U.S. Constitutional Amendments, Landmark Supreme Court Cases, and Civil Rights Legislation

Vocabulary flashcards covering key Constitutional amendments, civil rights milestones, landmark Supreme Court cases, and major congressional civil rights legislation.

1st Amendment

The freedom of religion, speech, and to peacefully assemble together.

2nd Amendment

The right to own a gun.

3rd Amendment

The right to not house a soldier.

4th Amendment

The right to not be searched or have something taken away within reason.

5th Amendment

The right to life, liberty, property, and no double jeopardy or self-incrimination.

6th Amendment

The right to a speedy trial, public trial, and with a jury of your peers and an attorney.

7th Amendment

The right to a jury trial in a civil case.

8th Amendment

Protection from excessive bail, and cruel and unusual punishments.

9th Amendment

The rights not listed in the Constitution are still retained by people.

10th Amendment

Any rights not given to the federal government are given to the states.

13th Amendment

The abolishment of slavery.

14th Amendment

Equal protection under the Constitution for all United States citizens.

15th Amendment

No voting discrimination of race.

19th Amendment

Women's right to vote.

24th Amendment

No poll taxes are allowed.

Letter from a Birmingham Jail

Emphasizes the value of nonviolent protest/peaceful civil disobedience, refusing to follow laws designed to support segregation/discrimination, and the moral obligation to break unjust laws.

Schenck v US

Established that while the 1st Amendment limits Congress from restricting speech before and after it occurs, the Espionage Act was written during war time and speech can be limited if there is clear and present danger.

Engel v Vitale

Ruled that school sponsored prayer is unconstitutional.

Gideon v Wainwright

Ruled that the 6th Amendment right to a lawyer extends to the states (selective incorporation).

Tinker v Des Moines

Ruled that students and teachers keep their 1st Amendment rights while at school, making it constitutional to wear an armband protesting the Vietnam War (though schools can limit some speech).

New York Times Company v US

Ruled that the government cannot stop papers from publishing "classified" materials without showing heavy justification for national security.

Wisconsin v Yoder

Ruled that the free exercise clause prevents Wisconsin from forcing students to attend formal secondary school after the age of 14.

McDonald v City of Chicago

Ruled that the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms also applies to the states.

Brown v Board of Education

Ruled that school segregation is unconstitutional under the equal protection clause, establishing that separate education is unequal.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Legislation passed by Congress addressing discrimination in general.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Legislation passed by Congress addressing issues with and providing protection against election discrimination.

Title IX

Legislation passed by Congress addressing educational discrimination based on gender.