Foundational Legal Concepts & Constitutional Amendments

Flashcards in the FILL_IN_THE_BLANK style.

__ is a policy designed to address past discrimination.

A policy designed to address past discrimination by providing opportunities to underrepresented groups in education, employment, and government.

The __ are the first 10 amendments to the Constitution.

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution, protecting individual liberties and limiting government power.

__ are Constitutional freedoms guaranteed to all citizens.

Constitutional freedoms guaranteed to all citizens (e.g., freedom of speech, religion).

__ are protections from discrimination.

Protections from discrimination based on characteristics like race, gender, or disability; ensures equal treatment under the law.

The __ banned segregation in public places.

Landmark law banning segregation in public places and employment discrimination based on race, sex, religion, or national origin.

The __ allows limits on speech if it presents a serious threat.

A test from Schenck v. U.S. (1919) that allows limits on speech if it presents a serious, immediate threat.

__ is segregation that happens by fact, not by law.

Segregation that happens by fact (e.g., housing patterns), not by law.

__ is segregation enforced by law.

Segregation enforced by law (e.g., Jim Crow laws).

The __ guarantees fair legal procedures.

Found in the 5th and 14th Amendments; guarantees fair legal procedures before the government can deprive life, liberty, or property.

The __ prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.

Prohibits excessive bail, fines, and cruel and unusual punishment.

The __ requires states to apply the law equally to all people.

Part of the 14th Amendment requiring states to apply the law equally to all people.

The __ prohibits the government from establishing an official religion.

Prohibits the government from establishing an official religion (First Amendment).

Under the __, illegally obtained evidence cannot be used in court.

Evidence obtained illegally cannot be used in court (Mapp v. Ohio).

The __ protects against self-incrimination and double jeopardy.

Protects against self-incrimination, double jeopardy, and guarantees due process and just compensation for takings.

The __ protects freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.

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

The __ provides citizenship, equal protection, and due process under the law.

Provides citizenship, equal protection, and due process under the law; key to civil rights.

The __ protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures; requires probable cause and warrants.

The __ protects an individual's right to practice their religion freely.

Protects individuals’ rights to practice their religion freely (as long as it doesn't violate public safety/law).

The __ requires police to inform suspects of their rights before questioning.

Requires police to inform suspects of their rights before questioning (from Miranda v. Arizona).

__ is the process of applying the Bill of Rights to the states via the 14th Amendment.

Process of applying the Bill of Rights to the states via the 14th Amendment (see selective incorporation).

__ is a government action that prohibits speech or publication before it occurs.

Government action that prohibits speech or publication before it occurs—usually unconstitutional (NYT v. U.S.).

__ focuses on whether the government followed fair procedures.

Focuses on whether the government followed fair procedures before depriving someone of life, liberty, or property.

The __ protects the right to bear arms.

Protects the right to bear arms.

__ is the process by which certain rights in the Bill of Rights are applied to the states.

Process by which certain rights in the Bill of Rights are applied to the states through the 14th Amendment.

__ upheld segregation laws if facilities were equal.

Established by Plessy v. Ferguson (1896); upheld segregation laws if facilities were equal (later overturned).

The __ guarantees a fair, speedy, and public trial.

Guarantees a fair, speedy, and public trial, legal counsel, and the right to confront witnesses.

__ protects fundamental rights from government interference.

Protects fundamental rights from government interference—even if legal procedures are followed.

The __ outlawed discriminatory voting practices and enforced the 15th Amendment.

Outlawed discriminatory voting practices (like literacy tests); enforced the 15th Amendment.

__ is the media's ability to influence what issues are considered important.

The media’s ability to influence what issues are considered important by the public and policymakers.

__ is an individual's long-term attachment to a political party.

An individual’s long-term attachment to a political party.

The __ limited soft money and political ad timing.

Also known as McCain-Feingold; limited soft money and political ad timing; partially overturned by Citizens United.

__ is a long-term shift in party loyalty among the electorate.

Long-term shift in party loyalty among the electorate, often following a critical election.

A __ is a meeting of party members to choose candidates.

A meeting of party members to choose candidates or discuss policy.

