LAW

1st Amendment

Protects freedoms concerning religion, expression, assembly, and the right to petition.

2nd Amendment

Grants the right to keep and bear arms.

4th Amendment

Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures without probable cause or a warrant.

5th Amendment

Protects against self-incrimination and ensures due process of law.

6th Amendment

Guarantees the right to a fair trial and legal representation.

8th Amendment

Prohibits excessive bail, fines, and cruel and unusual punishments.

Establishment Clause

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

Free Exercise Clause

Protects individuals' rights to practice their religion without government interference.

Everson v. Board of Ed.

Established that state-provided transportation to religious schools does not violate the Establishment Clause.

Engel v. Vitale

Ruled that school-sponsored prayer violates the Establishment Clause.

Lemon v. Kurtzman

Created the “excessive entanglement” test to determine if government actions improperly involve religion.

Wisconsin v. Yoder

Held that compulsory school attendance laws violated Amish parents' rights under the Free Exercise Clause.

Time, Place, and Manner Regulations

Allow government to regulate when, where, and how speech occurs, provided restrictions are content-neutral.

Symbolic Speech

Nonverbal actions that express ideas, which can be protected under the First Amendment.

Obscenity (Miller Test)

A three-part test to define obscenity, which is not protected by the First Amendment.

U.S. v. O’Brien

Upheld a conviction for burning draft cards, ruling that the government’s interest in maintaining the draft outweighed free speech rights.

Cohen v. California

Protected offensive speech on clothing as a form of expression under the First Amendment.

Texas v. Johnson

Ruled that flag burning constitutes symbolic speech protected by the First Amendment.

Tinker v. Des Moines

Affirmed that students retain First Amendment rights at school, allowing symbolic speech if it doesn’t disrupt the educational environment.

Bethel School District v. Fraser

Limited student speech in schools if it is lewd or disruptive.

Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier

Allowed schools to regulate school-sponsored publications and speech.

Morse v. Frederick

Held that schools can restrict student speech promoting illegal drug use.

Schenck v. United States

Established that speech presenting a 'clear and present danger' is not protected.

Libel

Defamation through false written statements that harm someone’s reputation.

Prior Restraint

Government action preventing material from being published, typically presumed unconstitutional.

New York Times Co. v. Sullivan

Protected press against libel claims unless statements were made with actual malice.

New York Times Co. v. United States

Ruled that prior restraint could not be used to prevent publication of classified information unless it posed a direct threat to national security.

District of Columbia v. Heller

Affirmed an individual's right to possess firearms unconnected to service in a militia.

Gregg v. Georgia

Reaffirmed the constitutionality of the death penalty under the 8th Amendment.

Probable Cause

Sufficient reason based on facts to believe a crime has been committed.

Warrants

Legal documents authorizing police to conduct a search or seizure.

Katz v. United States

Established that the Fourth Amendment protects people, not just places, regarding privacy.

Kyllo v. United States

Held that using thermal imaging to survey a home constitutes a search under the Fourth Amendment.

Terry v. Ohio

Allowed limited 'stop-and-frisk' searches based on reasonable suspicion.

Mitchell v. Wisconsin

Upholds that law enforcement may take a blood sample from an unconscious driver suspected of DUI without a warrant.

Carpenter v. United States

Held that the government generally needs a warrant to access historical cell phone location records.