Asked by Danielle Crosby on Jun 15, 2024
Verified
The Supreme Court struck down state laws in the cases of Brown v.Board of Education and
Pavan v.Smith because the statutes in question
A) denied citizens equal protection of the law.
B) violated the separation of powers.
C) were too vague to be appropriately interpreted.
D) ceded too much power to the federal government.
Equal Protection of the Law
A constitutional principle that requires states to treat all citizens equally under the law, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, or national origin.
Brown v. Board of Education
A landmark Supreme Court decision in 1954 that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional, challenging racial segregation.
Pavan v. Smith
A significant U.S. Supreme Court case in 2017 that ruled same-sex couples must be treated equally with respect to the listing of parentage on birth certificates.
- Understand the significance and consequences of pivotal Supreme Court decisions.
Verified Answer
SM
Sarah MacchiaJun 19, 2024
Final Answer :
A
Explanation :
In both Brown v. Board of Education and Pavan v. Smith, the state laws in question were found to be discriminatory and denied citizens equal protection under the law, which is a violation of the Constitution's 14th Amendment. The Court held that these laws treated people differently based on their race or marital status and therefore were unconstitutional.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the significance and consequences of pivotal Supreme Court decisions.