Constitutional Law and Civil Rights

Public safety exception

Allows unwarned interrogation as direct evidence in court

Patriot Act

Legislation expanding surveillance abilities and penalties for terrorism

USA Freedom Act

Legislation limiting bulk collection of telecommunication metadata

Exclusionary rule

Illegal evidence seized in violation of Fourth Amendment rights cannot be used in prosecution

Substantive due process

Supreme Court examines if government laws infringe individual rights

Unenumerated rights

Constitutionally protected rights not explicitly listed in the Bill of Rights

Right to privacy

Constitutionally protected right interpreted from the Due Process clause

Griswold v. Connecticut

Supreme Court case protecting the right to privacy

Roe v. Wade

Supreme Court case extending the privacy right to abortion

Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization

Supreme Court case overturning Roe v. Wade on abortion regulation

Civil Rights Movement

Social movement to abolish racial segregation and discrimination

Letter from Birmingham Jail

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s letter advocating for direct action against unjust laws

Women's Rights Movement

Social movement for gender equality and reproductive rights

National Organization of Women (NOW)

Feminist organization lobbying for gender equality

LGBTQ rights

Political and social rights for LGBTQ individuals

Pro-life movement

Anti-abortion movement based on moral and religious grounds

Pro-choice movement

Movement supporting women's legal right to elective abortion

Brown v. Board of Education

Supreme Court case declaring school segregation unconstitutional

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Prohibits discrimination in public places and employment

Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972

Prohibits sex discrimination in education programs receiving federal assistance

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Prohibits racial discrimination in voting

Separate but equal doctrine

Laws restricting African American access to facilities

Majority-minority districting

Drawing electoral districts with majority racial or ethnic minorities

Affirmative Action

Policies addressing workplace and educational disparities