According to Katz v. United States, searches conducted without prior approval by a judge or magistrate are what?Katz v. United States, 389 U.S. 347 (1967), United States Reports, Library of Congress
As Oliver v. United States uses the word, what is the curtilage?Oliver v. United States, 466 U.S. 170 (1984), United States Reports, Library of Congress
The Fourth Amendment says a warrant must particularly describe what?U.S. Constitution, Amendment IV, National Archives transcript of the Bill of Rights
In California v. Greenwood, police searched without a warrant garbage bags left at the curb for collection. What did the Court hold?California v. Greenwood, 486 U.S. 35 (1988), United States Reports, Library of Congress
In Katz v. United States, agents attached a listening device to the outside of a public telephone booth. What did the Court call the listening and recording?Katz v. United States, 389 U.S. 347 (1967), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Justice Harlan's concurrence in Katz v. United States describes a twofold requirement for Fourth Amendment protection. What is it?Katz v. United States, 389 U.S. 347 (1967), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Show all 100 questions (94 more)
Warrants and privacy, continued
Under Illinois v. Gates, the magistrate who issues a search warrant decides whether there is what?Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213 (1983), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under Oliver v. United States, do open fields get the Fourth Amendment protection that attaches to the home?Oliver v. United States, 466 U.S. 170 (1984), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under Payton v. New York, what limited authority does an arrest warrant founded on probable cause carry?Payton v. New York, 445 U.S. 573 (1980), United States Reports, Library of Congress
What did Payton v. New York hold about a warrantless, nonconsensual entry into a suspect's home to make a routine felony arrest?Payton v. New York, 445 U.S. 573 (1980), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Which approach to probable cause from an informant's tip did Illinois v. Gates adopt?Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213 (1983), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Which four things does the Fourth Amendment name as secure against unreasonable searches and seizures?U.S. Constitution, Amendment IV, National Archives transcript of the Bill of Rights
Consent searches 9
According to Florida v. Bostick, what does a consensual encounter between police and a person trigger?Florida v. Bostick, 501 U.S. 429 (1991), United States Reports, Library of Congress
According to Schneckloth v. Bustamonte, must the government prove that the person knew of the right to refuse consent?Schneckloth v. Bustamonte, 412 U.S. 218 (1973), United States Reports, Library of Congress
In Florida v. Jimeno, a driver gave general consent to a search of his car for narcotics. Did the consent reach a folded paper bag on the floorboard?Florida v. Jimeno, 500 U.S. 248 (1991), United States Reports, Library of Congress
In Illinois v. Rodriguez, a woman who had moved out of an apartment let police in. When is such an entry still valid?Illinois v. Rodriguez, 497 U.S. 177 (1990), United States Reports, Library of Congress
In the words of Schneckloth v. Bustamonte, a consent to search is not voluntary when it is the product of what?Schneckloth v. Bustamonte, 412 U.S. 218 (1973), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under Florida v. Bostick, what is the test for whether a police encounter with a bus passenger is a seizure?Florida v. Bostick, 501 U.S. 429 (1991), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under Georgia v. Randolph, one occupant consents to a search of a shared home and a physically present co-occupant expressly refuses. What follows?Georgia v. Randolph, 547 U.S. 103 (2006), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under Schneckloth v. Bustamonte, how is it decided whether a consent to search was voluntary?Schneckloth v. Bustamonte, 412 U.S. 218 (1973), United States Reports, Library of Congress
What standard measures the scope of a suspect's consent under Florida v. Jimeno?Florida v. Jimeno, 500 U.S. 248 (1991), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Plain view 8
Besides viewing the object from a place where the officer lawfully is, what else does Horton v. California require?Horton v. California, 496 U.S. 128 (1990), United States Reports, Library of Congress
For a plain-view seizure, Horton v. California requires that the object's incriminating character be what?Horton v. California, 496 U.S. 128 (1990), United States Reports, Library of Congress
In Arizona v. Hicks, an officer lawfully inside an apartment moved stereo equipment to read its serial numbers. What was the moving of the equipment?Arizona v. Hicks, 480 U.S. 321 (1987), United States Reports, Library of Congress
In Minnesota v. Dickerson, the officer decided a pocket lump was contraband only after squeezing and sliding it, already knowing the pocket held no weapon. What did the Court conclude?Minnesota v. Dickerson, 508 U.S. 366 (1993), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under Arizona v. Hicks, merely looking at what is already exposed to view, without disturbing it, is what?Arizona v. Hicks, 480 U.S. 321 (1987), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under Horton v. California, must the discovery of evidence in plain view be inadvertent for a warrantless seizure to be valid?Horton v. California, 496 U.S. 128 (1990), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under Minnesota v. Dickerson, an officer in a lawful pat-down feels an object whose identity as contraband is immediately apparent. May it be seized without a warrant?Minnesota v. Dickerson, 508 U.S. 366 (1993), United States Reports, Library of Congress
What level of belief does Arizona v. Hicks require before the plain-view doctrine can be invoked?Arizona v. Hicks, 480 U.S. 321 (1987), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Stops and frisks 14
