AP Government Chapter 4

Bill of Attainder: A legislative act that declares a person or group guilty of a crime and imposes punishment without a trial. The U.S. Constitution prohibits both federal and state governments from enacting such bills.

Burger Court: Refers to the Supreme Court of the United States from 1969 to 1986, when Warren E. Burger served as Chief Justice. This period is noted for decisions on abortion, capital punishment, religious establishment, and school desegregation.

Civil Liberties: Fundamental individual rights protected by law against unwarranted governmental or other interference. These include freedoms of speech, press, assembly, and religion.

Civil Rights: The rights of individuals to receive equal treatment and to be free from unfair treatment or discrimination, particularly in settings such as employment, education, and housing, based on certain legally-protected characteristics.

Clear and Present Danger Test: A legal doctrine established by the Supreme Court to determine under what circumstances limits can be placed on First Amendment freedoms of speech, press, or assembly. Speech that poses a clear and present danger of causing significant harm can be restricted.

Due Process Rights: Legal procedural guarantees provided by the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments that the government will not deprive an individual of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. This includes fair procedures and trials.

Establishment Clause: A provision in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution that prohibits the government from establishing an official religion, favoring one religion over another, or excessively entangling itself with religious activities or institutions.

Exclusionary Rule: A legal principle that bars evidence obtained in violation of a defendant's constitutional rights from being used in a court of law. This rule is intended to deter law enforcement from conducting unlawful searches and seizures.

Ex Post Facto Law: A law that retroactively changes the legal consequences of actions that were committed before the enactment of the law. The U.S. Constitution prohibits the passage of ex post facto laws.

Free Exercise Clause: A section of the First Amendment that protects individuals' rights to practice their religion freely, without government interference, as long as the practice does not run afoul of public morals or a compelling governmental interest.

Incorporation Doctrine: A constitutional doctrine through which selected provisions of the Bill of Rights are made applicable to the states through the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Libel: A written defamatory statement or representation that conveys an unjustly unfavorable impression. In legal terms, it's the publication of false statements that harm someone's reputation.

Prior Restraint: Governmental actions that prevent material from being published. In the U.S., prior restraint is often considered a violation of the First Amendment, unless under exceptional circumstances.

Selective Incorporation: The process by which certain rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights are applied to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause.

Slander: A spoken defamatory statement that harms someone's reputation. Unlike libel, slander refers to transient forms of communication, such as speech.

Symbolic Speech: Nonverbal communication that conveys a political message, such as wearing armbands or burning flags. The Supreme Court has recognized some forms of symbolic speech as protected under the First Amendment.

Warren Court: The Supreme Court under Chief Justice Earl Warren, serving from 1953 to 1969. This era is noted for its decisions expanding civil rights, civil liberties, judicial power, and the rights of the accused.

Writ of Habeas Corpus: A legal order requiring that a prisoner be brought before a judge to determine the legality of their detention. It serves as a protection against unlawful imprisonment.