Civil Liberties and Rights

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to civil liberties and rights as outlined in the lecture.

Civil Rights

Assurances of equality that the government is legally required to provide its citizens.

Civil Liberties

Individual freedoms protected by the U.S. Constitution, primarily in the Bill of Rights.

Equal Protection Clause

Part of the Fourteenth Amendment that guarantees citizens equal protection under the law.

Due Process Clause

A constitutional guarantee that a law shall not be unfair, arbitrary, or unreasonable.

The Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution which outline the civil liberties of United States citizens.

Judicial Review

The power of federal courts to review acts of Congress and the President for constitutionality.

Selective Incorporation

The process by which certain protections in the Bill of Rights are applied to state governments through the Fourteenth Amendment.

Exclusionary Rule

A legal rule that prohibits the use of illegally obtained evidence in a court of law.

Hate Speech

Speech or actions that express hatred towards particular individuals or groups, protected unless it incites imminent violence.

Compelling Interest

A legal standard used by courts to determine whether a government's interest justifies limiting individual rights.