According to Whren v. United States, which part of the Constitution is the basis for objecting to intentionally discriminatory application of the laws?Whren v. United States, 517 U.S. 806 (1996), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Delaware v. Prouse held that stopping one car at random only to check the license and registration is unreasonable without what?Delaware v. Prouse, 440 U.S. 648 (1979), United States Reports, Library of Congress
How did Illinois v. Wardlow describe headlong flight on noticing the police?Illinois v. Wardlow, 528 U.S. 119 (2000), United States Reports, Library of Congress
How does reasonable suspicion compare with probable cause, according to Illinois v. Wardlow?Illinois v. Wardlow, 528 U.S. 119 (2000), United States Reports, Library of Congress
In Terry v. Ohio, what did the Court say a pat-down of the outer surfaces of a person's clothing is?Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1 (1968), United States Reports, Library of Congress
The limited search that Terry v. Ohio allows is a search for what?Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1 (1968), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Maryland v. Wilson extended the rule of Pennsylvania v. Mimms to whom?Maryland v. Wilson, 519 U.S. 408 (1997), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Michigan v. Long permits a search of a car's passenger compartment, limited to areas where a weapon may be placed or hidden, when the officer reasonably believes what?Michigan v. Long, 463 U.S. 1032 (1983), United States Reports, Library of Congress
To justify the intrusion, Terry v. Ohio says an officer must be able to point to what?Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1 (1968), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under Delaware v. Prouse, stopping an automobile and detaining its occupants is what?Delaware v. Prouse, 440 U.S. 648 (1979), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under Illinois v. Wardlow, is a person's presence in a high crime area, standing alone, enough for reasonable suspicion?Illinois v. Wardlow, 528 U.S. 119 (2000), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under Pennsylvania v. Mimms, an officer orders the driver of a lawfully stopped car to get out. How did the Court treat the order?Pennsylvania v. Mimms, 434 U.S. 106 (1977), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under Terry v. Ohio, when may an officer make a reasonable search for weapons without probable cause to arrest?Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1 (1968), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under Whren v. United States, police have probable cause to believe a driver committed a traffic violation. Do the officers' actual motivations make the stop unreasonable?Whren v. United States, 517 U.S. 806 (1996), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Vehicle searches 6
According to United States v. Ross, what defines the scope of a warrantless search of a vehicle?United States v. Ross, 456 U.S. 798 (1982), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under Arizona v. Gant, police may search a vehicle incident to a recent occupant's arrest when it is reasonable to believe the vehicle contains what?Arizona v. Gant, 556 U.S. 332 (2009), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under California v. Acevedo, police have probable cause to believe that one container in a car holds contraband. What may they do?California v. Acevedo, 500 U.S. 565 (1991), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under Carroll v. United States, when does a warrantless search of an automobile not violate the Fourth Amendment?Carroll v. United States, 267 U.S. 132 (1925), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under United States v. Ross, how thorough may a warrantless search of a lawfully stopped vehicle be when police have probable cause that contraband is hidden in it?United States v. Ross, 456 U.S. 798 (1982), United States Reports, Library of Congress
What difference between a dwelling and a vehicle did Carroll v. United States rely on?Carroll v. United States, 267 U.S. 132 (1925), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Search incident to arrest 9
According to Chimel v. California, what is required for a routine search of rooms other than the one where the arrest occurs, absent a well-recognized exception?Chimel v. California, 395 U.S. 752 (1969), United States Reports, Library of Congress
According to Riley v. California, what may officers do with an arrested person's phone without a warrant?Riley v. California, 573 U.S. 373 (2014), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Arizona v. Gant allows a vehicle search incident to arrest in two situations. One is a reasonable belief that the vehicle holds evidence of the offense of arrest. What is the other?Arizona v. Gant, 556 U.S. 332 (2009), United States Reports, Library of Congress
How does Chimel v. California define the area within an arrestee's immediate control?Chimel v. California, 395 U.S. 752 (1969), United States Reports, Library of Congress
In Arizona v. Gant, the driver was arrested for driving with a suspended license, handcuffed and locked in a patrol car before his car was searched. How did the Court treat the search?Arizona v. Gant, 556 U.S. 332 (2009), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under Chimel v. California, what area may be searched incident to an arrest, besides the arrestee's person?Chimel v. California, 395 U.S. 752 (1969), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under Riley v. California, what do police generally need before searching digital information on a cell phone seized from an arrested person?Riley v. California, 573 U.S. 373 (2014), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under United States v. Robinson, a full search of the person incident to a lawful custodial arrest is what?United States v. Robinson, 414 U.S. 218 (1973), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under United States v. Robinson, must a court decide in each case whether weapons or evidence were likely to be found on the arrested person?United States v. Robinson, 414 U.S. 218 (1973), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Exclusionary rule 9
