Chapter 12 Flashcards
civil rights
rights of all people to be free from irrational discrimination such as that based on race, religion, sex, or ethnicity.
natural rights
the rights of all people to dignity and worth; human rights
affirmative action
remedial action designed to overcome the effects of discrimination against minorities and women.
naturalizations
a legal action conferring citizenship on an alien.
dual citizenship
citizenship in more than one nation
right of expatriation
right to renounce one’s citizenship
equal protection clause
clause in 14th amend. that forbids any state to deny any person equal protection of the laws. 5th amend. give same limit to federal government.
rational basis test
standard developed by the courts to test the constitutionality of a law; when applied, a law is constitutional as long as it meets a reasonable government interest. Places burden of proof on parties attacking the law.
strict scrutiny test
test applied by the court when a classification is based on race; the government must show that there is a compelling reason for the law and no other less restrictive way to meet the interest. Burden is on the government.
heightened scrutinize test
applied when law deals with sex; to be upheld, the law must meet an important government interest.
literacy test
requirement some states imposed on voting used to discriminate against black voters in the south, illegal.
white primary
a democratic party primarly in the one-party south that was limited to white people and essentially constitutionalized an election, ruled illegal in smith v. Allwright. (1944)
majority-minority district
congressional district created to include a majority of minority voters; ruled legal so long as race is not the main factor in redistricting.
commerce clause
clause that gives congress the power to regulate all business activites that cross state lines. (article 1, section 8, clause 3)
class action suit
lawsuit brought by an individual or a group of people on behalf of all those similarly situated. (several cases move forward as one)
