Ap government unit 3

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Unit 3: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

Topic 3.1: The Bill of Rights

• Liberties: The Constitution, Protections, & Culture

  • Madison: The Constitution created a system where government power is limited, thus preventing the abuse of personal freedoms.

  • BILL OF RIGHTS: Guarantees the protection of liberties and rights by explicitly listing them.

  • Changing Interpretations: The protections in the Bill of Rights have had changing interpretations with time.

  • Cultural Context: American liberties have been enhanced with protests, the creation of Interest Groups, privacy protections, rights of the accused, and more.

Topic 3.2: First Amendment - Freedom of Religion

• Church and State:

  • WALL OF SEPARATION: A clear divide/separation between church & state as said by Jefferson.

  • FREEDOM OF RELIGION:

  • PRAYER IN SCHOOLS: Christian religious practices were regularly incorporated into school routines early on.

  • THE LEMON TEST: Tested state violations of the Establishment Clause. State funding of private schools = “Excessive Entanglement”.

  • Key Case: Engel v. Vitale (1962) - Discuss the impacts.

Topic 3.3: First Amendment - Freedom of Speech

• Defining Protected Speech:

  • PROTECTED SPEECH: Includes symbolic speech (e.g., wearing armbands).

  • Key Case: Tinker v. Des Moines (1969) - Discuss the impacts.

  • UNPROTECTED SPEECH: Includes obscene speech (Schenck v. United States).

  • DEFAMATORY SPEECH: False statements that cause harm or violence.

Topic 3.4: First Amendment - Freedom of the Press

• Free Press in A Democracy:

  • LIBEL: False statements that damage a person’s reputation.

  • PRIOR RESTRAINT: The right to stop printed and spoken expression in advance.

  • Key Case: New York Times v. United States - Discuss the impacts.

Topic 3.5: Second Amendment - Right to Bear Arms

• FOUNDING PRINCIPLES: A Right to Bear Arms was instituted as a result of creating a national military.

• GUN POLICY:

  • National Firearms Act (1934).

  • Gun Control Act (1968).

  • Brady Bill: Background checks and a five-day waiting period.

• Key Case: District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) - Discuss the impacts.

Topic 3.6: Amendments - Balancing Individual Freedom with Public Order and Safety

• Eighth Amendment: Protects against cruel & unusual punishment and excessive fines.

• Fourth Amendment: Protects against unreasonable and unwarranted searches & seizures.

• Key Case: Furman v. Georgia (1972) - Discuss the impacts.

Topic 3.7: Selective Incorporation

• SELECTIVE INCORPORATION: SCOTUS process of declaring certain (selected) Bill of Rights provisions be applied to the states.

• Key Case: McDonald v. Chicago (2010) - Discuss the impacts.

Topic 3.8: Amendments - Due Process & the Rights of the Accused

• PROCEDURAL DUE PROCESS: Ensures that fair and legitimate legal processes take place.

• EXCLUSIONARY RULE: Evidence taken in violation of the 4th amendment can be excluded from trial (Mapp v. Ohio).

• Key Cases: Gideon v. Wainwright, Miranda v. Arizona.

Topic 3.9: Amendments - Due Process and the Right to Privacy

• SUBSTANTIVE DUE PROCESS: States are obligated to make decisions that promote health & safety.

• RIGHT TO PRIVACY: Protection of Privacy & Lifestyle.

• Key Cases: Griswold v. Connecticut (1965), Roe v. Wade (1973).

Topic 3.10: Social Movements and Equal Protection

• NAACP: National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: Leader of the non-violent organization, SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference).

• Foundational Document: “Letter From A Birmingham Jail”.

• Women’s Rights Movement: Title IX, 19th Amendment, Equal Pay Act (1963).

• LGBTQ Rights: Ongoing struggles for equality.

Topic 3.11: Government Responses to Social Movements

• RECONSTRUCTION & ITS LEGACY: The 14th Amendment & Equal Protection Clause.

• Key Legislation: Civil Rights Act of 1964, Voting Rights Act of 1965.

• Key Case: Brown v. Board of Education - Discuss the impacts.

Topic 3.12: Affirmative Action

• Definition: Policies to improve opportunities for historically marginalized groups.

• Key Case: Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978) - Discuss the impacts.

Review Tips:

• Focus on key cases and their implications.

• Understand the evolution of rights and how they apply to different groups.

• Familiarize yourself with the amendments and their protections.

• Practice multiple-choice and free-response questions related to these topics.

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