apgov unit 3

bills of attainder

bills of attainder

finding a person guilty of a crime without a trial -- prohibited

affirmative action

a policy designed to correct the effects of past discrimination

civil liberties

Constitutional freedoms guaranteed to all citizens

civil rights

positive acts of government designed to prevent discrimination and provide equality before the law

double jeopardy

being tried twice for the same offense

eminent domain

allows the government to take property for public use but also requires the government to provide just compensation for that property

Brown v. Board of Education

Supreme Court decision that ended legal segregation

ex post facto law

laws applied to acts committed before passage of the laws unconstitutional

incorporation

application of portions of the Bill of Rights to the states under the 14th Amendment

Establishment Clause

prohibits establishing a national religion

Free Exercise Clause

congress may not make laws restricting or prohibiting a person's religious practices

exclusionary rule

rule that evidence acquired as a result of an illegal act by police cannot be used against the person from whom it was seized

Equal Protection Clause

constitutional guarantee that everyone be treated equally under the 14th amendment

Lemon Test

standard set by the supreme court to measure the constitutionality of state laws regarding freedom of religion

pure speech

verbal expression before an audience that has chosen to listen

prior restraint

censorship of information before it is published

procedural due process

how the law is carried out according to established rules and procedures

self-incrimination

accusing oneself or giving evidence that may prove oneself guilty

symbolic speech

using actions or symbols rather than words to convey an idea

speech plus

verbal and symbolic speech used together

substantive due process

the policies of government or the subject matter of the laws determining what the law is about and whether the law is fair or if it violates constitutional protections

writ of habeas corpus

requires a judge to evaluate whether there is sufficient cause to keep a person in jail