Gov unit 2

civil liberties

basic freedoms to think and act that all people have and are protected from government abuse [1].

civil rights

rights of fair and equal status and treatment, as well as the right to participate in government [1].

due process

requirement that the government act fairly and reasonably in accordance with established legal procedures before depriving a person of life, liberty, or property [2-4].

establishment clause

declaration in the First Amendment that the government cannot take actions to create an official religion or support one religion over another [5].

free exercise clause

guarantee that each person has the right to hold any religious beliefs they choose [6].

incorporation doctrine

the legal doctrine holding that certain protections are essential to due process, meaning state and local governments cannot deny those Bill of Rights protections to the people [7].

libel

defamation consisting of false statements in print that harm another person [8].

prior restraint

government action that seeks to prevent materials from being published [9].

sedition

legal term for speech or actions that inspire revolt against the government [10].

slander

a spoken defamatory statement [8].

symbolic speech

the communication of ideas through symbols or actions, such as wearing armbands or burning a flag [11].

treason

the crime of making war against the United States or giving "aid and comfort" to its enemies [10].

bail

money pledged by an accused person as a guarantee that they will return for their trial [12].

capital punishment

punishment by death, which is considered the most severe sentence in the justice system [12, 13].

civil law

area of law covering private disputes between people over matters such as property, contracts, and relationships [14].

criminal law

the system for dealing with crimes and their punishments [14].

double jeopardy

protection ensuring that no person can be made to stand trial twice for the same offense [15, 16].

exclusionary rule

the rule that evidence obtained illegally by authorities may not be used against a person in court [17].

Search warrant

a legal document giving police the authority to search private property after proving probable cause to a judge [17].