Civil Rights Terms Flashcards
Bill of Rights
the first ten amendments to the US Constitution, ratified in 1791
Civil Liberties
the state of being subject only to laws established for the good of the community, especially with regard to freedom of action and speec
Civil Rights
the rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality.
Alien
a foreigner, especially one who is not a naturalized citizen of the country where they are living.
Due process clause
Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, which prohibits arbitrary deprivation of “life, liberty, or property” by the government except as authorized by law.
Establishment clause
the clause in the First Amendment of the US Constitution that prohibits the establishment of religion by Congress
Prior Restraint
judicial suppression of material that would be published or broadcast, on the grounds that it is libelous or harmful. In US law, the First Amendment severely limits the ability of the government to do this.
Free exercise clause
protects citizens’ right to practice their religion as they please, so long as the practice does not run afoul of a “public morals” or a “compelling” governmental interest.
Content Neutral
laws that apply to all expression without regard to the substance or message of the expression.
Libel
a published false statement that is damaging to a person’s reputation; a written defamation.
Slander
the action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person’s reputation.
Sedition
conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch.
Seditious Speech
speech directed at the overthrow of government.
Symbolic Speech
nonverbal, nonwritten forms of communication, such as flag burning, wearing arm bands, and burning of draft cards.
Picketing
an activity in which a worker or group of workers protest outside a building to prevent other workers from going inside
