key clauses

Bills of Attainder

Legislative acts that inflict punishment without a judicial trial.

Ex Post Facto

Laws that make an act illegal retroactively; prevents the government from punishing someone for an act that was not illegal when they committed it

Commerce Clause

Gives Congress the power to regulate commerce among the states.

Contracts Clause

Prohibits states from interfering with private contracts.

Due Process Clause

Guarantees that legal proceedings will be fair and that one will be given notice of the proceedings.

Elastic/Necessary and Proper Clause

Allows Congress to make laws that are necessary to carry out its enumerated powers.

Equal Protection Clause

Requires states to provide equal protection under the law to all people.

Establishment Clause

Prohibits the government from establishing a state religion.

Free Exercise Clause

Protects individuals' rights to practice their religion freely.

Full Faith and Credit

Requires states to recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state.

Privileges and Immunities

Prevents a state from treating citizens of other states in a discriminatory manner.

Extradition

The process of returning a person accused of a crime back to the state where the crime was committed.

Reserved Powers

Powers not specifically granted to the federal government or prohibited to the states are reserved for the states.

Supremacy Clause

Establishes that federal law takes precedence over state law.

Takings/Eminent Domain

The government's power to take private property for public use, with compensation.