AP Government & Politics Ch. 4 Key Terms

Question 1

Civil Liberties

Answer 1

The legal constitutional protections against government.

Question 2

Due Process Clause

Answer 2

Part of the 14th Amendment guaranteeing that persons cannot be deprived of life, liberty, or property by the U.S. or state governments without due process of law.

Question 3

Bill of Rights

Answer 3

The first 10 Amendments to the U.S. constitution, which define such basic liberties as freedom of religion, press, speech and guarantee defendants rights.

Question 4

First Amendment

Answer 4

Freedom of the press, of speech, of religion, & of assembly.

Question 5

Fourteenth Amendment

Answer 5

The constitutional amendment adopted after the civil war that states, “No state shall make or enforce any law that which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the U.S.; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Question 6

Incorporation Doctrine

Answer 6

The legal concept under which the Supreme Court has nationalized the Bill of Rights by making most of its provisions applicable to the states through the 14th Amendment.

Question 7

Establishment Clause

Answer 7

Part of the 1st Amendment stating that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.

Question 8

Free Exercise Clause

Answer 8

A 1st Amendment provision that prohibits government from interfering with the practice of religion.

Question 9

Prior Restraint

Answer 9

A government preventing material from being published.

Question 10

Libel

Answer 10

The publication of false or malicious statements that damage someone’s reputation.

Question 11

Symbolic Speech

Answer 11

Nonverbal communication, such as burning a flag or wearing an armband.

Question 12

Commercial Speech

Answer 12

Communication in the form of advertising.

Question 13

Probable Cause

Answer 13

The situation occurring when the police have reason to believe that a person should be arrested. In making the arrest, police are allowed to search for and seize incriminating evidence.

Question 14

Unreasonable Searches & Seizures

Answer 14

Obtaining evidence in a haphazard or random manner, a practice prohibited by the 4th Amendment.

Question 15

Search Warrant

Answer 15

A written authorization from a court specifying the area to be searched & what the police are searching for.

Question 16

Exclusionary Rule

Answer 16

The rule that evidence, no matter how incriminating, cannot be introduced into a trial if it was not constitutionally obtained.

Question 17

Fifth Amendment

Answer 17

A constitutional amendment designed to protect the rights of persons accused of crimes, including protection against double jeopardy, self incrimination, & punishment without due process of law.

Question 18

Self-incrimination

Answer 18

The situation occurring when an individual accused of a crime is compelled to be a witness against himself or herself in court.

Question 19

Sixth Amendment

Answer 19

A constitutional amendment designed to protect individuals accused of crimes. Its includes the right to counsel, the right to confront witnesses, & the rights to a speedy & public trial.

Question 20

Plea Bargaining

Answer 20

A bargain struck between the defendant’s lawyer & the prosecutor to the effect that the defendant will plead guilty to a lesser crime (or fewer crimes) in exchange for the state’s promise not to prosecute the defendant for a more serious (or additional) crime.

Question 21

Eighth Amendment

Answer 21

The constitutional amendment that forbids cruel & unusual punishment, although it does not define this phrase.

Question 22

Cruel & Unusual Punishment

Answer 22

Court sentences prohibited by the 8th Amendment. Although the Supreme Court has ruled that mandatory death sentences for certain offenses are unconstitutional, it has not held that the death penalty itself constitutes cruel & unusual punishment.

Question 23

Right to privacy

Answer 23

The right to a private personal life free from the intrusion of government.