Key Amendments, Articles, and Important Supreme Court Cases

These flashcards cover essential amendments, articles of the Constitution, and significant Supreme Court cases, providing definitions and summaries for effective review.

1st Amendment

Protects freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.

Amendment Process

The method by which the constitution can be changed or added to through proposal by congress or a convention and approval by the states

2nd Amendment

Guarantees the right to bear arms.

3rd Amendment

Forbids soldiers from being housed in private homes without consent.

4th Amendment

Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

5th Amendment

Ensures due process and protects against self-incrimination and double jeopardy.

6th Amendment

Guarantees a speedy, public trial with an impartial jury and legal counsel.

7th Amendment

Grants the right to a jury trial in civil cases.

8th Amendment

Forbids excessive bail and cruel or unusual punishment.

9th Amendment

States that rights not listed in the Constitution still belong to the people.

10th Amendment

Reserves powers not given to the federal government for the states and people.

11th Amendment

Limits lawsuits against states in federal courts.

12th Amendment

Establishes separate ballots for president and vice president.

13th Amendment

Abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude.

14th Amendment

Grants citizenship and equal protection under the law.

15th Amendment

Gives voting rights regardless of race or color.

16th Amendment

Authorizes the federal income tax.

17th Amendment

Allows direct election of U.S. senators by voters.

18th Amendment

Banned the making and sale of alcohol (Prohibition).

19th Amendment

Grants women the right to vote.

20th Amendment

Sets new start dates for presidential and congressional terms.

21st Amendment

Repeals Prohibition (the 18th Amendment).

22nd Amendment

Limits the president to two terms.

23rd Amendment

Gives Washington, D.C. residents the right to vote for president.

24th Amendment

Bans poll taxes in federal elections.

25th Amendment

Defines presidential succession and disability procedures.

26th Amendment

Lowers the voting age to 18.

27th Amendment

Prevents congressional pay raises from taking effect until after an election.

Article I

Establishes the legislative branch (Congress) and its powers.

Article II

Creates the executive branch and defines presidential powers.

Article III

Establishes the judicial branch and the Supreme Court.

Article IV

Explains state powers and relations with the federal government.

Article V

Describes the process to amend the Constitution.

Article VI

Declares the Constitution the supreme law of the land.

Article VII

Explains how the Constitution was ratified.

Commerce Clause

Gives Congress power to regulate trade between states and nations.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Allows Congress to make laws needed to carry out its powers.

Articles of Confederation

The first weak U.S. government before the Constitution.

Declaration of Independence

Announced America’s separation from Britain and listed grievances.

Baker v. Carr

Allowed federal courts to hear redistricting cases ('one person, one vote').

Brown v. Board of Education

Ended racial segregation in public schools.

Citizens United v. FEC

Allowed unlimited corporate spending in elections.

Engel v. Vitale

Banned official school prayers.

Gideon v. Wainwright

Guaranteed the right to a lawyer in criminal cases.

Marbury v. Madison

Established judicial review.

McCulloch v. Maryland

Upheld national bank and federal power over states.

McDonald v. Chicago

Applied the 2nd Amendment to the states.

New York Times Co. v. United States

Protected press freedom to publish classified info (Pentagon Papers).

Roe v. Wade

Recognized women’s right to choose abortion (later overturned).

Schenck v. United States

Limited speech that causes 'clear and present danger.'

Shaw v. Reno

Ruled racial gerrymandering unconstitutional.

Tinker v. Des Moines

Protected student free speech in schools.

U.S. v. Lopez

Limited Congress’s use of the Commerce Clause.

Wisconsin v. Yoder

Allowed Amish families to avoid compulsory schooling for religious reasons.

Connecticut (Great) Compromise

Created a two-house Congress: Senate and House.

Federalist 10

Warned against factions and supported a large republic.

Federalist 51

Explained checks and balances and separation of powers.

Federalist 70

Argued for a single, strong executive (president).

Federalist 78

Explained the importance of an independent judiciary.

Letter from Birmingham Jail (MLK)

Defended civil disobedience against unjust laws.

New Jersey Plan

Proposed equal representation for all states.

Virginia Plan

Proposed representation based on population.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Counted enslaved people as 3/5 of a person for representation.

Brutus 1

An anti-federalist essay, warning that a strong central government would overpower the states and threaten individual freedoms