Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

What justified the former colonists' independence from Great Britain?

The British government violated their rights and liberties by imposing excessive restrictions.

Which political branch is most active in preserving rights and liberties?

The judicial branch.

What right did the Supreme Court infer that is implied in the Fourth, Fifth, and Ninth Amendments?

The right to privacy.

What did the Thirteenth Amendment accomplish?

It prohibited slavery and involuntary servitude.

What does the Fourteenth Amendment guarantee?

Equal protection of the laws and extends civil rights to more citizens.

What principle did Plessy v. Ferguson uphold?

The 'separate but equal' principle.

What did Brown v. Board of Education rule regarding educational facilities?

It ruled that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.

What major event occurred in Little Rock, Arkansas in relation to school desegregation?

Governor Orval Faubus mobilized the National Guard to prevent black students from entering the local high school.

What act outlaws discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, and later sexuality?

The Civil Rights Act of 1964.

What does the Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibit?

It prohibits racial discrimination at the polls.

What is the main focus of civil rights?

Protections by the government determining participation and representation in decision-making.

What are two general principles of civil rights?

1. Civil rights ought to be universal. 2. Civil rights ought to be equal.

What major impact did the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) have?

It prohibited discrimination based on disability and provided necessary accommodations.

What does Roe v. Wade establish regarding women's rights?

A woman's access to abortion during the first trimester of pregnancy.

What significant ruling did Obergefell v. Hodges achieve for LGBTQ+ rights?

It ruled that prohibitions on same-sex marriages violate the 14th Amendment's equal protection under the law.

What does the Bill of Rights ensure?

Protections against government infringement of individual civil liberties.

How does the First Amendment protect freedoms?

It guarantees freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.

What criteria is applied to political speech in legal challenges?

It is subjected to strict scrutiny.

What principle protects individuals from self-incrimination?

The Fifth Amendment's provision against self-incrimination.

What does the Fourth Amendment protect citizens from?

Unreasonable searches and seizures.

What is the exclusionary rule established in Mapp v. Ohio?

It requires courts to exclude evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment.

What does Amendment VI establish regarding criminal proceedings?

The right to a speedy and public trial and the right to counsel.

What does the Eighth Amendment prohibit?

Excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishment.

What is selective incorporation?

The one-by-one application of the Bill of Rights to the states.

What does Amendment XIII accomplish?

It ended slavery except for punishment of a duly convicted criminal.

What does Amendment XIV guarantee?

Citizenship and due process to former enslaved individuals.

What did the Voting Rights Act of 1965 actualize?

The provisions of the Fifteenth Amendment regarding voting rights.

What case determined the principle of dual citizenship?

Barron v. Baltimore.

What is the right established concerning searches of digital content on a phone?

Police cannot search a cell phone without a warrant (Riley v. California).

What was the major implication of Korematsu v. United States?

It upheld the relocation of Japanese Americans during WWII.

What does Amendment VIII state about punishment?

It prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.

How does the First Amendment apply to student speech?

It applies to schools as long as it does not interfere with the educational process.

What issue arises from the enforcement of immigration laws?

Civil rights for immigrants often depend on the power dynamics in society.

What significant change for voting was made by the Twenty-fourth Amendment?

It outlawed poll taxes that restricted suffrage.

What does 'affirmative action' aim to achieve?

To overcome the consequences of past discrimination and encourage diversity.

What are two types of scrutiny used by the Supreme Court in discrimination cases?

Strict scrutiny and intermediate scrutiny.

What principle ensures that citizens cannot be tried for the same crime twice?

Double jeopardy.

What was the outcome of Dobbs v. Jackson concerning abortion rights?

It overturned Roe v. Wade and returned laws on abortion to state control.