APGOV Unit 3 Review

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from the Unit 3 Heimler Review Guide, focusing on civil liberties and civil rights.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution, protecting American citizens' liberties from their government.

Civil Liberties

Fundamental rights and freedoms protected by law, such as freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and due process, ensuring individual freedom and equality.

Engle v. Vitale

Supreme Court case ruling against prayer in school, stating it violates the establishment clause of the First Amendment.

Establishment Clause

Prevents the U.S. government from supporting a state-sponsored church.

Free Exercise Clause

Prevents the government from interfering with people’s religious practice.

Selective Incorporation

The process by which the protections outlined in the Bill of Rights are applied to state governments through the 14th Amendment.

Freedom of Speech

Aims to prevent government censorship of many types and forms of speech.

Wisconsin v. Yoder

Supreme Court case ruling that compulsory education laws violated the free exercise clause by preventing Amish children from engaging with their religious heritage.

Tinker v. Des Moines

Supreme Court case ruling that school administrators violated students' freedom of symbolic speech when they were suspended for wearing armbands.

Schenck v. United States

Supreme Court case ruling against Schenck, stating his pamphlets incited unlawful action and posed a “clear and present danger” to American society.

New York Times v. The United States

Supreme Court case ruling that the government's attempt at prior restraint violated freedom of the press because publishing the Pentagon Papers would not create an issue for national security.

McDonald v. Chicago

Supreme Court case ruling that the city of Chicago’s gun laws violated the Second Amendment right of an individual to own a gun.

Fourth Amendment

Protects citizens against unreasonable search and seizures by the government, unless a valid legal warrant has been obtained.

Miranda Rule

Requires an arresting officer to explicitly inform a person of their rights to protect individual liberty.

Exclusionary Rule

Any evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment cannot be used in court.

Public Safety Exception

Allows evidence to be admitted in court even if Miranda rights were not read if an officer is acting in the name of public safety.

Gideon v. Wainwright

Supreme Court case ruling that denying Gideon a lawyer violated the Sixth Amendment right to legal counsel.

Right to Privacy

A contested interpretation of the Bill of Rights; the Court has ruled that a right to privacy, while not explicitly stated, is implicitly present.

Roe v. Wade

Supreme Court case ruling that states denying abortion services violated the right to privacy found in the First, Fourth, Fifth, Ninth, and Fourteenth Amendments.

Civil Rights

Efforts made to ensure civil liberties are applied to all citizens, without discrimination.

Civil Liberties vs Civil Rights

Civil liberties are basic freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution, while civil rights protect individuals from discrimination.

Brown v. Board of Education

Supreme Court case ruling that racial segregation in public schools was inherently unequal, violating the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause.

Affirmative Action

Policies that favor groups who have been historically discriminated against, especially in employment and education.

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke

The Court upheld the constitutionality of affirmative action but placed limitations on its implementation, prohibiting the use of racial quotas in university admissions.

First Amendment

Guarantees freedom of speech, religion, the press, assembly, and the right to petition the government

Fourth Amendment

Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures and recognizes an individual's expectation of privacy

Fifth Amendment

Guarantees protection against self-incrimination, double jeopardy and ensures due process

Sixth Amendment

Right to a speedy and public trial, an impartial jury, to be informed of charges, to confront witnesses, and to legal counsel

Eighth Amendment

Protects against excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishment

Ninth Amendment

Recognizes that individuals have rights beyond those specifically listed in the Constitution

Tenth Amendment

Affirms that powers not given to the federal government are reserved for the states or the people