted of in federal court
  2. prosecuting someone in federal court for a criminal act he or she had been acquitted of in a state court
  3. suing someone for damages for an act the person was found not guilty of
  4. none of these options

Hint:

D

The Supreme Court has decided that the death penalty ________.

  1. is always cruel and unusual punishment
  2. is never cruel and unusual punishment
  3. may be applied only to acts of terrorism
  4. may not be applied to those who were under 18 when they committed a crime

Explain why someone accused of a crime might negotiate a plea bargain rather than exercising the right to a trial by jury.

Hint:

Someone accused of a crime may take a plea bargain because it reflects a clear path forward rather than the uncertainty of a trial. Typically plea bargains result in weaker punishments than does a court trial.

Explain the difference between a criminal case and a civil case.