Final Flashcards
In the context of civil liberties, look at article, “Philando Castile and the Human Costs of a Widespread Police Practice.” How much more likely are black drivers to be subject to investigatory stops? Are they likely to be carrying weapons?
Our data reveal that black drivers are nearly three times more likely than white drivers to experience such stops. In these investigatory stops, African Americans are five times more likely than whites to be searched. Yet, blacks are dramatically less likely than whites to be found carrying drugs or a weapon. Put simply, most people stopped in this way are innocent.
What was the Brown v. Board (1954) decision?
declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional. The decision effectively overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision of 1896, which allowed state-sponsored segregation
What is it about partisan polarization discussed in “Why People Continue to Believe Objectively False Things?”
- partisan polarization affects the way Americans of all political stripes consume information.
- People are more likely to believe stories that come from their side of the political divide, particularly if an authority figure vouches for them.
What is the effect of voter ID laws? Is there evidence of a problem?
- -Evidence of voter fraud is essentially nonexistent
- -“strict voter identification laws double or triple existing U.S. racial voting gaps, because they have a negative impact on the turnout of Hispanics, blacks, and Asian Americans, but do not discourage white voters.”
In Bowling Alone, what is discussed about the benefits of social capital?
- allows citizens to resolve collective action problems easier b/c discourages free-rider problem
- allows communities to advance smoothly
- makes ppl more empathetic to others
Name four findings from “The Tea Party and the Remaking of Republican Conservatism”
- A lot ppl in the Tea Party had been engaged in conservative politics for some time; had some sort of practical know-how in how to organize
- Based everything on the perceived deservingness of recipients; “free riders”
- Anxieties over immigration
- Fox’s coverage was anticipatory, before Tea Party events as opposed to i.e. CNN which was reactionary; helped build movement
What problem that collective action solves is addressed in “Bowling Alone?”
- Public good is not excludable, individual tries to maximize benefits, problem for large groups; in smaller groups, ppl can appreciate how their individual contribution affects community, but i.e. paying money for highway is not evocative of rational decisions because it benefits broad group; that’s why taxes are compulsory
What is the problem with money and politics as discussed in “What We Get Wrong About Lobbying and Corruption?”
The problem is that one set of interests routinely overpowers the rest. In particular, corporate lobbying has metastasized over the last four decades, and this increasingly over-crowded and hyper-contested lobbying environment benefits the large corporations who have the most resources to participate in the day-to-day workings of Congress.
What groups get overshadowed by corporations? as discussed in “What We Get Wrong About Lobbying and Corruption”
labor unions, groups representing diffuse public like consumers or taxpayers
What are the effects of the imbalance in corporate spending and lobbying efforts?
1) it is increasingly difficult to challenge any existing policy that benefits politically active corporations.
2) the sheer amount of lobbying has created a policymaking environment that now requires significant resources to get anything done.
What is America’s exceptionalism with regards to civil liberties? Examples
MUCH more stringently protected i.e. europe is more supportive than US of censoring statements that are offensive to minorities, gun rights, campaign funding
Define civil liberties
protection of citizens from improper gov’t action; NEGATIVE freedoms– to be left alone, in private sphere; compels gov’t to refrain from action
When did civil liberties become most fully protected?
series of court decisions in 20th century through which the Bill of Rights became incorporated into the 14th amendment
What was Barron v Baltimore (1833)? What amendment did it violate? What type of federalism prevailed?
It ruled that the 5th amendment, which states that “no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or Process w/out due process of law,” only applies to federal, not state gov’t; dual citizenship under dual federalism
After the 14th amendment (1868,) what changed concerning national citizenship
it now reigned supreme b/c no person could be denied equal protection
What was the Supreme Court ruling of the LA slaughterhouse cases?
14th amendment only applies to freed slaves, dual citizenship lives
What supreme court decisions helped solidify civil liberties?
Freedom of Speech: Buckley v. Valeo (1976) limits on campaign spending unconstitutional
Freedom of the Press: Near vs. Minnesota (1931) struck down prior restraints on defamatory publications
What is the significance of the establishment clause?
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion;” wall separates church and state; no official religion, no promotion of religion by public schools, courthouses, etc.
What is the significance of the free exercise clause?
“…or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” protects individual’s right to practice whatever religion he or she chooses
What civil liberties exist for the criminally accused?
- freedom from unnecessary search and seizure
- freedom from warrantless search and seizure (Mapp v Ohio 1961)
- freedom from cruel and unusual punishment
- right to counsel (Gideon v Wainwright)
- right against self-incrimination
- right to remain silent (Miranda v Arizon)
- right against double jeapardy
Where in the Bill of Rights does the Supreme Court locate abortion rights?
penumbras of 3rd,
4th-The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated,
5th, and
9th amendments- addresses rights, retained by the people, that are not specifically enumerated in the Constitution.
What was ruling of Griswold v Connecticut (1965)?
ruled that the Constitution, through the Bill of Rights, implies a fundamental right to privacy; penumbras of amendments; couldn’t; selling birth control was constitutional
Name some racial disparities (black v white)
infant mortality for mothers, life expectancy, percent who own homes, median income, lack of health insurance, incarceration rates
Define civil rights
legal & moral claims that citizens are entitle to make on gov’t; positive rights and freedoms; shaped by 14th amendment equal protection clause
Name how some ascriptive American traditions that were institutionalized
- Dred Scott v Sandford (1857) found that slaves weren’t citizens of US
- slavery, civil war
What were some steps taken in favor of civil rights?
1-Emancipation Proclamation (1863) and 13th amendment OUTLAW SLAVERY
2- EQUAL PROTECTION under 14th amendment
3-VOTING RIGHTS with 15th amendment
What 3 things occurred during the 75 year period following the ratification of the 14th amendment?
1) the supreme court sanctioned racial segregation w/Plessy V Ferguson “separate but equal”
2) southern jim crow laws enforcing segregation
3) discriminatory housing and educational practices in the North (housing quotas, educational quotas, etc.)
After 14th amendment, there was _____ _____ halting _____
backward movement; progress
