Lecture Notes: Race, Citizenship, and Immigration Law (Pages 1–2)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms related to race, birthright citizenship, and immigration law from the lecture notes.

One Drop Rule

Racial classification that any amount of African ancestry could label a person as Black; historically used to label individuals on birth certificates (e.g., in Louisiana).

Susie Phipps

Louisiana woman whose birth certificate labeled her 'colored' under the One Drop Rule; her case prompted changes in 1983 allowing parents to choose a child’s race on birth certificates.

Jus soli

Right of soil; birthright citizenship based on being born within a country.

Jus sanguinis

Right of blood; citizenship based on having one or both parents who are citizens.

3/5 Compromise

Constitutional clause counting enslaved people as 3/5 of a person for purposes of representation in the House.

1808 Importation Ban

Congress banned the importation of slaves from Africa in 1808; smuggling continued and the domestic slave trade persisted.

Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)

Supreme Court ruling that Black Americans, free or enslaved, were not citizens and could not sue in federal courts; case involved Dred Scott’s residency in Minnesota Territory.

13th Amendment

Ratified in 1865; abolished slavery in the United States.

14th Amendment

Ratified in 1868; established birthright citizenship and guaranteed equal protection and due process under the law.

Missouri Compromise (1820)

Federal law regulating slavery in new territories, prohibiting slavery north of a designated line and permitting it in Missouri.

Wong Kim Ark v. United States (1898)

Supreme Court held that a person born in the U.S. to Chinese immigrant parents is a U.S. citizen and subject to U.S. jurisdiction, with the right to re-enter after travel abroad.

Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)

First broad federal immigration law; barred immigration of Chinese nationals and prevented Chinese immigrants from becoming naturalized citizens.

Diversity jurisdiction

Federal courts can hear cases between citizens of different states.