Government - Unit 4: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

plessy v. ferguson

1896 - supreme court decision which legalized state ordered segregation so long as the facilities for blacks and whites were equal

incorporation

a process that extended the protections of the bill of rights against the actions of state and local governments

judicial review

review by a court of law actions of a government official or entity or of some other legally appointed person or body or the review by an appellate court of the decision of a trial court

brown v. board of education

1954 - supreme court overruled plessy v. ferguson, declared that racially segregated facilities are inherently unequal and ordered all public schools desegregated

precedent

a decision in a previous court case that is used as the basis for a decision in a similar case

legal briefs

a written document drawn up by an attorney that presents the facts and points of law in a clients case

oral arguments

the stage in supreme court proceedings in which attorneys for both sides appear before the court to present their positions and answer questions posed by the justices

writ of certiorari

order by the supreme court directing a lower court to send up the records of a case for review

petition

when you ask the supreme court to hear your case

rule of four

requirement that a case can only be heard by the supreme court if four justices vote to hear the case

conference

when supreme court justices meet to discuss and decide a case

majority opinion

statement that presents the views of the majority of supreme court justices regarding a case

civil liberties

constitutional freedoms guaranteed to all citizens

concurring opinion

an opinion that agrees with the majority in a supreme court ruling but differs on the reasoning

civil rights

guarantees equal treatment under the law; found in the 14th amendment

dissenting opinion

an opinion disagreeing with a majority in a supreme court ruling

amendment 14

no state can deprive any person life, liberty, or property without due process of law

how many justices does it take to gain a majority opinion?

5 of 9 justices

marbury v. madison

established judicial review

civil rights act of 1964

a law that banned discrimination on the basis of race, sex, national origin, or religion in public places and most workplaces