Civil Rights and Liberties, Judicial Branch, Due Process, and Events

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms and concepts related to civil rights, the judicial system, due process, and significant historical events.

De facto segregation

Segregation by habits, not laws

De jure segregation

Segregation by law

Affirmative action

Helps groups who faced past discrimination

Civil Rights Act (1964)

Banned race discrimination in public places

Voting Rights Act (1965)

Banned literacy tests, helped people vote

Title IX

Banned sex discrimination in schools with federal money

Protective class

Minority groups the courts protect

Strict scrutiny

Law must have a really good reason to treat people differently

Incorporation

Bill of Rights applies to states too

Selective incorporation

Applies BoR piece-by-piece to states

Civil rights

Protections from discrimination

Civil liberties

Rights from government abuse (like speech, religion)

Judiciary Act of 1789

Created the court system

Writ of certiorari

Request for SCOTUS to hear a case

Basic judicial requirement

Must have jurisdiction to hear a case

Rule of 4

4/9 justices must agree to take a SCOTUS case

State trial court

Where cases start in the state

Federal district courts

Lowest federal courts (original jurisdiction)

Federal court of appeals

Mid-level courts (handle appeals)

Senatorial courtesy

President checks with state senators before nominating lower court judges

Stare decisis

"Let it stand" (follow past rulings)

Precedent

Earlier ruling guides future ones

Due process clause

14th Amendment says states must respect rights

Clear & present danger test

Limits speech that’s dangerous

Right to privacy

Implied in amendments (1st, 3rd, 4th, 9th)

Prior restraint

Gov can’t stop the press before it prints something

Libel

Written lies that hurt someone

Slander

Spoken lies that hurt someone

Bill of attainder

Punishes without trial (not allowed)

Writ of habeas corpus

Must tell you why you’re arrested

Exclusionary rule

Illegal evidence = can’t use it in court

Double jeopardy

Can’t be tried twice for the same crime

Bail

Money to get out of jail before trial

Miranda rights

Right to remain silent, get a lawyer, etc.

Seneca Falls Convention

1848 event demanding women’s equality