Voting Rights and Free Speech

A set of flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to voting rights, free speech, and significant legal cases.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

A law designed to eliminate racial discrimination in voting, especially in Southern states, banning literacy tests and authorizing federal oversight.

24th Amendment

Banned poll taxes in federal elections, which were used to prevent poor and marginalized groups from voting.

Slander

False, defamatory oral statements about someone.

Katzenbach v. Morgan

A Supreme Court case that upheld the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act, prohibiting literacy tests for PR voters.

Shelby County v. Holder

A Supreme Court case that struck down Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act, ending federal oversight of voting changes in some states.

Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections

Ruled poll taxes unconstitutional in state elections, citing the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

Crawford v. Marion County

The Supreme Court upheld Indiana's voter ID law, ruling it did not violate the Constitution despite concerns it disproportionately affected voters.

Ocoee, Florida

Known for the Ocoee Election Day Massacre in 1920, where white supremacists violently suppressed African American voters.

Felony Disenfranchisement

Laws preventing individuals with felony convictions from voting, often affecting minority communities disproportionately.

Susan B. Anthony

A leading figure in the suffrage movement, arrested for voting in her fight for women's rights.

Grandfather Clause

A law that disenfranchised Blacks by allowing only those whose grandfathers could vote to do so.

NYT v. U.S.

The Pentagon Papers case where the Supreme Court ruled against preventing the New York Times from publishing classified information.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

An organizer of the Seneca Falls Convention and a key figure in the women's suffrage movement.

NAACP v. Button

Ruled that Virginia could not prevent the NAACP from encouraging lawsuits to challenge discriminatory laws.

Alice Paul

A leader in the women’s suffrage movement who organized marches and hunger strikes, supporting the 19th Amendment.

Wyoming

The first state to grant women the right to vote.

National Socialist Party v. Skokie

A case emphasizing free speech rights by protecting a Nazi group's right to march in a Jewish neighborhood.

10th Amendment

Reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people.

Cracking

Diluting a group's voting power by spreading it across multiple districts.

Packing

Concentrating a group's voting power into one district to limit their influence elsewhere.

Carrie Catt

A leader of the suffrage movement and a key figure in the passage of the 19th Amendment. She helped found the League of Women Voters.

Frederick Douglass

A former slave and leading abolitionist advocating for equal rights for African Americans.

Progressive Party

A political party promoting reforms like women's suffrage, labor rights, and social justice.

Republican Party

One of the major U.S. political parties, founded in 1854 on an anti-slavery platform.

Texas v. Johnson

The Court ruled that burning the American flag is protected by the First Amendment as symbolic speech.

Brandenburg v. Ohio

Established the 'imminent lawless action' test for free speech.

Snyder v. Phelps

The Court ruled that offensive protests at a soldier’s funeral by the Westboro Baptist Church were protected by the 1st Amendment.

Public Forum

A government-owned space where individuals have the right to express themselves with limited speech restrictions.

Right of Assembly

The First Amendment right to gather peacefully for protests, rallies, or demonstrations.

Right of Association

The right to form and join groups as part of First Amendment protections.

Non-Public Forum

Areas where the government can impose greater restrictions on free expression.

Fighting Words

Words that are likely to provoke a violent reaction and are not protected by the First Amendment.

Hate Speech

Speech inciting hatred against individuals or groups; most is protected unless it incites imminent violence.

Limited Public Forum

Where speech is allowed but can have reasonable content-based restrictions.

Primary

A preliminary election where voters choose candidates to represent their party.

Libel

A form of defamation involving written or published false statements.

Baker v. Carr

Established the 'one person, one vote' principle for legislative districts.

Bob Moses

A civil rights leader who focused on voter registration in Mississippi.

NYT v. Sullivan

Established the 'actual malice' standard for defamation lawsuits involving public officials.

Disenfranchisement

Depriving individuals of their right to vote through various laws.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor a particular party.

Right of Petition

The First Amendment right to petition the government for grievances.

Boy Scouts v. Dale

The Court ruled the Boy Scouts could exclude a member based on sexual orientation.

NAACP v. Button

Cited the 1st Amendment to rule that VA could not prevent the NAACP from encouraging lawsuits to challenge discrimination laws.

NAACP v. Alabama

Ruled that membership lists from a group could not be revealed, citing the 1st Amendment right of association.