Civil Rights and Equal Protection Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering core concepts, constitutional amendments, levels of scrutiny, seminal court cases, key legislation, and terminology from the civil rights lecture.

Civil Liberties

Negative rights specifying what the government cannot do to an individual, such as restricting free speech.

Civil Rights

Positive obligations specifying what the government must do to guarantee equal treatment.

Equal Protection Clause

A clause in the 14th Amendment that serves as the primary constitutional anchor for civil rights, prohibiting states from denying any person 'equal protection of the laws'.

13th Amendment

A Reconstruction Amendment that abolished slavery.

14th Amendment

A Reconstruction Amendment that guaranteed citizenship, equal protection, and due process.

15th Amendment

A Reconstruction Amendment that guaranteed voting rights for African American men.

Civil Rights Standards of Review Chart

A summary table of the Supreme Court's three levels of judicial scrutiny (Strict Scrutiny, Intermediate Scrutiny, and Rational Basis Test), outlining applicable classifications and government requirements.

Strict Scrutiny

The judicial scrutiny level applying to race, ethnicity, national origin, and religion; requires serving a compelling state interest using the least restrictive means.

Intermediate Scrutiny

The judicial scrutiny level applying to gender and sex discrimination; requires serving an important government interest.

Rational Basis Test

The judicial scrutiny level applying to age, income, disability, and general classifications; requires being rationally related to a legitimate government goal.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Supreme Court case that established the 'separate but equal' doctrine, legitimizing Jim Crow laws and state-sanctioned racial segregation.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Supreme Court case that overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, ruling that 'separate educational facilities are inherently unequal' under the 14th Amendment.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Major legislation that outlawed racial discrimination in public accommodations, schools, and employment (Title VII).

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Legislation that banned literacy tests and required federal oversight (preclearance) of voting laws in historically discriminatory jurisdictions.

19th Amendment (1920)

Constitutional amendment that granted women the right to vote.

Title IX of the Education Amendments (1972)

Federal provision prohibiting sex discrimination in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)

Proposed constitutional amendment guaranteeing equal legal rights regardless of sex; passed Congress in 1972 but fell short of full state ratification.

Mendez v. Westminster (1947)

Legal case that ended segregation of Mexican American students in California, serving as an important predecessor to Brown.

United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898)

Supreme Court case that established birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment.

Indian Citizenship Act of 1924

Legislation addressing Native American rights and citizenship in the context of tribal sovereignty vs. federal control.

Lawrence v. Texas (2003)

Supreme Court case that decriminalized same-sex relationships.

Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)

Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide under the 14th Amendment.

Bostock v. Clayton County (2020)

Supreme Court decision ruling that Title VII protects gay and transgender employees from workplace discrimination.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990

Civil rights legislation requiring public accommodations and employers to provide reasonable adjustments.

Affirmative Action

Programs designed to overcome past discrimination by extending educational or employment opportunities.

Redlining

Discriminatory housing and lending practice where banks refuse loans in specific geographic areas based on racial demographics.

Gerrymandering

The practice of drawing electoral district boundaries to favor a specific group or political party.