__ is voting for candidates exclusively from one party.

Voting for candidates exclusively from one party.

In a __, only registered party members can vote.

Only registered party members can vote in that party’s primary.

__ are organizations that collect and donate money to candidates.

Organizations that collect and donate money to candidates or political causes.

__ are groups of individuals that join forces for political purposes.

Groups of individuals or organizations that join forces for political purposes.

__ is the belief that one's political participation makes a difference.

Belief that one’s political participation makes a difference.

__ are elections that mark a significant shift in party coalitions and voter behavior.

Elections that mark a significant shift in party coalitions and voter behavior.

A __ is an organized group that seeks to influence government by electing its members to office.

An organized group that seeks to influence government by electing its members to office.

__ are the statistical characteristics of a population that influence political behavior.

Statistical characteristics of a population (age, race, gender, etc.) that influence political behavior.

__ is the formal statement of a party's principles and policy goals.

Formal statement of a party’s principles and policy goals.

The __ is the system that elects the President.

System that elects the President; each state gets electors equal to its number of representatives and senators.

Under __, seats are awarded based on the percentage of votes a party receives.

Seats are awarded based on the percentage of votes a party receives (used in other countries; not U.S. House).

The __ is the body of people eligible to vote in an election.

The body of people eligible to vote in an election.

__ is voting based on predictions of how a candidate will perform in the future.

Voting based on predictions of how a candidate will perform in the future.

The __ gave African American men the right to vote.

Gave African American men the right to vote.

__ states that voters act in their own best interest, weighing costs and benefits.

Voters act in their own best interest, weighing costs and benefits.

A __ is someone who benefits from a public good without contributing.

Someone who benefits from a public good or interest group activity without contributing.

__ is voting based on what benefits the voter the most personally.

Voting based on what benefits the voter the most personally.

__ focuses on poll standings and strategy rather than policy.

Media coverage that focuses on poll standings and strategy rather than policy.

__ is a long-term change in political alignment and party loyalty.

A long-term change in political alignment and party loyalty, often tied to critical elections.

__ is in-depth reporting to expose corruption, scandal, or abuse of power.

In-depth reporting to expose corruption, scandal, or abuse of power.

__ is voting based on an evaluation of a candidate's past performance.

Voting based on an evaluation of a candidate's past performance.

__ is the current holder of a political office.

The current holder of a political office; incumbents have a strong advantage in elections.

The __ established the direct election of U.S. Senators by the people.

Established the direct election of U.S. Senators by the people.

An __ tries to influence public policy.

An organization that tries to influence public policy for a specific cause.

A __ is an interest group focused on one specific policy area.

Interest group focused on one specific policy area (e.g., NRA or pro-life groups).

An __ is a strong alliance between a congressional committee, bureaucracy, and interest group.

A strong alliance between a congressional committee, bureaucracy, and interest group.

__ are modern digital platforms that influence political communication and public opinion.

Modern digital platforms that influence political communication and public opinion.

An __ is loosely connected groups of experts who collaborate on policy.

Loosely connected groups of experts, activists, and officials who collaborate on policy.

A __ is a large group of people pushing for social or political change.

A large group of people pushing for social or political change (e.g., Civil Rights Movement).

__ are structures that connect people to the government.

Structures that connect people to the government: elections, political parties, interest groups, media.

__ is voting for candidates from different parties on the same ballot.

Voting for candidates from different parties on the same ballot.

__ is attempting to influence policymakers through direct contact or advocacy.

Attempting to influence policymakers through direct contact or advocacy.

__ are laws or practices that make it harder to vote.

Laws or practices that make it harder to vote (e.g., voter ID laws, gerrymandering).

__ is favoritism in news coverage toward one political perspective.

Perceived or real favoritism in news coverage toward one political perspective.

The __ banned poll taxes in federal elections.

Banned poll taxes in federal elections.

A __ is held halfway through a president's term.

Elections held halfway through a president’s term; all House seats and some Senate seats are contested.

The __ lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.

Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.

The __ gave women the right to vote.

Gave women the right to vote.

__ is the percentage of eligible voters who actually vote in an election.

The percentage of eligible voters who actually vote in an election.