According to Wong Sun v. United States, is evidence "fruit of the poisonous tree" simply because it would not have come to light but for illegal police action?Wong Sun v. United States, 371 U.S. 471 (1963), United States Reports, Library of Congress
By what standard must the prosecution establish inevitable discovery under Nix v. Williams?Nix v. Williams, 467 U.S. 431 (1984), United States Reports, Library of Congress
In Wong Sun v. United States, how did the Court treat spoken statements that derived immediately from an unlawful entry and an unauthorized arrest?Wong Sun v. United States, 371 U.S. 471 (1963), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under Nix v. Williams, evidence found through unlawful means may still be received if the prosecution shows what?Nix v. Williams, 467 U.S. 431 (1984), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under the inevitable discovery exception of Nix v. Williams, must the prosecution prove the absence of bad faith by the police?Nix v. Williams, 467 U.S. 431 (1984), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under United States v. Leon, officers reasonably rely on a search warrant from a detached and neutral magistrate, and the warrant is later found invalid. Is the evidence barred from the prosecution's case in chief?United States v. Leon, 468 U.S. 897 (1984), United States Reports, Library of Congress
What did Mapp v. Ohio hold about evidence obtained by a search and seizure that violates the Federal Constitution?Mapp v. Ohio, 367 U.S. 643 (1961), United States Reports, Library of Congress
What kind of police activity does United States v. Leon say the exclusionary rule should not be applied to deter?United States v. Leon, 468 U.S. 897 (1984), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Which earlier decision did Mapp v. Ohio overrule on the use of such evidence in state courts?Mapp v. Ohio, 367 U.S. 643 (1961), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Miranda warnings 14
A person in custody indicates that he wishes to remain silent. What does Miranda v. Arizona require?Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966), United States Reports, Library of Congress
A statement is taken in an interrogation with no attorney present. Under Miranda v. Arizona, who carries the burden on waiver?Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966), United States Reports, Library of Congress
According to Berkemer v. McCarty, is roadside questioning of a motorist detained in a routine traffic stop "custodial interrogation"?Berkemer v. McCarty, 468 U.S. 420 (1984), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Does the exception recognized in New York v. Quarles depend on the motivation of the individual officers?New York v. Quarles, 467 U.S. 649 (1984), United States Reports, Library of Congress
How did Rhode Island v. Innis define "interrogation" for Miranda purposes?Rhode Island v. Innis, 446 U.S. 291 (1980), United States Reports, Library of Congress
How does Miranda v. Arizona define custodial interrogation?Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under Berkemer v. McCarty, do the Miranda safeguards depend on how serious the suspected offense is?Berkemer v. McCarty, 468 U.S. 420 (1984), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under Edwards v. Arizona, an accused in custody asks for counsel. When may police interrogate him again before counsel is made available?Edwards v. Arizona, 451 U.S. 477 (1981), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under Miranda v. Arizona, does answering some questions in custody waive the privilege for the rest of the interrogation?Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under Miranda v. Arizona, what must a person who cannot afford an attorney be told?Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under Rhode Island v. Innis, the functional equivalent of questioning means words or actions that the police should know are what?Rhode Island v. Innis, 446 U.S. 291 (1980), United States Reports, Library of Congress
What did Dickerson v. United States hold about the Miranda decision?Dickerson v. United States, 530 U.S. 428 (2000), United States Reports, Library of Congress
What exception to the requirement of Miranda warnings did New York v. Quarles recognize?New York v. Quarles, 467 U.S. 649 (1984), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Which of these is one of the warnings Miranda v. Arizona requires before custodial interrogation?Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Counsel and due process 9
Besides due process, what does section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment forbid a State to deny to any person within its jurisdiction?U.S. Constitution, Amendment XIV, section 1, National Archives transcript of Amendments 11 to 27
In Brown v. Mississippi, murder convictions rested solely on confessions that officers had extorted by torture. Under which clause were the convictions void?Brown v. Mississippi, 297 U.S. 278 (1936), United States Reports, Library of Congress
In Massiah v. United States, agents used a radio transmitter in a confederate's car to overhear an indicted defendant, free on bail, in the absence of his lawyer. Which right did the Court find was denied?Massiah v. United States, 377 U.S. 201 (1964), United States Reports, Library of Congress
What did Gideon v. Wainwright hold about a defendant too poor to hire a lawyer in a state criminal trial?Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335 (1963), United States Reports, Library of Congress
What did Malloy v. Hogan hold about the privilege against self-incrimination?Malloy v. Hogan, 378 U.S. 1 (1964), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Which amendment gives the accused the right "to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence"?U.S. Constitution, Amendment VI, National Archives transcript of the Bill of Rights
