U.S. Constitution and Amendments

• Study notes on the constitution, bill of rights, supreme court, important court cases etc

Constitution and Amendments

• Constitutional Convention addressed the flaws of the Articles of Confederation, leading to the creation of the U.S. Constitution
• The document survives due to its ability to adapt through amendments and judicial interpretation
• The Bill of Rights comprises the first 10 amendments and guarantees fundamental rights and liberties to individuals
• 1st Amendment protects freedom of speech, press, assembly, religion, and to petition the government
• 4th Amendment guards against unreasonable searches and seizures, requiring probable cause for warrants
• 5th Amendment ensures due process, protects against self-incrimination, and prohibits double jeopardy
• 6th Amendment guarantees the right to a speedy and public trial, the right to counsel, and the right to confront witnesses
• 14th Amendment ensures equal protection and due process under the law for all citizens

Foundational Principles and Documents

• The Declaration of Independence outlines the reasons for separation from British rule, emphasizing natural rights and self-governance
• The Constitution establishes the framework of the U.S. government
• Separation of powers divides governmental authority among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches
• An appeal is a request to a higher court to review a decision, while a motion is a formal request made to a court during a trial or hearing

Supreme Court and Landmark Cases

• The U.S. Supreme Court is the highest court in the federal judiciary, composed of nine justices who interpret laws and the Constitution
• Coolidge v. New Hampshire the ruling impacted search warrant procedures
• Houston v. pertains to forms of speech protected under the First Amendment
• Texas v. Johnson concerns the issue of speech with expression, alongside Watts v. U.S.
• U.S. v. O'Brien relates to modes of expression and the government's compelling interest
• Miller v. California sets the standard for obscenity with a three-part test
• Tinker et al v. Des Moines addresses protected speech in schools, specifically regarding armbands
• Shaw v. Murphy and rights in prison are also considered protected speech contexts
• Morse v. Frederick (Bong Hits 4 Jesus) deals with student speech rights
• Boyd v. US impacts exclusionary rule
• Weeks v. US is related to the exclusionary rule
• Wolf v. Colorado relates to the exclusionary rule
• Mapp v. Ohio bears on the exclusionary rule

Arrest and Search Procedures

• "What is standing" concerns parade regulations, residential picketing, and freedom of religion
• Law of arrest is based on the legal justification for making an arrest
• Four parts of arrest include authority, intent, custody, and awareness
• PC stands for probable cause
• RS stands for reasonable suspicion
• Terry v. Ohio concerns stop and frisk
• Arizona v. Johnson deals with vehicle searches
• Florida v. JL concerns search procedures;
• Illinois v Wardlow- search procedures
• US v Sharpe & Savage search procedures
• Pa v Mimms -Maryland v Wilson concerns car stops
• People v Defoe- Exclusionary rule related
• U. S v Watson concerns the legality if arrest
• Aguilar-Spinelli 2 part test is search warrants & confidential informants under scrutiny
• Illinois v Gates totality test relates to search warrants & confidential informants
• Michigan v Summers cases address no-knock provisions and nighttime endorsements
• Exceptions to warrant requirements include consent, plain view, and search incident to lawful arrest (SILA)
• Good faith exception- Mass V Shepherd, US v Leon are related
• Chimel v calif (SILA) concerns to legal precedent
• NY v Harris Payton v NY Dunaway v NY are related to cases
• Arizona v Hicks concerns: plain view doctrine, Inventory search, automobile search, U.S. v Ross
• Rakus v Illinois concerns: standing
• Calif v Carney, Florida v Riley aerial search, Katz v U.S protection of people not places- Hot pursuit, Cailf v Greenwood, are related to search procedures
• Dunaway v NY are arrest warrants
• NY v Harris- case related
• Payton v NY concerns arrest warrant requirements
• Explain the arraignment process,
• Explain role of the Grand Jury,
• Explain standing in the context of constitutional law