GOV class defintions

Civil liberties

Freedoms protected from government interference.

Bill of Rights

First ten amendments protecting individual freedoms.

First Amendment

Protects religion speech

Fourteenth Amendment

Guarantees citizenship due process

Due process clause

Government must follow fair legal procedures.

Incorporation doctrine

Applies most Bill of Rights protections to states.

Establishment clause

Government cannot establish an official religion.

Free exercise clause

Protects religious practice.

Prior restraint

Government censorship before publication.

Libel

False written statement that damages someone's reputation.

Symbolic speech

Actions that express an idea.

Commercial speech

Speech that promotes products or services.

Probable cause

Reasonable basis to believe a crime occurred or evidence exists.

Unreasonable searches and seizures

Searches or seizures that violate Fourth Amendment protections.

Search warrant

Court order authorizing a search.

Exclusionary rule

Illegally obtained evidence generally cannot be used in court.

Fifth Amendment

Protects against self-incrimination and double jeopardy; guarantees due process.

Self-incrimination.

Being forced to provide evidence against yourself

Sixth Amendment

Protects the rights of people accused of crimes.

Plea bargaining

Agreement to plead guilty for a negotiated outcome.

Eighth Amendment

Prohibits excessive bail and fines and cruel and unusual punishment.

Cruel and unusual punishment

Punishment forbidden by the Eighth Amendment.

Right to privacy

Protection for certain personal decisions from government interference.