AP Gov Unit 3 Vocabulary

Bill of Rights

Guarantee liberties and rights of the people.

Civil liberties

Those personal freedoms protected from arbitrary governmental interference or deprivations by constitutional gurantee

civil rights

guarantees of equal social opportunities and equal protection under the law, regardless of race, religion, or other personal characteristics

individual liberty

the constitutionally protected freedoms and rights of individuals against arbitrary government interference, encompassing basic freedoms like speech, religion, and the right to due process

infringement

a violation or encroachment upon individual rights or liberties by governmental authorities

constitutional provision

a specific clause or section within the U.S. Constitution that addresses and protects individual rights and liberties, like those outlined in the Bill of Rights

arbitrary

actions or decisions made without regard for reason, fairness, or established rules, often based on whim or personal preference

First amendment

Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly and petition

establishment clause

congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion (1st amendment)

free exercise clause

Prevents governments from stopping religious practices (1st amendment)

wall of separation

Separates state and church

secular

the separation of government and religion

majoritarian

a political theory emphasizing that the preferences of the majority should dominate and guide governance, with the idea that the greatest good for the greatest number should be the primary focus of political action. 

engel v. vitale

School-sponsored prayer violates the establishment clause (1st amendment)

wiscosin v. yoder

requirements that Amish students attend schools past the eighth grade violate the free exercise clause (1st amendment)

compelling state interest

a government purpose so important that it outweighs an individual's constitutional rights, justifying limitations on those rights

tinker v. des moines

Students in public schools are allowed to wear armbands as symbolic speech (1st amendment)

symbolic speech

nonverbal actions that convey a specific message or idea, and are generally protected under the First Amendment as a form of expression

social order

the stable state of society where existing social structures and institutions are accepted and maintained by its members

time, place and manner

regulations that the government can impose on the exercise of First Amendment rights, particularly regarding assembly and free speech, without infringing on those rights

regulations

rules or standards established by the government, particularly those related to how laws are interpreted and applied, or how people's rights and freedoms are protected or limited

defamation

the communication of a false statement that harms the reputation of an individual, business, product, group, or government

libel

a written defamation of another person, meaning a false statement that damages their reputation

slander

defamation that is spoken, or harming someone's reputation by making false statements aloud

obscenity

content considered offensive or indecent, typically involving depictions of sexual acts or nudity, that violates community standards and is not protected by the First Amendment

hate speech

any form of communication that attacks or discriminates against a person or group based on attributes like race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, or gender, often raising questions about the First Amendment and its protections

schench v. united states

Speech representing “a clear and present danger” is not protected (1st amendment)

“clear and present danger” test

allows the government to restrict speech if it poses an immediate threat of causing harm or illegal acts

New york times co. v. united states

The government cannot exercise prior restraint of the press (forbid publication ahead of time)(1st amendment)

prior restraint

government censorship of speech or expression before it occurs

National security

the protection and defense of a nation's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and interests against external and internal threats, encompassing military, economic, and diplomatic dimensions

second amendment

Right to bear arms

right to keep and bear arms

the legal right, guaranteed by the Second Amendment, for individuals to possess and carry weapons, primarily firearms, for personal defense and other lawful purposes

fourth amendment

Protection from unlawful searches and seizures

patriot act

expanding federal law enforcement powers to combat terrorism, including surveillance and detention, while also sparking debate on the balance between national security and civil liberties

USA freedom act

ended the bulk collection of phone records under the Patriot Act, requiring targeted collection with judicial approval, and aimed to strengthen privacy protections while maintaining national security authorities

telecommunication metadata

a piece of legislation that restricts the government's ability to collect and store bulk data about citizens' communications, aiming to protect civil liberties and privacy

eighth amendment

Prevents rule an unusual punishments and excessive bail

cruel and unusual punishment

penalties deemed inhumane, degrading, or excessively harsh, prohibited by the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution

death penalty

the state-sanctioned execution of an individual as punishment for a crime, raising significant legal and ethical questions, especially regarding its constitutional application

selective incorporation

the legal doctrine where the Supreme Court, on a case-by-case basis, applies specific protections from the Bill of Rights to state governments through the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause, ensuring fundamental rights are protected from state infringement

McDonald v. Chicago

the right to keep and bear arms for self defense in one’s home applies to the states. (2nd amendment)

