GOVT 2306 Exam 2

Griswold v Connecticut

Established the right to privacy.

Habeas corpus

Refers to an order by a judge for a person in custody to appear in court for an explanation of why he is being held.

Lemon test

Parts include: does the practice advance or inhibit religion? Does the practice have a secular legislative purpose? Does the practice foster an excessive government entanglement with religion?

Fighting words

Speech that directly incites damaging conduct.

Prior restraint

Government efforts to block the publication of material.

Speech plus/symbolic speech

Speech accompanied by actions such as protesting.

Fifth Amendment

Protection from self-incrimination, right to a grand jury, protection from double jeopardy.

Civil Rights

Guarantees of equal opportunity and protection for all citizens. Students' rights to attend desegregated schools.

Civil Liberties

Limitations on what government can do. Protection from government infringement upon an individual's right to burn the American flag in protest.

19th Amendment

Formally guaranteed all women in the US the right to vote.

14th Amendment

Important for both civil rights and liberties. Due process clause lays legal framework that requires federal government intervention to prevent discrimination. Equal protection from the law clause.

Sexual harassment laws

Court developed most of the laws on sexual harassment from Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, identifying two forms of harassment: quid pro quo and hostile environment.

Brown v Board of Education

Overturned Plessy v Ferguson and declared that 'separate but equal are inherently unequal'.

Services and protections to unauthorized immigrants

Access to K-12 education, access to emergency medical care.

De jure

Legally enforced practice of segregation.

De facto

Segregation that occurs by practices that aren't legally mandated.

13th Amendment

Abolition of slavery.

15th Amendment

Right to vote to men of all races. Prohibited denying the right to vote on the basis of race.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990

Called for making all public businesses accessible to those with disabilities. Prohibited discrimination in employment, housing, and healthcare.

Shelby v Holder

States previously required to get preclearance for changes to their voting laws are no longer required to do so.

Weakened federal oversight

Federal oversight over state election law changes has been reduced, but plaintiffs can still challenge discriminatory voting practices under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

Receive-Accept-Sample (RAS) model

A model of public opinion that explains how individuals receive, accept, and sample information to form their opinions.

Role of media in democracy

The media informs the public about current political issues, monitors government and politicians for wrongdoing, and provides a forum for political debate.

Alarm mode media coverage

Media coverage characterized by breaking news of major events or scandals, such as a reporter receiving leaked information about a political scandal.

26th amendment

An amendment that lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.

Jeffersonian Republicans

A political group that advocates for free trade and the promotion of agricultural interests.

Federalists

A political group that supported the creation of a national bank and protective tariffs.

3 fundamental problems of democracy

Political parties solve the problems of mobilizing voters, accomplishing legislative goals, and regulating the number of people seeking office.

Partisan polarization

The increasing ideological divide where Republicans become more conservative and Democrats more liberal, leading to fewer moderates in office and increased legislative gridlock.

Dixiecrats

A segregationist political party formed in 1948 that strongly advocated for states' rights.

La Raza Unida

A political party formed in Texas to address the concerns of Mexican Americans.

Libertarian Party

A political party that supports limited government and advocates fiscally conservative and socially liberal policies.

Roles and Structure of Political Parties in Texas

Political parties in Texas have local and state levels, with conventions occurring every two years to select delegates and vote on party platforms.

Barriers to Third-Party Success

Plurality voting discourages votes for third-party candidates, and ballot access rules favor major parties.

History as a One-Party State

Texas was a Democratic stronghold until the mid-1990s, with a shift to Republican dominance solidified during the Reagan era.

Texas Party Politics Today

The Republican Party is divided between the Tea Party and moderates, while the Democratic Party struggles with mobilization and organization.

Democratic Party Struggles

The Democratic Party faces challenges in mobilization, organization, and staffing, despite receiving funding.

Demographics and Political Shifts

Urban areas in Texas lean Democratic, with younger, affluent, progressive individuals moving to cities.

Political co-location

The tendency for conservatives and liberals to live near like-minded individuals.