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bill of attainder
Trial by legislature rather than court system.
civil liberties
Limitations on the power of government, designed to ensure personal freedoms; basic freedoms possessed by all human beings.
civil rights
Guarantees of equal treatment by government authorities and how much freedom ruling authority protects or denies individuals.
commercial speech
Speech that does not receive the same level of free speech protection because it seeks to make a profit.
common-law right
A right rooted in legal tradition and past court rulings, rather than the Constitution.
compelling interest
Before a right may be curtailed by law, the government must provide a compelling interest or very good reason.
double jeopardy
A prosecution pursued twice at the same level of government for the same criminal action.
due process clause
Provisions of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments that limit government power to deny people life, liberty, or property on an unfair basis.
economic liberty
The right of individuals to obtain, use, and trade things of value for their own benefit.
eminent domain
The power of government to take or use property for a public purpose after compensating its owner.
establishment clause
The provision of the First Amendment that prohibits the government from endorsing a state-sponsored religion.
ex post facto law
Laws enacting retroactive punishment.
exclusionary rule
A requirement that evidence obtained as a result of an illegal search cannot be used in trial.
free exercise clause
The provision of the First Amendment that prohibits the government from regulating religious beliefs and practices.
habeas corpus
Government may not hold an individual indefinitely without acknowledging charges against them.
libel
Written defamation of character; false information with intent to harm another person.
Miranda warning
A statement by law enforcement informing a person of their rights upon arrest.
natural law
Universal principles governing moral human conduct that can be discovered through rational analysis.
plea bargain
An agreement where a defendant pleads guilty in exchange for a more lenient punishment.
positive law
Human made rules and regulations; human agreements.
prior restraint
A government action that stops someone from doing something before they can do it.
probable cause
Legal standard determining whether a search or seizure is constitutional.
right to privacy
The right to be free of government intrusion.
search warrant
A legal document signed by a judge allowing police to search and seize persons or property.
self-incrimination
An action or statement that admits guilt for a crime.
slander
Spoken defamation of character; spoken false information with intent to harm.
symbolic speech
A form of expression that communicates an idea without using writing or speech.
unalienable rights
Basic freedoms possessed by all human beings; life, liberty, and property.
undue burden test
A means of deciding whether a law making it harder for women to seek abortions is constitutional.
affirmative action
Programs designed to assist groups historically subject to discrimination.
American Indian Movement (AIM)
The Native American civil rights group responsible for the occupation of Wounded Knee in 1973.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Legislation that expanded opportunities and protections for people with disabilities.
Brown v. Board of Education
The 1954 Supreme Court ruling that declared segregation in public education unconstitutional.
civil disobedience
Action taken in violation of law to demonstrate that the law is unjust.
comparable worth
A doctrine calling for equal pay for workers with similar job requirements.
coverture
Legal status of married women in which their separate identities were erased.
Dawes Severalty Act
Effort to assimilate Indians to white society by dividing land into allotments.
de facto segregation
Segregation resulting from private choices of individuals.
de jure segregation
Segregation resulting from government discrimination.
direct action
Civil rights campaigns that confront segregationist practices directly.
disenfranchisement
Revocation of someone's right to vote.
Dred Scott v. Sandford
Court ruling stating Scott had no legal right to sue because blacks could not be U.S. citizens.
equal protection clause
Provision of the Fourteenth Amendment requiring states to treat all residents equally under the law.
Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)
Proposed amendment to prohibit all discrimination based on sex.
glass ceiling
An invisible barrier that prevents women from rising to high levels in organizations.
grandfather clause
Provision allowing illiterate whites to vote because their ancestors had that right.
intermediate scrutiny
Standard for cases of discrimination based on gender, where the government must demonstrate an important interest.
Jim Crow laws
State laws that promoted racial segregation and undermined black voting rights.
Jones Act
Legislation granting U.S. citizenship to Puerto Ricans.
literacy tests
Tests requiring prospective voters to read and interpret text, often disenfranchising minorities.
Loving v. Virginia
Supreme Court ruling overturning laws against interracial marriage.
Plessy v. Ferguson
The 1896 ruling that allowed "separate but equal" racial segregation.
poll tax
Annual tax imposed before allowing a person to vote.
rational basis test
Standard for deciding most discrimination cases; burden of proof on those challenging the law.
strict scrutiny
Standard for cases of discrimination based on race; burden on government to show a compelling interest.
Title IX
Section of legislation prohibiting discrimination in education based on sex.
Trail of Tears
Forced migration of the Cherokees from Georgia to Oklahoma in 1838–1839.
understanding tests
Tests requiring voters to explain text passages, often used to disenfranchise black voters.
United Farm Workers (UFW)
A union for migrant workers, known for its strike against grape growers in California.
white primary
A primary election in which only whites are allowed to vote.
agent of political socialization
A person or entity that teaches and influences others about politics.
beliefs
Tenets or convictions that people hold to be true.
capitalism
Economic system based on market economies and free markets.
communism
Political and economic ideology promoting common ownership to prevent worker exploitation.
conservatism
Political ideology prioritizing individual liberties with a smaller government.
democratic principles
Belief that people should control the government.
egalitarianism
Belief that everyone should be treated equally by government.
exit poll
Poll taken by interviewing voters as they leave the polling place.
fascism
Political system with total control by the ruling party or leader.
ideal culture
Standards society aims to embrace and live up to.
ideology
Beliefs and values shared by members of a group.
individualism
Belief in the independence of individuals regardless of background.
leading question
A question worded to lead a respondent to a desired answer.
liberalism
Political ideology believing in government intervention for economic equality.
libertarianism
Political ideology supporting individual rights and limited government intervention.
liberties
Freedoms associated with being a human being; life, liberty, and property.
margin of error
Number indicating how far poll results may be from actual preferences.
moderate/centrist
Someone sharing beliefs from both Liberalism and Conservatism.
partisanship
Strong support or allegiance for a particular political party.
political ideology
Consistent set of political beliefs shared by a group.
political socialization
Process of learning norms and practices of a political system.
populism
Political ideology supporting the rights of the people and control by the people.
public opinion
Collection of opinions on a topic from individuals or groups.
push poll
Politically biased information presented as a poll to influence minds.
random sample
A selection of people from the population having an equal chance of being chosen.
real culture
The way society actually is.
representative sample
Group of respondents demographically similar to the population of interest.
socialism
Political system where government promotes social and economic equality.
statism
Belief that the state is the highest arbiter of government intervention.
straw poll
Informal and unofficial election poll conducted with a non-random population.
tracking poll
Repeated poll conducted over time to observe trends.
values
Cultural standards for discerning what is good and just in society.