Fourteenth amendment

No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws

fifth amendment

protects individuals from self-incrimination, guarantees due process, and prevents double jeopardy, ensuring fair legal procedures and protecting individual liberties

sixth amendment

guarantees the rights of the accused in criminal prosecutions, including the right to a speedy and public trial, an impartial jury, legal counsel, and the right to confront witnesses

Miranda rule

requires law enforcement to inform suspects of their constitutional rights, including the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney, before custodial interrogation, to protect against self-incrimination

Gideon v. Wainwright

States must provide poor defendants with an attorney to guarantee a fair trial (sixth amendment)

due process rights

no person can be deprived of life, liberty, or property without fair legal procedures and that the government must respect all legal rights owed to a person

public safety exception

allows law enforcement to question a suspect without providing Miranda warnings if there's a reasonable need to protect the public or themselves from immediate danger

right to counsel

the constitutional guarantee, rooted in the Sixth Amendment, that individuals accused of a crime have the right to legal representation, including a state-provided attorney if they cannot afford one

speedy and public trial

the Sixth Amendment right guaranteeing that in all criminal prosecutions, the accused has the right to a trial that occurs without undue delay and is open to the public

impartial jury

a group of jurors who are unbiased and fair, ensuring the accused receives a fair trial, as guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment

exclusionary rule

a legal principle that prevents evidence obtained through illegal searches and seizures (violating the Fourth Amendment) from being used in court against a defendant

writ of habeas corpus

a court order requiring a person holding another in custody to bring the detainee before the court to determine if the detention is lawful

unwarned interrogation

questioning a suspect by law enforcement without first informing them of their Miranda rights

unreasonable search and seizure

a violation of the Fourth Amendment, which protects individuals from government intrusion into their privacy by requiring warrants based on probable cause before searches and seizures can occur

search warrant

a legal document, issued by a judge or magistrate, that authorizes law enforcement to search a specific location for evidence related to a crime, requiring sufficient evidence or probable cause to believe that evidence will be found

right to privacy

protects individuals from unwarranted government intrusion into their personal and private lives

roe v. wade

The right of privacy extends to woman’s decision to have an abortion, through the state has a legitimate interest in protecting the unborn after a certain point and protecting a mothers health. (1st,3rd,4th,5th, and 9th amendment)

due process clause

found in the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, guarantees that the government cannot deprive individuals of life, liberty, or property without following fair and just procedures

equal protection clause

part of the Fourteenth Amendment, mandates that states must treat all individuals within their jurisdiction equally under the law, preventing discrimination

social movement

an organized effort to change laws, policies, or practices by people who do not have the power to effect change through conventional channels

“letter from a Birmingham jail”

a foundational document where Martin Luther King Jr. argues for the necessity of nonviolent direct action to combat injustice and segregation, emphasizing the moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws

civil rights movement

the social and political movement in the 1950s and 1960s that aimed to end racial discrimination and achieve equal rights for African Americans, leading to significant legislative and social changes

women’s rights movement

the social and political efforts advocating for equal rights and opportunities for women, particularly focusing on issues like suffrage, employment, reproductive rights, and legal equality

national organization for women (NOW)

a group of people focused on the common goal of achieving gender equality in social, political, and economic issues

pro life movement

a movement that opposes abortion and advocates for the protection of fetuses, arguing that human life begins at conception and therefore has a right to life

pro choice movement

the advocacy for a woman's right to choose whether or not to have an abortion, emphasizing reproductive autonomy and access to legal abortion services

citizen state interactions

the various ways citizens engage with their state government, including participating in elections, advocating for policies, and interacting with government agencies

brown v. board of education

the Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, overturning the "separate but equal" doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson

the civil rights act of 1964

landmark legislation that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in various aspects of public life, including employment, education, and access to public accommodations

title IX of the education amendments act of 1972

a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance, ensuring equal opportunities for both males and females in all aspects of education

the voting rights act of 1965

Empowered Congress and the federal government to oversee state elections in southern states.

supreme court holding

the final, binding decision or ruling on a legal issue reached by the Court, establishing a new "rule of the case" that will be followed in future similar cases

“separate but equal” doctrine

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), allowed racial segregation in public facilities as long as facilities for different races were considered equal, despite violating the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause

affirmative action

policies and programs designed to promote equal opportunity and diversity in education and employment, often giving special consideration to historically underrepresented groups to address past discrimination

racial classification

the categorization of people based on perceived physical characteristics like skin color, hair texture, and facial features