Gov Ch5 Vocab

bail

money given over to a court in exchange for a criminal suspect's release from jail until his or her trial begins.

capital punishment

the imposition of the death penalty on a person by the state

civil liberties

basic freedoms guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution, such as freedom of speech and freedom of religion

civil rights

guarantees of equal rights and equal treatment under the law, such as trial by jury and voting rights

double jeopardy

the prosecution of a person a second time for a crime for which the defendant has already been tried once and found not guilty; prohibited under the Fifth Amendment

Equal Protection Clause

a clause in the Fourteenth Amendment declaring that no state may deny "equal protection of the laws" to any person within that state

incorporation

the process by which the Supreme Court applies the Bill of Rights to the states through the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment

libel

publishing false information about someone with intent to cause harm

obscenity

speech or other forms of expression considered offensive to conventional standards of decency

prior restraint

an attempt by government to prevent the publication or broadcast of material considered harmful

probable cause

reasonable suspicion of criminal behavior

secular

not religious or spiritual in nature

self-incrimination

statements, usually made under oath, suggesting that the person speaking is guilty of a crime

slander

orally spreading false information about someone with intent to cause harm

symbolic speech

conduct that conveys a message without spoken words

Takings Clause

a clause in the Fifth Amendment that prohibits the government from taking private property for public use "without just compensation"

unenumerated rights

rights not specifically listed in the Bill of Rights but given general protection under the Ninth Amendment

warrant

a document issued by a judge that authorizes law enforcement officers to carry out a search, seizure of evidence, or arrest