American Government and Civil Rights Review

Flashcards testing vocabulary and key concepts from U.S. government, federalism, civil rights, civil liberties, and landmark Supreme Court decisions.

Supremacy Clause

A constitutional clause entailing that the U.S. Constitution, federal laws, and treaties are the supreme Law of the Land, overriding conflicting state laws, constitutions, or court decisions.

Settler Colonialism

In the United States, refers to Europeans settling on Indigenous lands and displacing Native peoples.

Police Power

The government's authority to create and enforce laws to protect the health, safety, welfare, and morals of the public.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

A policy protecting certain undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children from deportation and allowing them to work.

Anti-Federalists

A group that feared the federal government would become too powerful and threaten individual rights, arguing that national powers should be limited by a Bill of Rights.

Direct Democracy

A system where citizens vote directly on laws and policies.

Direct Action

Taking action directly to achieve a political or social goal, such as protests or boycotts.

Government

The institution that makes and enforces laws for a society.

Federalism

A system where power is divided between national and state governments.

1st Amendment

Protects freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.

2nd Amendment

Protects the right to keep and bear arms.

3rd Amendment

Prohibits the forced housing of soldiers in your home.

4th Amendment

Protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures.

5th Amendment

Protects the rights of the accused, guaranteeing due process and protection from self-incrimination.

6th Amendment

Guarantees the right to a speedy, public trial and an attorney.

7th Amendment

Guarantees the right to a jury trial in civil cases.

8th Amendment

Prohibits excessive bail or fines, as well as cruel and unusual punishment.

Bicameralism

A constitutional principle representing the division of Congress into two chambers: the House and the Senate.

Living Constitution

The idea that the Constitution's meaning can change as society changes.

Inalienable Rights

Rights declared in the Declaration of Independence as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Good Citizenship

In the United States, it is most critical to have political knowledge and participate in government.

Free Exercise Clause

A constitutional clause that protects the right to practice religion freely.

Republic

Also known as a representative democracy; a system of government where citizens elect representatives to make decisions for them.

U.S. Immigration Act of 1924

A law that limited immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe, and largely excluded Asians.

De Facto Segregation

Racial segregation that exists in practice, not by law.

De Jure Segregation

Racial segregation required and enforced by law.

Equal Pay Act of 1963

Legislation requiring equal pay for men and women doing substantially equal work.

Privileges and Immunities Clause

A clause stating that states generally cannot discriminate against citizens of other states.

Political Efficacy

The belief that citizens can affect what government does.

Preemption

Occurs when a higher level of government overrides a lower level's law.

Bostock v. Clayton County (2020)

A landmark court case ruling that Title VII protects employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Replacement Theory

The belief that immigrants or minorities are intentionally being brought in to replace the existing population.

Essential Documents of the American Founding

The Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and Constitution.

Block Grants

Federal funds given to states that offer more flexibility in spending compared to categorical grants.

Categorical Grants

Federal funds given to states that have specific requirements and restrictions.

New Federalism Presidents

Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, who promoted New Federalism.

United Farm Workers Leaders

César Chávez and Dolores Huerta, who led the United Farm Workers union in the 1960s.

Civil Liberties Act of 1988

Law passed by Congress formally acknowledging that the World War II internment of 120,000 individuals of Japanese descent (including 90,000 U.S. citizens) was a grave injustice.

10th Amendment

The constitutional amendment that refers to states' rights.

Mendez v. Westminster (1947)

A court case that ended racial segregation of Mexican American children in California public schools.

Eminent Domain

The government's power to take private property for public use with compensation.

Era of Dual Federalism

The period of federalism that lasted from 1789 until the 1930s.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

A constitutional clause requiring states to recognize the laws, records, and court decisions of other states.

Intergovernmental Relations

The processes by which local, state, and federal governments negotiate and compromise over policy responsibilities.

Right of Privacy

The right to keep personal life, information, and property protected from government interference.

Civil Liberties vs. Civil Rights

Civil liberties protect people from government interference, whereas civil rights protect people from discrimination and ensure equal treatment.

Autocracy

A system of government where one person has all or most power.

Oligarchy

A system of government where a small group of people holds power.

Totalitarian Government

A system where government controls nearly all aspects of life.

Authoritarian Government

A system where government has strong power and limits political freedoms.

Confederation

A system of government where states have most of the power and the central government is weak.

Unitary Government

A system where the central government holds most of the power.

Articles of Confederation

The first U.S. government system, which gave most power to the states.

Mayflower Compact

An agreement created in Plymouth to establish a government and follow laws.

Home Rule

The power given to local governments to govern themselves.

Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)

A Supreme Court ruling establishing that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry.

Dred Scott v. Sandford

A decision that increased tensions over slavery and helped precipitate the Civil War by ruling that enslaved people were not U.S. citizens and Congress could not ban slavery in the territories.

Jim Crow Laws

Laws that enforced racial segregation and discrimination against Black Americans, especially in Southern states.

Separation between Church and State

The constitutional principle specifying that the government cannot establish or favor a religion.

Elastic Clause

A constitutional clause giving Congress the power to make laws necessary and proper to carry out its duties.

Johnson Amendment

A legal provision that restricts 501(c)(3) nonprofits, including churches, from directly supporting or opposing political candidates.

Three-Fifths Compromise

An agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 regarding the counting of the enslaved population for representation and taxation.

Plessy v. Ferguson

A Supreme Court case that upheld the 'separate but equal' doctrine of racial segregation.

Great Compromise

An agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that created a bicameral Congress.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

A Supreme Court decision supported by the NAACP ruling that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional.

Hernandez v. Texas

A court case supported by LULAC to end racial segregation and discrimination.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Federal legislation that banned discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Indian Citizenship Act

A 1924 act through which Native Americans were granted U.S. citizenship.

Three Branches of Government

The Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches created by the U.S. Constitution.

Seneca Falls Convention

The event that marked the organized women's rights movement in the United States.