ap go po unit 3

Civil Rights

protection against discrimination by government, businesses, or individuals

Civil Liberties

protection of individual freedoms from government interference

Equal Protection Clause

requires states to treat people equally under the law (14th Amendment)

Due Process Clause

protects people from unfair government actions and applies rights to the states

Bill of Rights

first 10 amendments that protect basic freedoms from the federal government

Selective Incorporation

process of applying Bill of Rights protections to states through the 14th Amendment

First Amendment

protects freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition

Rights of Expression

speech, press, assembly, and petition

Establishment Clause

prevents the government from establishing a religion

Free Exercise Clause

protects the right to practice religion freely

Separation of Church and State

idea that government and religion should remain separate

Johnson Amendment

prohibits tax-exempt churches from endorsing political candidates

Engel v. Vitale

school-sponsored prayer is unconstitutional

Wisconsin v. Yoder

religious beliefs can override compulsory education laws

Freedom of Speech

right to express ideas with some limits

Compelling Government Interest

government can limit speech to protect safety and order

Time, Place, Manner Restrictions

rules on when, where, and how speech can occur

Symbolic Speech

nonverbal communication like clothing or protests

Clear and Present Danger

speech can be limited if it creates serious danger

Schenck v. United States

speech can be restricted during wartime if it creates danger

Tinker v. Des Moines

students have free speech unless it disrupts school

Freedom of Press

right to publish information without government censorship

Libel

written false statements that harm reputation

Slander

spoken false statements that harm reputation

Prior Restraint

government censorship before publication (usually unconstitutional)

New York Times v. United States

government cannot stop publication of information

Second Amendment

protects the right to bear arms

District of Columbia v. Heller

individuals have the right to own guns

McDonald v. Chicago

applied the Second Amendment to the states

Fourth Amendment

protects against unreasonable searches and seizures

Probable Cause

reasonable evidence linking someone to a crime

Reasonable Suspicion

lower standard than probable cause used for limited searches

Exclusionary Rule

illegally obtained evidence cannot be used in court

Self-Incrimination

right to remain silent

Double Jeopardy

cannot be tried twice for the same crime if found not guilty

Due Process

guarantees fair legal procedures

Right to Counsel

right to a lawyer

Speedy Trial

trial must occur within a reasonable time

Impartial Jury

jury must be unbiased

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

punishment must be fair and not excessive

Gideon v. Wainwright

states must provide lawyers to defendants

Civil Rights Act of 1964

ended segregation and discrimination in public places

Voting Rights Act of 1965

protected voting rights and banned literacy tests

Americans with Disabilities Act

prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities

19th Amendment

granted women the right to vote

Title IX

prohibits gender discrimination in education

Roe v. Wade

established a constitutional right to abortion (later overturned)

Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health

overturned Roe v. Wade

Obergefell v. Hodges

legalized same-sex marriage nationwide

Brown v. Board of Education

ended school segregation by declaring it unconstitutiona