Which amendment says that no person "shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself"?U.S. Constitution, Amendment V, National Archives transcript of the Bill of Rights
Which earlier decision did Gideon v. Wainwright overrule?Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335 (1963), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Which of these rights is in the text of the Sixth Amendment?U.S. Constitution, Amendment VI, National Archives transcript of the Bill of Rights
Use of force 10
Besides the severity of the crime and any immediate threat to safety, which factor does Graham v. Connor list?Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386 (1989), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Does the officer's underlying intent or motivation decide the question under Graham v. Connor?Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386 (1989), United States Reports, Library of Congress
From whose perspective is the reasonableness of a use of force judged under Graham v. Connor?Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386 (1989), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Graham v. Connor says the calculus of reasonableness must allow for what fact about police work?Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386 (1989), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Tennessee v. Garner names cases in which deadly force may be used to prevent escape if, where feasible, what has been given?Tennessee v. Garner, 471 U.S. 1 (1985), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under Graham v. Connor, which standard governs a claim that officers used excessive force in an arrest, an investigatory stop or another seizure?Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386 (1989), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under Tennessee v. Garner, apprehension of a suspect by the use of deadly force is what?Tennessee v. Garner, 471 U.S. 1 (1985), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Under Tennessee v. Garner, deadly force may not be used to prevent a suspect's escape unless it is necessary and the officer has probable cause to believe what?Tennessee v. Garner, 471 U.S. 1 (1985), United States Reports, Library of Congress
What did Tennessee v. Garner decide about the state statute at issue?Tennessee v. Garner, 471 U.S. 1 (1985), United States Reports, Library of Congress
Which of these is one of the factors Graham v. Connor names for judging whether force was reasonable?Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386 (1989), United States Reports, Library of Congress
How this list was compiled: Our own questions, each written from one opinion of the Supreme Court of the United States as printed in the United States Reports (Library of Congress, tile.loc.gov), or from the text of the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth or Fourteenth Amendment in the National Archives transcripts (https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/bill-of-rights-transcript and https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/amendments-11-27). Every opinion and both transcripts were opened on 2026-10-04. Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site. The opinions and the amendments they are written from are works of the United States Government in the public domain; short phrases are quoted with the case named.
How it works
This unofficial police academy practice test holds 100 police academy questions on constitutional law: search, seizure, questioning, counsel and force. Each answer names the Supreme Court decision or amendment behind it. It is not legal advice.
Read the full guide
What is covered
Ten topics: warrants and privacy, consent, plain view, stops and frisks, vehicle searches, search incident to arrest, the exclusionary rule, Miranda, counsel and due process, use of force. Each was written from Supreme Court opinions or an amendment's text, read October 4, 2026.
What is not covered
California's training commission, for one, lists 43 learning domains for its basic course. Three, Laws of Arrest, Search and Seizure and Use of Force/Deescalation, meet the law here. The rest is not on this page: it is police academy written test practice for one block.
Practice and paper
Start from, under the question, sets one topic. Exam mode draws 25, our number; no academy's test length or pass mark is implied. A paper test prints with its answer key.
Pair each case with one phrase: Terry and the pat-down, Chimel and reach, Garner and the fleeing suspect.
The Missed pile, under More options, keeps what you got wrong. Clear my progress, under More options, erases what this browser keeps.
Questions and answers
What police academy exam questions are on this page?
Questions on ten topics of constitutional law, from warrants and consent to Miranda and use of force. Each explanation names its case, such as Terry v. Ohio or Graham v. Connor, or quotes the amendment it rests on.
Are these real police academy test questions?
No. Every question was written for this site from published Supreme Court opinions and the Constitution's text. None comes from an academy, a state commission, a test publisher or a prep book, and this site is not affiliated with any of them.
Do police training exam questions differ by state?
Yes. Each state sets its own course, and penal codes, traffic codes and procedures differ. The Supreme Court decisions here apply in state and federal courts alike, but a state's own code and procedures are not on this page.
Can I use this as a law enforcement quiz for a class?
Yes. Law enforcement quizzes for a criminal justice class can be made by setting one topic and printing a paper test with its answer key. The other police quizzes on this site follow a hiring exam notice, not case law.
Which amendments does a police academy teach?
This page drills four: the Fourth (searches and seizures), the Fifth (self-incrimination and due process), the Sixth (counsel) and the Fourteenth (due process and equal protection in the states). It is a study aid, not legal advice.