AP Government Unit 3 Facts and Terms

Civil Liberties

protections from the government

Bill of Rights

First 10 amendments in the constitution

1st Amendment

includes freedom of religion, assembly, petition, press, and speech

14th Amendment

gave former slaves citizenship, also due process and equal clause

Gitlow v. New York

first case establishing selective incorporation

Due Process Clause

part of the 14th Amendment establishing incorporation

Incorporation Doctrine

Bill of Rights applies to the states

Establishment Clause

separation of church and state

Obscenity

not protected speech

Free Exercise Clause

the right to practice one's religion

Prior Restraint

government cannot stop publication beforehand

Libel

written lie that causes damage

Symbolic Speech

includes burning the flag in protest

Commercial Speech

business-related expression often involving spending money

Exclusionary Rule

illegally obtained evidence cannot be used in trial

Self-incrimination

confessing information that harms oneself; protected by the 5th Amendment

Plea Bargaining

defendant pleads guilty to a lesser crime to avoid harsher punishment

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

prohibited by the 8th Amendment

Right to Privacy

implied right foundational in Roe v. Wade

Equal Protection Clause

only place in the Constitution where “equal” appears

Civil Rights

protections for groups historically denied liberties

Scott v. Sandford

slaves are property

13th Amendment

abolished slavery

Plessy v. Ferguson

established “separate but equal”

Brown v. Board

“separate but equal” is inherently unequal

Civil Rights Act of 1964

banned discrimination in public accommodations

Suffrage

the right to vote

15th Amendment

allowed people of color to vote

Poll Tax

fee used to prevent Black Americans from voting

24th Amendment

abolished poll taxes

Voting Rights Act of 1965

federal oversight to prevent racial discrimination in voting

Korematsu v. US

upheld internment of Japanese Americans during WWII

19th Amendment

women’s suffrage

Equal Rights Amendment

failed amendment seeking gender equality

Reed v. Reed

established medium scrutiny for gender discrimination

Americans with Disabilities Act

requires reasonable access for disabled Americans

Affirmative Action

policies aiming for equality of outcome

Sexual Harassment

creating a hostile work environment

Quota

predetermined number of a group admitted

Comparable Worth

argument that pink‑collar jobs should be paid equally to blue‑collar jobs