PHS Grading Scale and Important U.S. Government Concepts

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts necessary for understanding U.S. government principles and landmark cases.

Divine Right Theory

The belief that the leader is chosen by God and everything comes from God.

Direct Democracy

A system where citizens directly vote on each topic, usually in smaller countries.

Echo Chamber Effect

The act of only hearing opinions similar to one's own and being unable to hear outside views.

Shays’ Rebellion

A rebellion led by Daniel Shay against courts for farm confiscations, highlighting government weaknesses after the Civil War.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Allows implied powers to carry out expressed powers, requiring them to be reasonable.

Exclusionary Rule

A legal rule preventing police from using tainted evidence to ensure fair due process.

Miranda Rights

Rights that must be read to a suspect prior to interrogation to ensure compliance with the 5th Amendment.

Implicit Racial Bias

Unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that affect understanding and decisions related to race.

Jim Crow Laws

Discriminatory laws enacted during the Reconstruction period against African Americans.

Marbury v. Madison

A Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review.

McCulloch v. Maryland

Case affirming federal supremacy over state law in matters related to the Necessary and Proper Clause.

Tinker v. Des Moines

Case supporting student free speech in schools, ruling in favor of students protesting the Vietnam War.

B.L. v. Mahanoy

A case where the court upheld a student's right to off-campus speech, ruling it did not disrupt school.

Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier

Supreme Court decision allowing schools to censor student publications related to school-sponsored activity.

Roe v. Wade

Court ruling that established abortion as a constitutional right under the 14th Amendment's right to privacy.

Brown v. Board of Education

Landmark Supreme Court case declaring that 'separate but equal' educational facilities are inherently unequal.

2nd Amendment

Constitutional right protecting individuals' rights to bear arms.

10th Amendment

Reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states.

13th Amendment

Abolished slavery in the United States.

14th Amendment

Guarantees equal protection under the law and includes the Due Process Clause.

Equal Protection Clause

Prevents states from denying any person equal protection of the laws.

Citizenship Clause

Establishes rules around citizenship for those born in the U.S. or to U.S. citizens abroad.

Separation of Powers

The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any one branch from exercising the core functions of another.

Checks and Balances

System that ensures no one branch of government becomes too powerful by providing each branch with the means to counteract the others.

Federalism

A system of government where power is divided between a central authority and constituent units (states).

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that the authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people.

Free Speech

The right to express information, ideas, and opinions free of government restriction.

Free Exercise Clause

Protects individuals' rights to practice their religion as they see fit, within certain legal limits.

Establishment Clause

Prevents the government from establishing an official religion or unduly favoring one religion over another.

Free Press

The right to publish news and opinions without government interference.