Chapters 4-6 "Need to Know' Vocab

Question 1

Power of the Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of laws.

Answer 1

Judicial Review

Question 2

The institutional arrangement that assigns judicial, executive, & legislative powers to different persons or groups, thereby limiting the powers of each.

Answer 2

Separation of Powers

Question 3

The principle that allows each branch of government to exercise some form of control over the others.

Answer 3

Checks & Balances

Question 4

Citizenship rights guaranteed to the people (primarily in the 13th, 14th, 19th, & 26th amendments) & protected by the government.

Answer 4

Civil Rights

Question 5

Individual freedoms guaranteed to the people primarily by the Bill of Rights.

Answer 5

Civil Liberties

Question 6

The right of an accused person to be brought before a judge & informed of the charges & evidence against him or her.

Answer 6

Habeas Corpus

Question 7

Laws that criminalize an action after it occurs.

Answer 7

Ex Post Facto Law

Question 8

Incorporation of rights on a case-by-case basis.

Answer 8

Selective Incorporation

Question 9

The 1st amendment guarantee that the government will not create & support an official state church.

Answer 9

Establishment Clause

Question 10

Three-pronged rule used by the courts to determine whether the establishment clause is violated or not.

Answer 10

Lemon Test

Question 11

The 1st amendment guarantee that citizens may freely engage in the religious activities of their choice.

Answer 11

Free Exercise Clause

Question 12

Rule used by the courts that allows language to be regulated only if it presents an immediate & urgent danger.

Answer 12

Clear & Present Danger Test

Question 13

Speech intended to incite violence.

Answer 13

Fighting Words

Question 14

Written defamation of character.

Answer 14

Libel

Question 15

Guarantee that laws will be fair & responsible & that citizens suspected of breaking the law will be treated fairly.

Answer 15

Due Process

Question 16

Rule created by the Supreme Court that evidence seized illegally may not be used to obtain a conviction.

Answer 16

Exclusionary Rule

Question 17

Taxes levied as a qualification for voting.

Answer 17

Poll Taxes

Question 18

Tests regarding reading or comprehension skills are qualification for voting.

Answer 18

Literacy Tests

Question 19

Provisions exempting from voting restrictions the descendants of those able to vote in 1867.

Answer 19

Grandfather Clause

Question 20

Southern laws designed to circumvent the 13th, 14th, & 15th amendments & to deny blacks rights in bases other than race.

Answer 20

Jim Crow Laws

Question 21

Supreme Court case that established the constitutionality of the principle of “separate but equal”.

Answer 21

Plessy v. Fergunson

Question 22

An interest group founded in 1910 to promote civil rights for African Americans.

Answer 22

N.A.A.C.P.

National Association for the Advancement for Colored People

Question 23

Supreme Court case that rejected the idea that “separate but equal” is ok in education.

Answer 23

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka

Question 24

Discrimination arising from or supported by the law.

Answer 24

De Jure Segregation

Question 25

Discrimination that is the result not of law but rather of tradition and habit.

Answer 25

De Facto Segregation

Question 26

Achieving racial balance by transporting students to schools across neighborhood boundaries.

Answer 26

Busing

Question 27

A policy of creating equal opportunities for members of certain groups as a substantive remedy for past discrimination.

Answer 27

Affirmative Action

Question 28

Unwelcome sexual speech or behavior that creates a hostile work environment.

Answer 28

Sexual Harassment