Civil Rights and Voting Rights Act Discussion

A collection of vocabulary flashcards based on key concepts discussed in the lecture about civil rights, specifically the Voting Rights Act, its implications, and related legal cases.

Civil Rights

Demands placed on government to act to ensure equitable treatment of individuals, particularly concerning access to fundamental rights.

Disparate Treatment

A situation in which individuals are treated differently based on their group identity, often leading to inequality.

Disparate Impact

Policies that affect one group more harshly than others, regardless of intent; it focuses on outcomes rather than motivations.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Legislation designed to eliminate various forms of discrimination in voting and to ensure equal access to the electoral process.

Section Four Formula

The criteria used to determine which jurisdictions required federal pre-clearance for changes in voting laws, based on historical voting data.

Pre-Clearance

The process mandated by the Voting Rights Act that certain jurisdictions must undergo before changing their voting processes.

Shelby County v. Holder

A Supreme Court case that struck down the coverage formula of the Voting Rights Act, stating it was outdated.

Civil Liberties

Fundamental rights that protect individuals from government overreach, ensuring freedom of expression and action without interference.

Public Accommodation

Places that provide goods or services to the public; laws prohibit discrimination in these spaces based on protected classes.

Masterpiece Cakeshop Case

A significant Supreme Court case involving a bakery owner who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple, raising issues of civil rights and religious freedoms.