CIVIL RIGHTS Flashcards
What does civil rights mean?
Protections introduced by governments to ensure that citizens are not discriminated against.
What is Civil liberties?
Are fundamental individual freedoms such as freedom of speech, religion , and association. Outlined in the Bill of right 1791.
SC cases that protects Civil rights?
Civil right are laws which protects a group of citizens from discrimination.
-Originated from the 14th Amendment which states that there should be “equal protection”.
As seen by Brown vs Board 1954- banned racial segregation in schools.
Also Roe vs Wade 1973
What was the intent of the framers of US Constitution?
They sought to protect the right of citizens from powerful governments. This could be done from a system of check and balances on each government branch.
They believed in inalienable rights that cannot be taken away.
When was Bill of right and what did it include?
1791
I=Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, petition the government for a redress of grievances
II=Right to keep and bear arms
III=Right not to have military troops quartered in private homes
IV=Right not to have unreasonable searches and seizures
V=Right of people accused of a crime
VI=Right to a fair trial
VII=Rights to a trial by jury in common law suits over a certain value
VIII=Right not to face excessive bail or fines, nor cruel or unusual punishments
IX=Rights that are not enumerated by the Constitution are still held by the people and are protected
X=Rights of the states to retain powers that are not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution
What were the subsequent amendments of the US constitution?
13th amendment=abolished slavery
14th amendment=gave former enslaved people the right to citizenship.
15th Amendment= gave the right to vote for all races of men
19th amendment= gave women the right to vote 1920
What is the equal rights amendment ?
The ERA would have made it illegal to discriminate on the grounds of sex. The campaign for the ERA was led by the National Organization for Women (NOW) pressure group. The ERA was passed
by Congress in 1972, and ratified by 35 states
What are some of the landmark rulings of the Supreme Court?
Brown vs Board of Education 1953= ended segregation within schools
Obergefell vs Hodges 2015 = rights of same sex marriage
Roe vs wade 1973 = right to abortion of women even though the activist of this case later rejected abortion after converting to Christianity.
Fisher vs university of Texas 2016 = UT’s use of race in admissions decisions violated her right to equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment
What is the role of pressure groups in promoting and supporting rights?
-fundraising to pay for advertising campaigns to influence the public politicians and judiciary.
-public campaigns including online campaigns, social media, and rallies.
-Political campaigning including lobbying Congress and the federal government and making decisions to electoral candidates.
-legal campaigning including sponsoring legal cases or writing amicus curiae briefs
Examples of pressure groups who promote and suport rights in the USA?
American civil liberties union (ACLU) = defender of individual freedoms and has a membership of 1.5 million. Consists of 300 lawyers. As seen by protecting brown vs board
