Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

These flashcards cover key terms, definitions, and concepts related to Civil Liberties and Civil Rights as outlined in the lecture notes.

Civil Liberties

Fundamental individual rights and freedoms protected from government interference.

Civil Rights

Constitutional protections against discrimination based on characteristics such as race, religion, and gender.

The Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, ensuring individual liberties and rights.

SELECTIVE INCORPORATION

The process by which certain rights in the Bill of Rights are applied to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment.

Barron v. Baltimore (1833)

Supreme Court case that ruled the Bill of Rights only restricts the federal government.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Court case ruling that state-sponsored prayer in public schools violates the Establishment Clause.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

Ruling that compelling Amish students to attend school past eighth grade violates the Free Exercise Clause.

First Amendment

Amendment that protects freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and the right to petition the government.

Establishment Clause

Prohibits the government from establishing an official religion or unduly favoring one religion over another.

Free Exercise Clause

Prohibits the government from interfering with the practice of religion.

Schenck v. United States (1919)

Case that established the 'clear and present danger' test for speech restrictions.

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

Supreme Court case affirming students' right to free speech in schools.

Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

Ruled that evidence obtained through illegal searches is inadmissible in state courts.

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

Established the Miranda rights; police must inform suspects of their rights before interrogation.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Court ruling that guarantees the right to counsel for defendants who cannot afford an attorney.

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Supreme Court case that recognized a woman's right to choose to have an abortion as part of the right to privacy.

Equal Protection Clause

Part of the Fourteenth Amendment that mandates equal treatment under the law.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Landmark case that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

Affirmative Action

Policies aimed at increasing opportunities for historically excluded groups in education and employment.

USA Patriot Act

Law enacted after 9/11 that expanded the government's ability to surveil and prevent terrorism.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Legislation that prohibited racial discrimination in voting.

Title IX

Prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or any other education program that receives funding from the federal government.

4th Amendment

Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

5th Amendment

Provides for the rights of individuals in criminal cases, including protection against self-incrimination.

6th Amendment

Guarantees the right to a fair trial, including the right to counsel and an impartial jury.

8th Amendment

Prohibits excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishments.

29th Amendment

Denies the government the right to intervene in matters of personal belief and action.

Due Process Clause

Part of the 14th Amendment that guarantees that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.

Public Safety Exception

Allows police to interrogate suspects without Miranda warnings if public safety is at stake.

Voting Rights

The legal rights guaranteeing individuals the ability to participate in the electoral process.

Civil Rights Movement

Social movements in the 1960s aimed at ending racial discrimination and securing legal equality for African Americans.

Jim Crow Laws

State and local laws that enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States.

LGBTQ+ Rights

Legal and social rights aimed at ensuring equality and nondiscrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Supreme Court case that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the 'separate but equal' doctrine.

Affirmative Action Debate

Discussion on whether programs designed to benefit minorities in education and employment are constitutional.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Hernandez v. Texas (1954)

Case that ruled discrimination against Mexican Americans violated the Fourteenth Amendment.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in public accommodations.

Discrimination

Unjust treatment of different categories of people, often based on race, age, or sex.

Literacy Tests

Tests used to disenfranchise racial minorities by requiring them to prove reading skills before voting.

Poll Taxes

Fees required to vote, which disproportionately impacted low-income populations and minorities.

Grandfather Clause

Law allowing individuals to bypass literacy tests or poll taxes if their grandfathers had been able to vote before the Civil War.

Voting Restrictions

Laws or practices that limit the ability of certain groups to vote.

Social Movements

Collective efforts by groups of people to bring about social change.

Nonviolent Protest

A method of protest against an unjust law that doesn’t involve violence.

Letter from Birmingham Jail

A document by Martin Luther King Jr. advocating for civil rights through nonviolent means.

Equal Employment Opportunities

Policies aimed at providing equal chances for employment regardless of race, gender, or status.

Prisoner's Dilemma

A situation in which two individuals acting in their own self-interests would create a worse outcome than if they cooperated.

Bureaucracy

The administrative system governing any large institution, including government.

Majority Rule

A decision-making principle that the majority's preference holds influence over a minority.

Minority Rights

The rights and protections that individuals in a minority group must enjoy to ensure they are treated equally.

Checks and Balances

System that ensures no branch of government exceeds its power.

Constitutional Amendments

Formal changes to the Constitution that require a specific procedure for adoption.

Judicial Review

The power of courts to examine the constitutionality of legislative acts and executive actions.

Press Freedom

The right to express opinions without censorship or restraint by the government.

Quotas

Specific numerical or percentage targets for minority admission or hire.

Civil Liberties vs Civil Rights

Civil liberties are protections against government, while civil rights involve the government's duty to protect individuals from discrimination.

Federalism

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and various political units.

Supreme Court Case

Legal action that has been heard and decided by the Supreme Court, setting a precedent for future cases.

Due Process Rights

Rights ensuring fair treatment through the normal judicial system.

Social Justice

Justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society.

Judicial Activism

Judicial philosophy that advocates for proactive judicial intervention in social and political issues.

Civil Disobedience

The active, nonviolent refusal to comply with unjust laws as a form of protest.

Constitutional Interpretation

The process by which meanings are assigned to the language of the Constitution.

Disparate Impact

Policies that affect one group more adversely than another, even when the policy appears neutral.

Incorporation Doctrine

Legal doctrine that extends the protections of the Bill of Rights against state laws.

Voting Disenfranchisement

The removal or reduction of the right to vote from individuals or groups.

Cultural Competency

The ability to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with people across cultures.

Public Policy

The principles on which social laws are based.

Government Regulation

Rules established by government to control how businesses can operate in order to protect public interests.