Nine Weeks Exit Test 1 Flashcards
Civil Rights Act of 1964
a landmark civil rights and US labor law in the United States that outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
14th (XIV) Amendment
Granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States (prior to the XIV Amendment, enslaved persons were not granted citizens’ rights outlined in the Constitution).
8th (VIII) Amendment
Prevents courts from setting excessive bail
Jim Crow Laws
Laws of segregation upheld in the post-Reconstruction South (1877-1960s).
NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), the Congress for Racial Equality (CORE) and National Urban League
Organizations founded in response to segregationist Jim Crow laws.
Voting Rights in the U.S.
In the present day U.S., voting rights are restricted to citizens 18 years of age and older (prohibited if convicted of felony offense)
Formerly this right has been based on characteristics such as land ownership, race, and gender.
Ida B. Wells
Civil rights advocate and one of the founders of the NAACP who spoke out against racial injustice
1st (I) Amendment
Protects freedom of religion, speech, the press, and assembly (organized protests) and establishes principle of separation of church and state,
Thomas Jefferson
America’s third president, a Virginian, the principal (main) author of the Declaration of Independence, founder of Democratic-Republican Party which opposed the Federalists
James Madison
America’s fourth president, a Virginian, considered the “Father of the Constitution”, co-authored the Federalists papers, argued for separation of powers and the Bill of Rights
John Locke
Enlightenment Era Philosopher who first asserted (stated) in the early 1600s that “all men are created equal and endowed by their creator certain inalienable rights. Among these, life, liberty, and the pursuit of property. He also believed that government should operate according to the consent (permission) of the people it governs.
Benjamin Franklin
Founding Father who never served as President but had a number of other jobs, included as a diplomat, scientist, inventor, and politician.
Separation of Powers
A system of distinct powers built into the Constitution to prevent an accumulation of power in one branch.
Articles of Confederation
America’s first national government, in effect from 1781 until 1789. There was only one branch, a unicameral (single-house) legislative (law-making) body. The Articles formed a loose federation (alliance) of states. The national government could not collect taxes or raise an army.
Checks and Balances
The system of authorities that branches have over other branches. Meant to keep one branch from becoming too powerful.
Presidential Authorities (Executive Branch)
Vetoes or signs bills into law, enforces laws, appoints heads of federal agencies, nominates vacant judgeships.
Serves four year terms. May be elected to 2 terms (but serve part of a 3rd if a sitting president is impeached or dies in office)
Judicial Branch Authorities
Reviews laws and decides if the abide by they Constitution or not. Consists of district and appellate (appeal) courts, and the Supreme Court - the highest court in the U.S.
Rule of Law
The idea that everyone must abide by the law and that no one is above the law, including political leaders.
Legislative Branch
Bicameral (two-house) branch of the U.S. government that is responsible for making laws/writing bills.
Consists of the Senate (50 members; 2 from each state), and the House of Representatives (435 members; number in each state according to population).
Senators are elected to 6-year terms
Representatives are elected to 2-year terms
Speaker of the House
Leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives and second in line (after the Vice President) of Presidential Succession (who takes office if the person in office can no longer serve),
10th (X) Amendment
The powers not DELEGATED to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are RESERVED to the States respectively, or to the people.
Delegated: powers claimed by the branches of the national government in the Constitution
Reserved Powers: powers reserved by the states (all of those NOT mentioned as delegated powers)
Concurrent Powers: powers shared by state governments and the national government
Municipality
An incorporated city or town that has a local government and services
Reconstructions Amendments
13th (XIII) Amendment: Abolishes slavery
14th (XIV) Amendment: grants citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S., including former slaves who had been denied rights.
15th (XV) Amendment: prevents (in theory) discrimination in voting based on race, though discrimination would continue, especially across the South, in the form of poll taxes and difficult tests.
Federalism
The division of government between state and national levels, such as outlined in the U.S. Constitution
Bill of Rights
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution, ratified shortly after its approval in 1791.
Added to preserve civil liberties while also creating a government powerful enough to be effective.
Bill of Rights was added as a compromise to gain support for the Constitution from the anti-Federalists
Nullification Crisis
Event in the 1830s where the South Carolina state government attempted to NULLIFY (declare invalid) federal laws.
President Andrew Jackson asserted that the federal government held supreme power of the states in this regard, and that the states COULD NOT declare a law invalid or unconstitutional (only the Supreme Court could)
George Washington
A Virginia planter, considered the “Father of the Nation”, the first President under the U.S. Constitution. Served 2, 4-year terms from 1789.
Warned against the development of political parties.
Brown v Board of Education
Landmark 1954 Supreme Court decision overturning Jim Crow segregation laws upheld by the 1896 Plessy v Ferguson Supreme court decision which established the discriminatory “separate but equal” interpretation of the 14th Amendment (equal protection under the law)
