Unit 2 Test - Government

VOCABULARY

True or False: The freedom of assembly can be exercised offline, but not online

Exclusionary Rule: What rule prevents evidence obtained illegally from being used against a defendant, though the Supreme Court has allowed some exceptions to this rule?

First Amendment / Assembly: The right to peacefully gather and protest, including through meetings, rallies, strikes, and sit-ins.

Minority group equality struggles: discrimination, racial inequality

Freedom of Association: The right to form and join groups that pursue common interests, including the right to form trade unions

True or False: The Constitution does not guarantee an appeal after conviction, but the federal government and all states permit at least one appeal

Essay Questions:

1. What significant demographic changes have happened in the US during recent years and how do they impact the battles for civil rights?

   • The increasing diversity in the population, including a rise in Hispanic and Asian communities, has led to a broader range of voices advocating for civil rights and representation.

   • Economic inequalities have persisted, affecting access to education and employment opportunities, which in turn fuels the civil rights movements.

   • The aging population has shifted priorities, with older generations focusing on issues such as healthcare rights, while younger activists emphasize climate justice and systemic reforms.

   • The increase of LGBTQ integration

   • According to the Pew Research Center, about ½ of the immigrants between 1965 and 2022 were from Latin America

2. List and define the types of speech protected by the First Amendment

   • Freedom of speech - free to say almost anything except something that is obscene, slanderous, or indicating violence or lawless action

     • clear-and-present-danger test - testing that the government has to do before legally regulating speech (has to present clear and present danger)

     • Imminent Lawless action - prevents government regulation, makes hate speech possible unless they cause violence

     • symbolic speech - actions, such as burning the US flag

   • Freedom of press - freedom to write or publish almost anything except obscene, libel to another person, or endangers national security/military action

     • prior restraint - government prohibiting speech before it occurs

     • libel - false information that tarnishes someone’s reputation in print

     • slander - false information that tarnishes someone’s reputation in speech

   • Freedom of assembly - freedom to assemble unless it will likely cause harm, or doesn’t show an alternative way that keeps harm from happening

     • Ex: American Nazi Party

   • Freedom of religion - protection to believe whatever you want

     • establishment clause - government cannot favor one religion over the other / religion over no religion

     • free-exercise clause - Americans can hold religious beliefs of their own, but can’t always act upon them

3. Explain the principles underlying freedom of the press

   • Expression: diverse viewpoints and opinions

   • Access to information: enter information from multiple sources to inform the public about it

   • Prior restraint protection: gov. cannot prevent publications (free reporting)

   • Accountability to the public: must provide accurate and truthful information

   • Power in check: watches government, keeps them in check from a public standpoint

   • Many Ideas: free exchange of diverse opinions

   • Legal protection: journalists have safeguards (shield laws) to protect their sources especially for investigative reporting

4. Summarize the right to bear arms

   • The second amendment states that you have the right to bear arms (or firearms), which first began in the 1939 case of US v. Miller. This got rid of sawed off shotguns because it didn’t help militia efforts. It was also brought up in the District of Columbia v. Heller in 2008, which restated that the people had their right to their individual weapons

5. Identify the six different cases that contribute to the legal standard for the right to privacy and explain how each amendment contributes to said standard

   • Griswold v. Connecticut (1965)

     • Remember: Keep congress out of your bedroom

     • right to condoms / right to privacy

     • married couples can use contraceptives without government regulation; lead to legal abortion

   • Bowers v. Hardwick (1986)

     • Remember: NO gay power

     • no protection in constitution for same-sex couples (so states could make it illegal)

   • Lawrence v. Texas (2003)

     • Remember: lawrence the king with gay rights (+ Texas)

     • overturned the case of bowers v. hardwick

     • arrested same-sex couples for having sex

     • violated right to privacy and due process

   • Roe v. Wade (1973)

     • Right to abortion

     • 14th amendment (women’s rights), due process protection clause

   • Webster v. Reproductive Health Services (1989)

     • Remember: WEB of loopholes in reproductive health services

     • harder to get abortion

     • OK for states to restrict resources for reproduction-related topics (abortion)

   • Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992)

     • protection for women’s rights (my body my choice), 14th amendment

6. How did 9/11 terror attacks affect civil liberties?

   • The Bush Administration announced that their policy for capturing these enemies was to put them in detention camps

     • Mistreated and didn’t get due process

     • Have to be a US citizen to take case to court

   • USA Patriot Act - the government increased surveillance

     • NSA (national security agency) made program to get private information, which violated the 4th amendment and right to privacy

7. List and describe the seven different laws that have affected equality

   • The Civil Rights Act of 1964 - prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin

   • The Voting Rights Act of 1965 - Eliminated racial discrimination in voting, prohibiting practices that disenfranchised African American voters.

   • The Civil Rights Act of 1968 - Also known as the Fair Housing Act, it banned housing discrimination based on race and other factors.

   • Equal Pay Act of 1963 - Required equal pay for equal work, addressing wage disparities based on sex.

   • Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 - Prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education, enhancing women's access to sports and education.

   • Equal Credit Act of 1974 - Prevents discrimination in credit applications based on sex or marital status, promoting equitable financial access.

   • Family and Medical Leave Act - Guarantees eligible employees unpaid, job-protected leave for family and medical reasons.

8. Describe the African American civil rights movement - including context, key legislation, and pivotal events

   • The background was that slavery in the US led to emancipation and southern voting requirements that after the 15th amendment, gave them the right to vote, literacy tests were made that were almost impossible, and the Jim Crow laws

     • 1176-1860 - Slavery started

     • 1861-1865 - Civil War over freedom

     • 1865- 1900’s - Jim Crow that prohibited African Americans even more

     • 1941-1945 - exposing them to social conditions, gave them more jobs that they may have not had before

     • 1954 - Brown v. Board of Education = made segregated schools unconstitutional, and ended “separate but equal”

     • 1964 - Civil Rights Act = impetus (turning point or spar

     • Still substantial discrimination today…