Unit 3, Part 1: Civil Liberties & Civil Rights- The Bill of Rights

Bill of Rights

First 10 amendments protecting individual freedoms.

Amendment

Change or addition to the Constitution.

Civil liberties

Constitutional protections from government interference.

Civil rights

Protections against discrimination.

First Amendment

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

Establishment Clause

Prohibits government from establishing a religion.

Free Exercise Clause

Protects individuals' rights to practice their religion.

Freedom of Speech

Right to express ideas without government restriction.

Symbolic Speech

Nonverbal communication protected under the First Amendment.

Time, Place, and Manner Restrictions

Limits on speech based on when, where, and how it's expressed.

Obscenity

Speech or material not protected due to offensive content.

Defamation

False statements harming someone's reputation.

Libel

Written defamation.

Slander

Spoken defamation.

Clear and Present Danger Test

Standard limiting speech that incites harm.

Prior Restraint

Government action preventing publication or speech.

Second Amendment

Protects the right to keep and bear arms.

Right to Bear Arms

Individual right to own firearms.

Fourth Amendment

Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Unreasonable Searches and Seizures

Searching or taking property without justification.

Warrant

Court order authorizing a search or seizure.

Probable Cause

Reasonable belief a crime has been committed.

Exclusionary Rule

Evidence obtained illegally cannot be used in court.

Fifth Amendment

Protects against self-incrimination and double jeopardy.

Self-Incrimination

Being forced to testify against oneself.

Double Jeopardy

Being tried twice for the same crime.

Due Process Clause

Guarantees fair treatment under the law.

Procedural Due Process

Requires government to follow proper legal procedures.

Fourteenth Amendment

Grants citizenship and equal protection under the law.

Selective Incorporation

Applying Bill of Rights protections to states.

Miranda Rule

Requires informing suspects of their rights during arrest.

Public Safety Exception

Allows unwarned interrogation for immediate safety concerns.

Sixth Amendment

Guarantees right to a fair trial.

Right to Legal Counsel

Right to an attorney during criminal proceedings.

Speedy and Public Trial

Right to a timely and open court trial.

Impartial Jury

Right to a jury without bias.

Eighth Amendment

Prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Inhumane or excessive penalties.

Death Penalty

Capital punishment for serious crimes.

Social Order vs. Individual Freedom

Balance between safety and personal rights.

National Security

Protection of the country from threats.

Freedom of the Press

Right to publish information without censorship.

Privacy Rights

Protection of personal information and choices.

Metadata

Data about communications (e.g., time, duration).

Patriot Act

Expanded surveillance for counterterrorism.

USA Freedom Act

Limited bulk data collection by government.

Judicial Review

Court's power to declare laws unconstitutional.

SCOTUS Precedent

Past Supreme Court decisions guiding future cases.

Majority Opinion

Official decision agreed to by most justices.

Dissenting Opinion

Justice's disagreement with the majority decision.