AP Gov Unit 3 Vocab

1st Amendment

Protects freedom of religion, press, speech, petition the government, and assembly.

2nd Amendment

Protects the right to bear arms, allowing states/cities to impose restrictions but not an outright ban on gun ownership.

3rd Amendment

Prohibits the government from quartering soldiers in homes during peacetime without the owner's consent.

4th Amendment

Protects citizens against unreasonable searches and seizures and requires probable cause for a warrant.

5th Amendment

Ensures due process of law, protects against self-incrimination and double jeopardy.

6th Amendment

Guarantees the right to an attorney, be informed of charges, confront witnesses, and have a speedy public trial.

8th Amendment

Forbids cruel and unusual punishment and bans excessive fines and bail.

9th Amendment

Indicates that the enumeration of certain rights in the Constitution does not deny or disparage others retained by the people.

13th Amendment

Abolished slavery in the United States.

14th Amendment

Grants citizenship to all born in the U.S. and guarantees equal protection and due process under the law.

15th Amendment

Prohibits the denial of suffrage based on race.

19th Amendment

Grants women the right to vote.

17th Amendment

Establishes the direct election of U.S. Senators.

23rd Amendment

Gives residents of Washington D.C. the right to vote in presidential elections.

24th Amendment

Prohibits poll taxes in federal elections.

26th Amendment

Guarantees the right to vote for citizens aged 18 or older.

Affirmative Action

Policy to remedy past discrimination by giving preference to historically discriminated groups, overturned by the Supreme Court in 2023.

Americans with Disabilities Act

1990 law requiring reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and prohibiting discrimination.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution protecting individual liberties.

Civil Liberties

Legal protections against government infringement on political and criminal rights.

Civil Rights

Policies designed to protect individuals against arbitrary or discriminatory treatment.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

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

Clear and Present Danger Test

Legal standard for restricting speech that poses an imminent threat.

Commercial Speech

Communication in advertising; less protected than political speech.

Cruel and unusual punishment

Defined by the 8th Amendment as punishment that is grossly disproportionate to the offense.

Defamation

False statements harming someone's reputation; includes spoken (slander) and written (libel) statements.

Equal Protection of the Laws

Mandated by the 14th Amendment, requiring equitable treatment by the law for all individuals.

Equal Rights Amendment

Proposed amendment for gender equality under the law; never ratified.

Establishment Clause

1st Amendment clause forbidding Congress from establishing an official religion.

Free Exercise Clause

1st Amendment clause guaranteeing the right to practice religion, though not absolute.

Free Expression

Term used to describe freedom of speech, not explicitly stated in the Constitution.

Grandfather Clause

Allowed individuals to vote if their grandfathers could, often excluded Black voters.

Incorporation Doctrine

Concept that applies the Bill of Rights to the states via the 14th Amendment.

Literacy tests

Banned by the Voting Rights Act of 1965, these were used to disenfranchise voters, particularly Blacks.

Miranda Warnings

Warnings police must provide to suspects regarding their rights before questioning.

Plea Bargaining

Negotiation where a defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge to avoid trial.

Political Speech

Speech protected by the 1st Amendment, crucial for democratic discourse.

Poll Taxes

Fees imposed on voting which disproportionately affected poor and Black voters.

Prior restraint

Government action preventing material from being published, typically scrutinized under the 1st Amendment.

Probable cause

Standard required for law enforcement to make arrests or obtain search warrants.

Right of Privacy

An inferred right protecting personal choices, including birth control and relationships.

Search Warrant

Court authorization for law enforcement to search a specified location.

Selective Incorporation

A process whereby rights in the Bill of Rights are applied to states on a case-by-case basis.

Strict Scrutiny

The highest standard of judicial review for classification based on race.

Symbolic Speech

Non-verbal communication expressing political views.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Legislation aimed at eliminating barriers to voting for racial minorities.

White Primary

A practice allowing only White citizens to vote in primary elections.