Unit 5 Civil Rights & Liberties

Equal Protection Clause

14th amendment clause that prohibits states from denying equal protection under the law, and has been used to combat discrimination

Due Process

constitutional rights even if the person is accused of a crime

Probable Cause

reasonable cause for issuing a search warrant or making an arrest; more than mere suspicion

Free Exercise Clause

A First Amendment provision that prohibits government from interfering with the practice of religion.

Establishment Clause

Clause in the First Amendment that says the government may not establish an official religion.

Exclusionary Rule

a law that prohibits the use of illegally obtained evidence in a criminal trial.

TLO v. New Jersey

Concluded school administrators could search a student without their permission or a warrant just reasonable suspicion

Affirmative Action

the policy of employers and admissions officers taking race into consideration when accepting applicants in an attempt to increase minority participation and reduce historical inequity.

Slander

the action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation.

Libel

a published false statement that is damaging to a person's reputation; a written defamation.

Fighting Words

provokes or results in violence.

Selective Incorporation

The process by which court cases that apply the Bill of Rights to states

Tinker v. Des Moines

U.S. Supreme Court case that upheld a student's First Amendment right to engage in symbolic speech in school

Mapp v. Ohio

Established the exclusionary rule was applicable to the states (evidence seized illegally cannot be used in court)

Gideon v. Wainwright

A person who cannot afford an attorney may have one appointed by the courts

Plessy v. Ferguson

"separate but equal" doctrine supreme court upheld the constitutionally of jim crow laws

Brown v. BOE

overturned Plessy v. Ferguson ; the Supreme court decided that "separate but equal" public schools was unconstitutional.

Miranda v. Arizona

Supreme Court held that criminal suspects must be informed of their right to consult with an attorney and of their right against self-incrimination prior to questioning by police.