Economic Policy and Civil Rights Overview

Friedrich Hayek

Advocated against government intervention in economy.

The Road to Serfdom

Hayek's book arguing for free-market capitalism.

John Maynard Keynes

Supported government intervention to manage economic cycles.

Aggregate demand

Total demand for goods and services in economy.

Fiscal policy

Government spending and taxes to influence economy.

Monetary policy

Adjusting interest rates to control economic activity.

Federal Reserve

Central bank managing U.S. monetary policy.

Social Security

Insurance program for retirees and disabled, funded by payroll taxes.

Medicare

Health insurance for individuals aged 65 and older.

Medicaid

Health coverage for low-income individuals and families.

New Deal

FDR's programs for relief, recovery, and reform during Great Depression.

Great Society

LBJ's initiatives to eliminate poverty and racial injustice.

Reagan's welfare policy

Shifted focus to economic freedom, reducing federal power.

Block grants

Federal funds given to states for specific purposes.

A Nation at Risk

1983 report criticizing American education standards.

Civil liberties

Individual freedoms protected from government interference.

Civil rights

Legal protections against discrimination and unequal treatment.

Negative rights

Rights limiting government power over individuals.

Positive rights

Rights requiring government action for fair treatment.

Bill of Rights

First ten amendments protecting individual freedoms.

Selective incorporation

Applying Bill of Rights to states via 14th Amendment.

Due Process Clause

14th Amendment clause ensuring legal fairness.

Worker-to-beneficiary ratio

Measure of workers supporting retirees in Social Security.

14th Amendment

Extends federal protections to state governments.

Procedural Due Process

Requires fair government procedures like notice and trial.

Substantive Due Process

Protects fundamental rights like privacy from government interference.

Establishment Clause

Prohibits government from favoring one religion over another.

Free Exercise Clause

Protects individuals' rights to practice religion freely.

Lynch v. Donnelly

Allowed nativity scene due to secular elements.

Kennedy v. Bremerton

Protected coach's voluntary prayer after games.

Engel v. Vitale

Struck down state-composed school prayer as unconstitutional.

Town of Greece v. Galloway

Legislative prayer deemed constitutional, reflecting tradition.

Sherbert v. Vener

Denied unemployment benefits violated Free Exercise rights.

Wisconsin v. Yoder

Amish children can leave school after 8th grade.

Employment Division v. Smith

Neutral laws can restrict religious practices.

Burwell v. Hobby Lobby

Businesses can refuse contraceptive coverage for religious beliefs.

Brandenburg v. Ohio

Hate speech protected unless inciting imminent lawless action.

Tinker v. Des Moines

Student protests protected unless disruptive to school.

Facebook Liking Case

Liking a political post is protected free speech.

Prior Restraint

Government censorship before publication, usually unconstitutional.

Freedom of the Press

Press can publish news criticizing the government.

Pentagon Papers

Ellsberg leaked documents, government attempted to censor publication.

Compelling Interest Test

Standard for limiting religious freedom in legal cases.

Symbolic Speech

Non-verbal expression protected under the First Amendment.

Secular Purpose

Government actions must have non-religious intent.

Legitimate Secular Purpose

Justifies inclusion of religious symbols in public displays.

New York Times v. US

Protected press publishing classified information without prior restraint.

New York Times v. Sullivan

Established 'actual malice' standard for defamation lawsuits.

Second Amendment

Guarantees individual right to keep and bear arms.

McDonald v. Chicago

Incorporated Second Amendment rights to state governments.

New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen

Struck down law requiring 'proper cause' for carrying guns.

Gideon v. Wainwright

Mandated states provide attorneys for indigent defendants.

Miranda v. Arizona

Established Miranda Rights to protect against self-incrimination.

Riley v. California

Police need a warrant to search cell phone data.

Griswold v. Connecticut

Recognized right to privacy regarding contraceptive use.

Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization

Returned abortion regulation authority to the states.

13th Amendment

Abolished slavery in the United States.

14th Amendment

Guaranteed citizenship and equal protection under the law.

15th Amendment

Granted Black men the right to vote.

Plessy v. Ferguson

Upheld racial segregation under 'separate but equal' doctrine.

Brown v. Board of Education

Declared segregated schools inherently unequal, violating equality.

De jure segregation

Segregation enforced by law, such as in schools.

De facto segregation

Segregation occurring in practice, not mandated by law.

1964 Civil Rights Act

Outlawed discrimination in public places and employment.

Protectionism

Justified sex-based discrimination by claiming women's need for protection.

United States v. Virginia

Struck down male-only admissions at Virginia Military Institute.

Stonewall riots

Protest marking the start of the gay rights movement.

Obergefell v. Hodges

Legalized same-sex marriage nationwide under equal protection.

1973 AIM seizure of Wounded Knee

Protest for Native American rights and sovereignty.

1980 Supreme Court ruling on the Black Hills

Ruled U.S. illegally took land from the Sioux.