Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Quiz

Study Notes

Civil Liberties

Individual rights protected by the Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution.
Defended by the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment.
Examples include freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to bear arms.

Civil Rights

Government action taken to address the legal status of a minority group in society.
Protected by the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
Examples include laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, gender, and religion.

Incorporation

Process where the Supreme Court extends items from the Bill of Rights to the states on a case-by-case basis.
Ensures that states cannot infringe on rights protected by the Bill of Rights.

Symbolic Speech

Form of communication using actions or symbols to convey a message.
Protected under the First Amendment.
Examples include protests, boycotts, and flag burning.

Prior Restraint

Government censorship of a publication before it is published.
Rarely allowed, as it violates the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of the press.

Slander

False spoken statement damaging an individual's reputation.
Not protected under the First Amendment.

Libel

False written statement damaging an individual's reputation.
Not protected under the First Amendment.

Exclusionary Rule

Legal principle preventing evidence used in court if collected illegally.
Aimed at deterring police misconduct.

Grand Jury

Group determining if there's enough evidence to issue an indictment and move forward with a trial.
Only hears evidence presented by the government.

Trial (Petit) Jury

Hears a full presentation of a case to determine a verdict of guilty or not guilty.
Must reach a unanimous verdict in most cases.

Double Jeopardy

Prevents an individual from being charged with the same crime twice.
Protected by the Fifth Amendment.

Eminent Domain

Power of government to use private property for public use if fair compensation is provided.
Permitted under the Fifth Amendment.

Criminal Case

When an individual or group is accused of violating a law by local, state, or federal government.
Government acts as the prosecutor.

Civil Case

Non-criminal lawsuit between two private parties.
Can involve issues such as contract disputes, personal injury, and property disputes.

De Jure Segregation

Segregation enforced by formal laws or rules.
Found to be unconstitutional in Brown v. Board of Education.

De Facto Segregation

Segregation present in society as a result of patterns, trends, and historical events.
May result in unequal access to resources and opportunities.

Civil Disobedience

Peaceful protest of unjust or unfair laws.
Can take many forms, such as marches, boycotts, and strikes.

Strict Scrutiny

Used by the Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of laws that discriminate against certain groups.
The government must prove a law is constitutional because it serves a compelling government interest and is done in the least restrictive way possible.

Equality of Results

Action taken so that people can achieve the same end result.
May involve affirmative action programs or other government initiatives.

Equality of Opportunity

Action taken to give people an equal chance to succeed.
May involve policies designed to level the playing field, such as access to education and employment opportunities.

Affirmative Action

Actions taken to favor a group that is disadvantaged or subject to discrimination.
Aimed at creating a more diverse and equitable society by increasing opportunities for historically marginalized groups.

Description

Test your knowledge on civil liberties and civil rights as outlined in the U.S. Constitution. This quiz covers key amendments, landmark Supreme Court cases, and important concepts like incorporation and symbolic speech. Explore how these elements protect individual freedoms and address discrimination in society.