AP Gov U3 Vocab

Civil Liberties

fundamental rights and freedoms protected from infringement by the government

Civil Rights

protections from discrimination as a member of a particular group

bill of rights

a list of fundamental rights and freedoms that individuals possess. first 10 amendments of the Constitution

due process clause

no state can deny a person life, liberty or property without due process of law

selective incorporation

ensures that states cannot make laws that infringe or take away the constitutional rights of citizens

establishment clause

protection against the government requiring citizens to join or support a religion

free exercise clause

protection of the rights of individuals to exercise and express their religious beliefs

freedom of expression

a fundamental right affirmed in the First Amendment to speak, publish and peacefully protest.

Clear and Present danger test

The legal standard that speech posing an immediate and serious threat to national security is not protected by the first amendment.

prior restraint

the suppression of material prior to publication on the grounds that it might endanger national security.

symbolic speech

protected expression in the form of images, signs and other symbols.

libel

an untrue written statement that injures a person’s reputation

slander

an untrue spoken expression that injures a person’s reputation.

ex post facto laws

laws criminalizing conduct that was legal at the time it occurred. Can’t be punished for something if it wasn’t illegal when you did it.

bill of attainder

a law passed by Congress punishing an individual without trial.

writ of habeas corpus

A document setting out reasons for an arrest or detention.

double jeopardy

protects an individual acquitted of a crime from being charged with the same crime again in the same jurisdiction.

miranda rights

The right to remain silent and to have an attorney present during questioning. These rights must be given by police to individuals suspected of criminal activity.

13th amendment

prohibited slavery

14th amendment

granted citizenship to people born in the US

equal protection clause

has been used to protect civil rights of Americans from discrimination based on race, national origin, religion, gender, and other characteristics.

15th amendment

granted the right to vote to male African Americans.

separate but equal

Ruled segregation was legal as long as facilities were separate but equal.

legal segregation

separation by law of individuals based on race.

de jure segregation

Racial segregation that is required by law.

de facto segregation

separation of individuals based on characteristics that arise not by law but because of other factors such as residential housing patterns.

affirmative action

a policy designed to address the consequences of previous discrimination by providing special consideration to individuals based upon their characteristics, such as race and gender.

civil rights act of 1964

legislation outlawing racial segregation in public places and authorized the attorney general to sue individual school districts that failed to desegregate.

voting rights act of 1965

legislation outlawing literacy tests and authoring the Justice Department to send federal officers to register voters in areas with a history of voter discrimination.

19th amendment

gave women the right to vote

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

legislation prohibiting sex discrimination in schools receiving federal aid.