Brief AP Government Unit 3 Review

Introduction

• Unit 3 Review Video - Focus on Supreme Court cases related to civil liberties and civil rights.

• Importance of understanding these cases for the AP exam.

Civil Liberties

• Definition: Fundamental rights and freedoms protected from government infringement.

• Bill of Rights:

  • Original Constitution ratified in 1788 did not include a Bill of Rights.

  • Debate among founding fathers about including a Bill of Rights due to concerns about government overreach.

  • James Madison advocated for the Bill of Rights, which was added three years after ratification.

• Recommendation: Memorize the first ten amendments and significant Supreme Court cases.

First Amendment

• Five Freedoms Protected:

  • Freedom of Religion

  • Freedom of Speech

  • Freedom of Press

  • Freedom of Assembly

  • Freedom to Petition the Government

Freedom of Religion

• Establishment Clause: Prohibits government from establishing an official religion; embodies "separation of church and state".

• Free Exercise Clause: Ensures the right to practice religion freely unless it harms others.

Key Supreme Court Cases on Religion

• Engel v. Vitale (1962):

  • Ruled that school-sponsored prayer violates the First Amendment.

• Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972):

  • Ruled that compulsory schooling laws cannot violate religious beliefs of Amish families.

Freedom of Speech

• Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969):

  • Students have the right to wear black armbands to protest the Vietnam War; no substantial disruption.

• Schenck v. United States (1919):

  • Speech advocating draft dodging during WWI deemed a "clear and present danger"; restriction on speech upheld.

Freedom of the Press

• New York Times v. United States (1971):

  • Allowed publication of the Pentagon Papers; established that the press can publish unless it poses a grave danger.

Second Amendment

• District of Columbia v. Heller (2008):

  • Ruled that individuals have the right to own firearms unconnected to militia service.

Due Process and Rights of the Accused

• Selective Incorporation:

  • Bill of Rights originally applied only to the federal government; selectively incorporated to states via Supreme Court.

• Gitlow v. New York (1925):

  • Established incorporation of freedom of speech; Gitlow's call to overthrow the government deemed too extreme.

• McDonald v. Chicago (2010):

  • Incorporated the Second Amendment, protecting the right to bear arms at the state level.

Important Cases Related to Due Process

• Mapp v. Ohio (1961):

  • Incorporated the protection against unreasonable search and seizure;

  • Evidence gathered without a warrant is inadmissible.

• Miranda v. Arizona (1966):

  • Established the necessity of informing suspects of their rights upon arrest ("Miranda Rights").

• Gideon v. Wainwright (1963):

  • Guaranteed the right to legal counsel for defendants who cannot afford an attorney.

Rights and Privacy

• Roe v. Wade (1973):

  • Recognized a woman’s right to obtain an abortion under the right to privacy guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment.

• Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization (2022):

  • Overturned Roe v. Wade, allowing states to regulate abortion more strictly.

Civil Rights and Social Movements

• Civil Rights Movement: Advocacy for protection against discrimination; led to significant landmark legislation.

• Key Supreme Court Case: Brown v. Board of Education (1954):

  • Ruled that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal, overturning Plessy v. Ferguson.

Legislative Responses to Social Movements

• Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act: Legislation aimed at eliminating discrimination and ensuring voting rights for minorities.

• Title IX: Addresses equality in education and sports for women.

Balancing Majority and Minority Rights

• Plessy v. Ferguson (1896):

  • Established "separate but equal" doctrine supporting racial segregation.

• Shaw v. Reno (1993):

  • Claimed redistricting based on race must be subject to strict scrutiny.

Affirmative Action

• Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978):

  • Ruled that racial quotas in admissions are unconstitutional but also acknowledged the role of affirmative action in higher education.

Final Notes

• Suggested actions: Create flashcards for key terms, cases, and amendments to prepare for the AP exam.

• Importance of understanding both Civil Liberties and Civil Rights for a comprehensive grasp on the subject matter.