Civil Rights, Liberties, and Political Participation Lecture Notes

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering civil rights, civil liberties, constitutional amendments, political participation, and public opinion based on lecture notes.

Civil Liberties

Individual freedoms found in the Bill of Rights (BoR), such as freedom of speech.

Civil Rights

Protections ensuring equal treatment and preventing discrimination for groups of people, such as in education.

Voter Registration

A requirement established to help maintain accurate lists of eligible voters, prevent fraud, and ensure that individuals meet eligibility requirements before voting.

14th Amendment

Constitutional amendment establishing due process and equal protection across gender, race, and disability, under which the government takes action if violated.

Proportional Representation

An electoral system in which political parties receive seats in a legislature in proportion to the percentage of votes they receive (e.g., $50\%$ votes equals $50\%$ seats).

19th Amendment

Amendment ratified in the 20th century that granted women the right to vote, leading to women holding political office.

Brown vs Board

A landmark case centered on the 14th Amendment's guarantee of equal protection.

Reasonable Basis Test

A legal standard where inequalities are permitted when they are reasonably related to a legitimate government interest.

Strict Scrutiny

A standard of judicial review that presumes a law is unconstitutional unless the government can demonstrate a compelling basis for it.

Party ID

Emotional loyalty to a political party.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Legislation passed to eliminate racial discrimination in voting and ensure that all citizens have the right to vote.

Public Opinion

The collection of beliefs, attitudes, and views held by the general public about political issues, policies, leaders, and events (what most people think or feel about a particular issue).

Bussing

A policy practice noted as having led back to segregation.

Federalists (Hamilton)

One of the first political parties, associated with Alexander Hamilton, which believed in strengthening the federal government.

Jeffersonian Platform

The political faction led by Thomas Jefferson that focused on farmers and states' rights.

Sample

A set of individuals selected from a larger group of individuals.

1 Cause for Party Organization

Television (TV), followed secondarily by political campaigns.

Voter Turnout Factors in the US

Voter turnout in the United States is low due to registration requirements and short voting time, with lower turnout specifically observed among young voters and lower-income people.