The Federal Court System & Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Actions taken by the government to create an equal playing field for all

Civil Liberties

Protections against the government

What courts hold the power of judicial review?

state and federal

Preventative Detention

When someone is held without bail as an option

Original Jurisdiction

The court in which a case is heard first

Docket

A list of cases to be heard

Ex Post Facto

A law passed after the fact

Habeas Corpus

A court order directed to an officer holding a prisoner commanding that he be brought before the court

Indictment

A formal complaint that the prosecutor lays before the grand jury and charges the accused with one or more crimes

Establishment Clause

Creates a wall of separation between church and state

Free Exercise Clause

States that a person is free to exercise whatever religion on wishes

Tinker v. DesMoines

Students do not shed their rights at school (symbolic speech)

Engel v. Vitale

Outlawed prayer, even on a voluntary basis, at school

Brown v. Board of Education

Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson

Plessy v. Ferguson

Established the separate but equal doctrine

Schenck v. United States

Established the clear and present danger rule

Roe v. Wade

Allowed women the freedom to choose to have an abortion

Libel

Writing something that is false and malicious about someone

Slander

Saying something that is false and malicious about someone

Treason

Levying war on your own country

Jurisdiction

The power of a court to hear and try a case

Procedural Due Process

The police must follow the laws during the information gathering stages of an investigation

Grutter v. Bollinger

Race can be a factor for admissions when promoting diversity

Court of Appeals

A gatekeeper to the Supreme Court because it relieves the Supreme Court of becoming to overburdened with cases.

Concurring Opinion

What a Supreme Court Justice writes when he agrees with the majority but for differing reasons

Writ of Certiorari

What is granted if the Supreme Court decides to hear a case

Rule of four

This is how the Supreme Court decides to hear a case

Time, place, manner restrictions

Restrictions the government can place on groups who wish to gather

Exclusionary Clause

Evidence that is illegally obtained cannot be used against you in the court of law

Affirmative Action

Positive steps taken to remedy the effects of past discrimination

Miller v. California

Developed the SLAPS test and community standards in determining obscenity

Lemon Test

determines the constitutionality of state aid to parochial schools

Reasons for bail

innocent until proven guilty, the accused can prepare a better defense outside of jail, to guarantee the accused will show up to his court date

Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses

Guarantees states will not deny people of the essential rights found in the Bill of Rights

Regents of University of California-Davis v. Bakke

Affirmative Action policies are constitutional; racial quotas are unconstitutional