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Establishment Clause

1st Amendment clause preventing the government from establishing an official state religion.

Free Exercise Clause

1st Amendment clause guaranteeing the right to practice any religion freely.

Libel

Written defamatory statements that harm a person's reputation.

Slander

Spoken defamatory statements that harm a person's reputation.

Defamatory Speech

False speech intended to damage a person's character (includes libel and slander).

Symbolic Speech

Nonverbal communication or actions that express an idea (protected under 1st Amendment speech).

Prior Restraint

Government censorship of material before it is published or broadcast.

Protest

The right to gather peacefully under the 1st Amendment assembly protections.

Lobbying

Exercising the 1st Amendment right to petition the government to influence policy.

Search Warrant

A legal court order allowing law enforcement to search a location.

Probable Cause

Reasonable grounds or sufficient evidence needed to obtain a search warrant or make an arrest.

Exclusionary Rule

Prevents illegally obtained evidence from being used against a defendant in court.

Arrest Warrant

A court order authorizing law enforcement to take an individual into custody.

Grand Jury

A panel that determines if there is enough evidence to issue a formal indictment to send a case to trial.

Indictment

A formal criminal charge issued by a grand jury.

Double Jeopardy

Being put on trial twice for the exact same crime (prohibited by the 5th Amendment).

Self-Incrimination

Giving testimony that can be used against yourself in court ("pleading the 5th").

Due Process

Fair treatment through the normal judicial system before life, liberty, or property can be taken.

Eminent Domain

The government's power to take private property for public use, provided fair compensation is paid.

Habeas Corpus

A legal order requiring a person under arrest to be brought before a judge ("to have the body") to hear charges.

Subpoena

A legal order compelling a witness to appear and testify in court.

Right to Counsel

The constitutional right to have an attorney represent you in a criminal trial (6th Amendment).

Change of Venue

Moving a trial to a new geographical location to ensure an impartial jury free of local bias.

Unenumerated Rights

Rights retained by the people that are not explicitly listed in the Constitution (9th Amendment).

Reserved Powers

Powers not delegated to the federal government that belong strictly to the states (10th Amendment).

Federalism

The constitutional division of power between the federal government and state governments.