Judiciary and Constitutional Rights Review

Flashcards designed to help students review key terms and concepts related to the U.S. Judiciary and constitutional rights.

Judicial Review

The power of the Supreme Court to declare laws and actions of local, state, or national governments invalid if they conflict with the Constitution.

Judicial Restraint

A philosophy that judges should limit their exercise of power to striking down laws unless they are clearly unconstitutional.

Judicial Activism

A philosophy that judges can and should creatively interpret laws and the Constitution to promote social goals.

Article III

The section of the U.S. Constitution that establishes the judicial branch of the federal government.

Supreme Court

The highest federal court in the United States, specifically created by the U.S. Constitution to interpret the law.

Entry Ticket

A prompt or question given to students at the beginning of a class to engage their thinking about the lesson topic.

The First Amendment

Part of the Bill of Rights that protects freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.

4th Amendment

Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures; requires warrants to be judicially sanctioned and supported by probable cause.

Gideon v. Wainwright

A landmark Supreme Court case that ruled states are required to provide legal counsel to defendants who cannot afford an attorney.

Miranda Rights

The rights of a person taken into police custody to be informed of their rights to an attorney and against self-incrimination.