Civil Liberties

What is the Bill of Rights designed to do?

Guarantee freedoms for individuals and protect them from government action.

What does the concept of Selective Incorporation refer to?

The application of the Bill of Rights to the states.

What major amendment established citizenship and due process for all born in the US?

The 14th Amendment.

What was the ruling in Barron v. Baltimore regarding the Bill of Rights?

The federal government is limited to the federal government only.

What does the Establishment Clause prevent?

The government from establishing an official religion or giving preferential treatment for or against religion.

What did Engel v. Vitale (1962) determine?

State-sponsored school prayer violates the Establishment Clause.

What was the significance of Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)?

Students do not shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech at school, but cannot materially disrupt the school's functioning.

What does the 2nd Amendment guarantee?

The right of the people to keep and bear Arms.

What is the Exclusionary Rule established in Mapp v. Ohio (1961)?

Any evidence illegally obtained cannot be used in trial.

What does the Fifth Amendment protect against?

Self-incrimination, double jeopardy, and ensures just compensation for property taken under eminent domain.

What are the criteria for a speedy trial under the Sixth Amendment?

The accused must be brought to trial within a reasonable time, with a public and impartial jury.

What does the Eighth Amendment prohibit?

Cruel and unusual punishment.

In what case did the Supreme Court incorporate the Excessive Fines Clause?

Timbs v. Indiana (2019).

What is the significance of Griswold v. Connecticut (1965)?

Established a right to privacy related to marital contraception, using various amendments as a basis.

What did Roe v. Wade (1973) establish about abortion?

States cannot prohibit abortions until viability, around 25 weeks.

What was the ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization (2022)?

The Constitution does not confer a right to an abortion, returning the issue to state control.

What was the ruling in Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)?

The Supreme Court ruled that the Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to counsel for defendants in criminal cases, regardless of their ability to pay.

What does the 14th Amendment guarantee regarding equal protection?

It guarantees that all individuals receive the same protection under the law.

What is the primary focus of the First Amendment?

It protects the freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.

What does the term 'due process' mean in the context of the Constitution?

Due process refers to the legal requirement that the state must respect all legal rights owed to a person.

What is the significance of the case New Jersey v. TLO (1985)?

It established that students have a reduced expectation of privacy in schools and that searches must be reasonable.

What is the meaning of 'probable cause' in criminal law?

Probable cause refers to the reasonable basis for believing that a crime may have been committed.

What does the 4th Amendment protect against?

It protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures.

What was the ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)?

The Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage is a constitutional right under the 14th Amendment.

What does the term 'self-incrimination' refer to?

Self-incrimination refers to the act of exposing oneself to prosecution by being forced to testify against oneself.

What does the term 'clear and present danger' relate to in First Amendment rights?

It is a legal standard used to determine when speech can be limited if it poses an imminent threat.

What was the importance of Loving v. Virginia (1967)?

The Supreme Court ruled that interracial marriage bans were unconstitutional, reinforcing the right to marry.

What does the Ninth Amendment state?

It states that the enumeration of certain rights in the Constitution does not mean that others do not exist.

What is the significance of the case United States v. Nixon (1974)?

The Supreme Court ruled that the president is not above the law, leading to Nixon's resignation.

What does the term 'affirmative action' refer to?

Policies that take factors including race, color, religion, sex, or national origin into account to benefit an underrepresented group.

What was the ruling in United States v. Lopez (1995)?

The Supreme Court ruled that Congress had exceeded its authority under the Commerce Clause when it banned guns in schools.

What does the term 'incorporation' mean in constitutional law?

It refers to the process by which the Supreme Court has applied portions of the Bill of Rights to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment.

What is the purpose of the Clear and Present Danger test?

It determines under what circumstances limits can be placed on First Amendment freedoms of speech and press.

How does the Voting Rights Act of 1965 protect voting rights?

It aimed to eliminate racial discrimination in voting, empowering the federal government to oversee voter registration in areas with a history of discriminatory practices.

What was the ruling in Shelby County v. Holder (2013)?

The Supreme Court invalidated key provisions of the Voting Rights Act, declaring certain preclearance requirements unconstitutional.

What is the significance of the case Miranda v. Arizona (1966)?

It established the requirement for police to inform suspects of their rights to silence and legal counsel during interrogation.

What does the term 'whistleblower' refer to?

An individual who exposes information or activity within an organization that is deemed illegal, unethical, or not correct.