Key Terms from U.S. Government and Constitutional Rights

This set of flashcards contains key vocabulary and definitions related to the U.S. government, the Constitution, and citizens' rights.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the United States Constitution that guarantee individual rights.

Civil Disobedience

The active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of a government, often through nonviolent resistance.

Petition

A formally drawn request addressed to authority, often signed by many people.

Clear and Present Danger

The standard set by the Supreme Court for determining when speech can be limited.

Jury Duty

The civic duty of a citizen to serve on a jury in a court trial.

Petit Jury

The trial jury used in both civil and criminal cases.

Grand Jury

A jury that determines if there is enough evidence for a trial, only in criminal cases.

Reverse Discrimination

Unfair treatment of majority groups resulting from policies intended to help minorities.

Affirmative Action

Policies encouraging the increased representation of women and minority groups in employment.

Quotas

Rules requiring certain numbers of jobs or promotions for specific groups.

Reconstruction Era

The period in U.S. history after the Civil War focused on transforming the Southern states.

Infringement

A breach or violation of a law.

Tariffs

Taxes imposed by a government on imported goods.

Populist

A member of a political party that claims to represent the common people, formed in 1891.

Progressives

Individuals who believed in government action to address social problems caused by industrialization and urbanization.

Prohibition

The act of forbidding something, specifically the prohibition of alcohol in the U.S.

Suffrage

The right to vote in political elections.

Poll Tax

A tax required to be paid before one can vote in elections.

Jim Crow

State laws that enforced racial segregation, primarily against African Americans.

Electoral College

A group of representatives chosen by each state to formally elect the President and Vice President.

Lame Duck

An elected official whose term is about to end and who is not reelected.

Chisholm v. Georgia (1793)

A Supreme Court case that established that no state can be sued in federal court by a citizen of another state.

Volstead Act

The law passed to enforce the 18th Amendment, establishing Prohibition.

Due Process

The requirement that government must respect all legal rights of a person and follow established rules.