Unit 3 Flashcards (PART 1)
Civil Rights
protections for individuals from discrimination based on race, national origin, religion, sex, and other characteristics, ensuring equal treatment under the law.
Civil Liberties
fundamental rights and freedoms protected from infringement by the government
Protections citizens have against government action that takes away fundamental freedoms
Edward Snowden
leaked classified documents that exposed the NSA - some thin he’s good, others think he’s bad
Bill of Rights
a list of fundamental rights and freedoms that individuals process, The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution are referred to as the bill of rights.
Debated @ the constitutional convention
Federalist No. 84
Hamilton defended the need for a bill of rights
First Amendment
Protects freedom of religion, speech, the press, assembly, and petition
Second Amendment
The right to keep and bear arms
Third Amendment
No forced quartering of troops in homes
Fourth Amendment
Protects against unreasonable search and seizure and establishes the right to have warrants issued before an arrest or search
Fifth Amendment
Right to a grand jury indictment in ciminal cases, protection against double jeopary and self-incrimination, the right to due process of law, and the right to just compensation when private property is taken for public use.
Sixth Amendment
Protections during criminal prosecutions for a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury, the right to confront witnesses, the right to compel favorable witnesses to testify in one’s defense, and the right to the assistence of defense counsel.
Seventh Amendment
Right to a trial by jury in certain civil suits
Eighth Amendment
Protections against excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishment.
Ninth Amendment
Protection of rights not listed in the Constitution
Tenth Amendment
Powers not delegated to the federal government nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states or to the people.
Gitlow v. New York
held that the First Amendment right to free speech is applicable against the states via the Fourteenth Amendment - SELECTIVE INCORPORATION and CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER
1919 - left wing manifesto
Affirmed that there are restrictions on speech and of the press that are legitimate if such expression sufficiently threatens the public welfare.
Gitlow convicted, charged 5-10 years of prison.
Fourteenth Amendment
guarantees against the deprivation by any state of “life, liberty, or property without due process of law” - this is called the due process clause - the clause in the Fourteenth Amendment that restricts state governments fron denying citizens their life, liberty, or property without legal safeguards.
Due Process Clause
the clause in the Fourteenth Amendment that restricts state governments from denying citizens their life, liberty, or property without legal safeguards.
Selective Incorporation
the piecemeal process through which the Supreme Court has affirmed that almost all of the protections in the Bill of Rights also apply to state governments.
Establishment Clause
First Amendment protection against the government requiring citizens to join or support a religion
Free Exercise Clause
First Amerndment protection of the rights of individuals to exercise and express their religious beliefs .
Board of Education v. Allen (1968)
Taxpayer Funds and Private Religious Schools + establishment clause
Engel v. Vitale (1962) , Abington School District v. Schempp (1969)
Prayer in Public Schools + establishment clause
Current status of prayer in public schools
students can’t be directed to pray, but they can if they want to. + establishment clause
Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971)
Government Involvement with religion + establishment clause
Wisconsin v. Yoder + Free Exercise Clause
Under the free exercise clause, Americans can hold any religious beliefs. However, they are not always free to act on them. Amish stuff
Freedom of Expression
a fundamental right affirmed in the First Amendment to speak, publish, and protest.
One of the most difficult issues faced in courts is how to balance the needs of national security with the fundamental right of political expression