AP Government Unit 7

Affirmative action

A policy designed to remedy past discriminations towards certain groups.

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

Requires employers and public facilities to make reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities and prohibits discrimination against these individuals in employment.

Bill of Attainder

A legislative act that punishes an individual or group without judicial trial.

Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Clear and present danger

A test that became a standard by which to balance national security and freedom of speech.

Civil liberties

The legal constitutional protections against government.

Civil rights

Policies designed to protect people against arbitrary or discriminatory treatment by government officials or individuals.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

The law that made racial discrimination against any group in hotels, motels, and restaurants illegal and forbade many forms of job discrimination.

Commercial speech

Communication in the form of advertising, which can be restricted more than many other types of speech.

Comparable worth

A theory holding that compensation for job classifications filled chiefly by women should be the same as for those classifications filled chiefly by men if the jobs are regarded as having equal value.

Confidentiality

An ethical principle of discretion, as in the case of reporters refusing to cite their sources.

Coverture

A legal doctrine whereby a woman's legal rights are subsumed by those of her husband upon marriage.

De facto

Segregation by circumstances.

De jure

Segregation by law.

Due process clause

Part of the 14th amendment guaranteeing that persons cannot be deprived of life, liberty, or property by the U.S. or state governments without due process of law.

Eminent domain

The power to claim private property for public use.

Entrapment

When law enforcement officials encourage persons to commit crimes that they otherwise would not commit.

Equality of opportunity

A belief that everyone should have the same chance.

Equal protection of the laws

Part of the 14th amendment emphasizing that the laws must provide equivalent protection to all people.

Equal Rights Amendment

A proposed constitutional amendment designed to guarantee equal rights for women, not ratified by the states before the 1982 deadline.

Establishment clause

Part of the 1st amendment stating that 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion'.

Exclusionary rule

The rule that evidence, no matter how incriminating, cannot be introduced into a trial if it was not constitutionally obtained.

Ex Post Facto law

A retroactive criminal law that affects the accused individual's rights.

FCC

Federal Communications Commission; regulates the content, nature, and existence of radio and television broadcasting.

Free exercise clause

Part of the 1st amendment that prohibits government from interfering with the practice of religion.

FTC

Federal Trade Commission; decides what kinds of goods may be advertised and regulates such advertising.

Grandfather clause

A law that exempted certain individuals from new voting restrictions based on their ancestors' voting rights; declared unconstitutional in 1915.

Immunity

Exemption from prosecution in exchange for suspects' testimony regarding their own and others' misdeeds.

Incorporation doctrine

The legal concept under which the Supreme court has made most provisions of the Bill of Rights applicable to the states through the 14th amendment.

Inherently suspect

Laws employing these classifications must be subjected to more strict scrutiny.

Lemon test

A test to determine if a law avoids excessive government entanglement with religion.

Libel

Publication of false or malicious statements that damage someone’s reputation.

Native American Rights Fund

Promotes human rights and educates the public about Indian rights, laws, and issues.

Open Housing Act of 1968

Forbade discrimination in the sale or rental of housing.

Parochial school

A school that provides religious education in addition to conventional education.

Plea bargaining

An agreement in which a defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for a lighter sentence.

Poll taxes

Taxes levied on the right to vote, often used to disenfranchise African Americans.

Prior restraint

Government action that prevents material from being published.

Probable cause

A situation where police have reason to believe that a person should be arrested.

Procedural due process

Protection of rights in civil and criminal proceedings.

Reasonable classification

Classifications that bear a rational relationship to some legitimate governmental purpose.

Reverse discrimination

Unfair treatment of majority groups resulting from preferential policies intended to remedy earlier discrimination against minorities.

Right to privacy

The right to a private personal life free from government intrusion.

School vouchers

Government-provided money to individuals to purchase education at any school, public or private.

Search warrant

A written authorization from a court specifying the area to be searched and what is being searched for.

Secular

Concerned with nonreligious subjects.

Sedition

Incitement of rebellion against a government.

Selective Incorporation

The gradual application of the Bill of Rights to the states.

Self-incrimination

When an accused individual is compelled to testify against themselves in court.

Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions (1848)

Helped pave the way towards the adoption of the 19th amendment.

Shield laws

Laws that protect reporters from revealing their sources.

Slander

Spoken words that are malicious, false, and defamatory.

Substantive due process

Fundamental fairness regarding the vagueness of a law.

Suffrage

Legal right to vote.

Symbolic speech

Nonverbal communication, such as burning a flag.

Title IX of the Education Act of 1972

Forbids gender discrimination in federally subsidized education programs.

Unreasonable searches and seizures

Obtaining evidence in a haphazard manner, prohibited by the 4th amendment.

USA Patriot Act (2001)

Gave the government broad powers for surveillance and investigation of terrorism suspects.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Outlawed discriminatory voting practices responsible for the disenfranchisement of African Americans.

Wall of separation

Jefferson’s reference to the separation of church and state.

White primary

Primary elections in the Southern States that prohibited non-White voters from participating.

Writ of Habeas Corpus

Court order requiring that a government official present a prisoner in court.