AP GOV UNIT 3

Bill of Rights: Found in the first ten amendments to the Constitution and are included as a means to protect the liberties of American citizens from their government.

Civil Liberties: the fundamental rights and freedoms that are protected by law, such as freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and due process, and are key to ensuring individual freedom and equality in a democratic society.

Establishment Clause: a part of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution that prohibits the government from establishing an official religion or unduly favoring one religion over another. It is a fundamental principle that ensures a separation between church and state, allowing for religious freedom and preventing governmental interference in religious practices.

Free Exercise Clause: a provision in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution that protects individuals' rights to practice their religion freely without government interference. This clause ensures that citizens can express their beliefs and engage in religious practices, provided they do not violate public order or the rights of others.

Engle v Vitale: The Supreme Court ruled against prayer in school because it determined that prayers in school violated the establishment clause of the First Amendment because public schools were supported by the government. An example of a selective incorporation case dealing with the Establishment Clause of the Freedom of the Religion.

Selective Incorporation: The process by which the Supreme Court applies the provisions of the Bill of Rights (which are the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution) to the states through the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

14th Amendment: A significant part of the United States Constitution that addresses citizenship rights and equal protection under the law.

Due Process Clause: The _____ of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees that no state shall "deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law."

Wisconsin v Yoder: The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Amish religious community because it determined that compulsory education laws violated the free exercise 

clause of the First Amendment as it prevented Amish children from engaging 

with their religious heritage.

Freedom of Speech: the right to express one's thoughts, opinions, and ideas without government interference

Tinker v Des Moines: The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the students wearing armbands because it determined that school administrators violated the freedom of symbolic speech in the First Amendment, as the wearing of the armbands did not cause 

a disruption and was only motivated to silence student speech.

Schenck v United States: The Supreme Court ruled against Schenck and his pamphlets because it determined that the pamphlets incited unlawful action and therefore his 

arrest did not violate his freedom of speech in the First Amendment as his 

Speech created a clear and present danger to American society.

Freedom of Speech:

Freedom of the Press: ____  is essential for a working democracy because the people need to be impartially informed about the government and the representatives doing its work.

New York Times v The United States:

Second Amendment: The main goal of the ____ amendment states that citizens have the right to own a gun.

McDonald v Chicago:

Eighth Amendment: The ____ amendment tries to balance the need for liberty and public order, especially in respect to cruel and unusual punishmen,t as they apply to the death penalty in capital cases. 

Fourth Amendment: The main goal of the _____ amendment is to protect citizens against 

unreasonable search and seizures by the government, unless the government 

has obtained a valid legal warrant.

Exclusionary Rule: A legal principle that prevents evidence obtained through illegal means, such as unlawful searches and seizures, from being used in court (4th amendment)

Fifth Amendment: The ____ Amendment is a part of the Bill of Rights that protects individuals from self-incrimination and guarantees due process of law.

Sixth Amendment: The ____ Amendment is a crucial part of the United States Constitution that guarantees the rights of individuals accused of crimes.

Miranda Rule: The _______requires an arresting officer explicitly telling a person their rights so that they are able to protect individual liberty. This warning protects against being compelled to be a witness against yourself and the sixth amendment’s provision for a lawyer.

Public Safety Exception: The _______ states that an officer is acting in the name of public safety and didn’t have the opportunity to read the Miranda rights, that 

evidence will not necessarily exclude that evidence from court.

Gideon v Wainwright: A landmark Supreme Court case that held that the Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to counsel for defendants in criminal cases who cannot afford an attorney. This decision expanded the rights of accused individuals and reinforced the principle of fair trial by ensuring that legal representation is available to all, regardless of financial status.

Right to Privacy: a constitutional principle that protects individuals from unwarranted government intrusion into their personal and private lives.

Roe v Wade:  The Supreme Court ruled in support of women’s right to an abortion because 

It was determined that for states to deny abortion services violated the right to privacy found in the combination of the First, Fourth, Fifth, Ninth, and Fourteenth Amendments.

Civil Rights: _____ are the efforts that are made to ensure that civil liberties are 

applied to all citizens, without discrimination regardless of race, national 

origin, religion, or gender.

Civil Rights Movement: a social and political movement in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s aimed at ending racial discrimination.

NAACP: A social and political movement in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s aimed at ending racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans.

Brown v Board of Education: a landmark Supreme Court case decided in 1954 that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. This case played a crucial role in the civil rights movement by overturning the previous 'separate but equal' doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson, setting a precedent for future cases and influencing social movements aimed at achieving equal protection under the law.

Equal Protection Clause: A provision in the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution that mandates that no state shall deny any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Letter from Birmingham Jail: In his _________, Martin Luther King Jr. argued that nonviolent civil disobedience was necessary to achieve racial justice, and that the failure of the white majority to speak out against injustice was a major obstacle to progress in the fight for civil rights.

Civil Rights Act of 1964: a landmark piece of legislation that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in various aspects of public life, including employment and education. This act was a significant victory for the civil rights movement and helped to reshape societal norms regarding equality and fairness in the United States.

Voting Rights Act of 1963: a landmark piece of federal legislation in the United States that aimed to eliminate racial discrimination in voting. It was a significant response to the civil rights movement, particularly addressing issues like literacy tests and other barriers that disenfranchised minority voters, ensuring equal access to the electoral process for all citizens.

Title IX: Guaranteed that women would have the same educational opportunities at institutions that received federal funds

Obergefall v. Hodges: The Court ruled that state prevention of same-sex marriage violated the 14th Amendment and was unconstitutional

Congressional Redistricting: The process of redrawing the boundaries of electoral districts to reflect changes in population and ensure fair representation.

Affirmative Action: Policies that favor groups who have been historically 

discriminated against, especially in areas of employment and education.

Regents of the University of California v Bakke: In the ________ the Court upheld the constitutionality of affirmative action but placed limitations on its implementation, prohibiting the use of racial quotas in university admissions

First Amendment: Protects freedom of speech, religion, and the press, as well as the right to assemble and petition.

Third Amendment: prohibits the government from forcing citizens to house soldiers in their homes, especially during peacetime, without their consent.

Ninth Amendment: A constitutional guarantee that prevents the government from unfairly or arbitrarily depriving individuals of their fundamental rights.