AP GOPO Unit 2 Laws & Constitutional Clauses to Know

1st Amendment 

freedom of speech, religion, press, & assembly

2nd Amendment

the right to bear arms

3rd Amendment

no being forced to house soldiers

4th Amendment

no unreasonable search and seizure of an individual or their property

5th Amendment 

protections for people accused of crimes, serious criminal charges must be brought by a grand jury, a person cannot be tried twice for the same offense (double jeopardy), the government cannot take away property without giving the owner just compensation, people have a right against self-incrimination, and no one can be imprisoned without due process

6th Amendment

additional protections for people accused of crimes, the rights to a speedy and public trial, an impartial jury trial in criminal cases, to be informed of charges, to call witnesses, and to have a lawyer

7th Amendment

extends the right to a jury trial to civil federal cases

8th Amendment

bans excessive bail fines and cruel and unusual punishment

9th Amendment

just because a right is not listed specifically in the Constitution does not mean people do not have other rights that are not listed

10th Amendment

All powers not delegated to the federal government or not restricted from the states/people belongs to the states/people

13th Amendment

Banned slavery and involuntary servitude (except for those convicted of a crime)

14th Amendment

established birthright citizenship, no state can make or enforce laws that infringe on the privileges and immunities of citizens, no state can deprive anybody of life, liberty, or property without due process, and everyone is guaranteed equal protection under the law

15th Amendment

Gave men of all races the right to vote

19th Amendment

Gave women the right to vote

24th Amendment

Banned poll taxes in federal elections

26th Amendment

all citizens age 18 and older have the right to vote in all elections

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in public places and employment, and ended de jure segregation in public places like schools and libraries

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Outlawed discriminatory voting practices like poll taxes and literacy tests, and required that all new changes to voting in the states to be approved by the federal government, trying to increase voter participation from marginalized groups

Title IX of Education Act of 1972

Banned discrimination based on sex in all public school activities and programs

Hyde Amendment of 1976

banned the use of federal funds to carry out abortions unless the life of the mother was in danger, or if the pregnancy arose from rape or incest 

Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) 

prohibits discrimination based on disability, requires employers and public facilities to make reasonable accommodations for all people with disabilities 

Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993

Any laws that restrict someone’s religious expression must be upheld to strict scrutiny, meaning it has to further a compelling government interest and is the least restrictive way to further that interest

Defense of Marriage Act (1996)

banned federal recognition of same-sex marriages and allowed states and the federal government to refuse to recognize the validity of same-sex marriages performed in other states, which was overturned by the Supreme Court in the 2010s

USA Patriot Act (2001)

a controversial act after the 9/11 attacks that was attempting to give law enforcement more access to information that could help stop terrorist attacks, like being able to wiretap, access emails, access personal records without letting the owner know, and many other tracking and searching tools that raised questions about the right to privacy