In an __, any registered voter can vote, regardless of party affiliation.

A primary election where any registered voter can vote, regardless of party affiliation.

__ is when the candidate with the most votes wins the seat.

An election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins the seat (used in U.S. presidential elections by most states).

An __ is the result of combining the results of multiple opinion polls.

An aggregate poll is the result of combining the results of multiple opinion polls to create a more reliable and comprehensive view of public opinion on a particular issue or political candidate.

A __ is a type of survey in which respondents are contacted by phone to answer questions.

A telephone poll is a type of survey in which respondents are contacted by phone to answer questions, often used in political polling. It can be less accurate than in-person surveys due to sample bias or declining response rates.

The steps for __ are: President selects nominee, Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, then a Senate vote.

The process for confirming a Supreme Court nominee involves the President selecting a nominee, followed by a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to review the nominee's qualifications. The full Senate then votes on whether to confirm the nominee, requiring a simple majority for approval.

The __ refers to changing Senate rules to allow for a simple majority vote on certain issues.

The "nuclear option" refers to changing Senate rules to allow for a simple majority vote on certain issues, such as judicial confirmations, rather than the traditional 60-vote threshold required to break a filibuster. This was notably used to confirm certain judicial nominations.

The __ plays a key role in investigating the grounds for impeachment of a sitting president.

The House Judiciary Committee plays a key role in investigating the grounds for impeachment of a sitting president. If the committee approves articles of impeachment, they are sent to the full House of Representatives for a vote.

House committees like __ are responsible for investigating government actions and monitoring policy implementation.

House committees, including the Oversight and Intelligence Committees, are responsible for investigating government actions, monitoring policy implementation, and conducting hearings on legislative issues.

Under the __, the government must provide just compensation if it takes private property for public use.

Under the Fifth Amendment, if the government takes private property for public use (eminent domain), it must provide just compensation to the property owner.

A __ is one in which both political parties have a reasonable chance of winning an election.

A competitive district is one in which both political parties have a reasonable chance of winning an election. These districts often influence the outcomes of national elections, especially in swing states.

__ focuses on the strategies, personalities, and controversies surrounding political campaigns.

Media-centered coverage focuses on the strategies, personalities, and controversies surrounding political campaigns rather than on policy details or issues.

The __ is designed to improve the criminal justice response to violence against women.

A law designed to improve the criminal justice response to violence against women, offering resources and services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other crimes.

Schools can teach a __ as long as the course is academically neutral.

Schools can offer a comparative religious course as long as the course is academically neutral, not promoting any specific religion but instead providing information about different religions.

In the Constitutional Doctrine of __, the President's nominations must be confirmed by the Senate.

The President’s nomination of federal officials, including Supreme Court justices, must be confirmed by the Senate, according to the “advice and consent” clause in the Constitution.

__ is the authority of a court to hear a case for the first time.

The authority of a court to hear a case for the first time, rather than on appeal. The U.S. Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in certain types of cases, such as those involving disputes between states.

__ states that everyone should have an equal chance to achieve success.

The idea that everyone should have an equal chance to achieve success, particularly in education, employment, and other areas of public life.

__ seeks to ensure that individuals or groups achieve similar economic and social results.

A policy goal that seeks to ensure that individuals or groups achieve similar economic and social results, often linked to redistribution or affirmative action policies.

The __ is the first major electoral event in the presidential nomination process.

The Iowa caucus is the first major electoral event in the presidential nomination process. It is an important test for candidates in the race for their party’s nomination.

The point of __ is to require voters to present identification at the polls.

Voter ID laws require voters to present identification at the polls, with the aim of preventing voter fraud. Critics argue they disenfranchise certain groups, such as minorities and low-income voters.

The ruling in Baker v. Carr established the principle of __.

The ruling in Baker v. Carr (1962) established the principle of “one person, one vote,” ensuring that legislative districts are roughly equal in population, and the courts can intervene in redistricting cases.

__ refers to the long-term financial sustainability of government programs like Social Security and Medicare.

Refers to the long-term financial sustainability of government programs like Social Security and Medicare, which are funded by payroll taxes and are facing challenges due to demographic changes like an aging population.