Q1. The fundamental individual rights of a free society, such as freedom of speech and the right to a jury trial, which in the United States are protected by the Bill of Rights

A1. civil liberties

Q2. The first ten amendments to the Constitution, which set forth basic protections for individual rights to free expression, fair trial, and property

A2. Bill of Rights

Q3. Americans’ freedom to communicate their views, the foundation of which is the First Amendment rights of freedom of conscience, speech, press, assembly, and petition

A3. freedom of expression

Q4. clear-and-present-danger test

A4. A test devised by the Supreme Court in 1919 in order to define the limits of free speech in the context of national security. According to the test, government cannot abridge political expression unless it presents a clear and present danger to the nation’s security

Q5. Action (for example, the waving or burning of a flag) for the purpose of expressing a political opinion

A5. symbolic speech

Q6. Government prohibition of speech or publication before the fact, which is presumed by the courts to be unconstitutional unless the justification for it is overwhelming (a form of censorship)

A6. prior restraint

Q7. Due process clause (of the Fourteenth Amendment)

A7. The clause of the Constitution that has been used by the judiciary to apply the Bill of Rights to the actions of state governments

Q8. The absorption of certain provisions of the Bill of Rights (for example, freedom of speech) into the Fourteenth Amendment so that these rights are protected by the federal courts from infringement by the states

A8. selective incorporation

Q9. imminent lawless action test

A9. A legal test that says government cannot lawfully suppress advocacy that promotes lawless action unless such advocacy is aimed at producing, and is likely to produce, imminent lawless action

Q10. Publication of material that falsely damages a person’s reputation

A10. libel

Q11. Spoken words that falsely damage a person’s reputation

A11. slander

Q12. establishment clause

A12. The First Amendment provision stating that government may not favor one religion over another religion, and prohibiting Congress from passing laws respecting the establishment of religion

Q13. free-exercise clause

A13. A First Amendment provision that prohibits the government from interfering with the practice of religion or prohibiting the free exercise of religion

Q14. The constitutional requirement that government must follow proper legal procedures before a person can be legitimately punished for an alleged offense

A14. Procedural due process

Q15. The legal principle that government is prohibited from using in trials evidence that was obtained by unconstitutional means (for example, illegal search and seizure)

A15. Exclusionary rule

Q16. The right of every person to equal protection under the laws and equal access to society’s opportunities and public facilities

A16. Civil rights or Equal rights

Q17. Gender gap

A17. The tendency of women and men to differ in their political attitudes and voting preferences

Q18. Equal-protection clause

A18. A clause of the Fourteenth Amendment that forbids any state to deny equal protection of the laws to any individual within its jurisdiction

Q19. A test applied by courts to laws that treat individuals unequally. Such a law may be deemed constitutional if its purpose is held to be “reasonably” related to a legitimate government interest

A19. reasonable-basis test

Q20. A test applied by courts to laws that attempt a racial or ethnic classification. In effect, the test eliminates race or ethnicity as a legal classification when it places minority-group members at a disadvantage

A20. strict-scrutiny test

Q21. Legal classification, such as race and national origin, that have invidious discrimination as their purpose and therefore are unconstitutional

A21. suspect classifications

Q22. A test applied by courts to laws that attempt a gender classification. In effect, the test eliminates gender as a legal classification unless it serves an important objective and is substantially related to the objective’s achievement

A22. intermediate-scrutiny test

Q23. Discrimination ( or segregation) on the basis of race, sex, religion, ethnicity, and the like that results from social, economic, and cultural biases and condition

A23. de facto discrimination (or segregation)

Q24. Discrimination (or segregation) on the basis of race, sex, religion, ethnicity, and the like that results from a law (ex. Jim Crow laws)

A24. de jure discrimination (or segregation)

Q25. equality of result

A25. The objective of policies intended to reduce or eliminate the effects of discrimination so that members of traditionally disadvantaged groups will have the same benefits of society as do members of advantaged groups

Q26. A term that refers to programs designed to ensure that women, minorities, and other traditionally disadvantaged groups have full and equal opportunities in employment, education, and other areas of life

A26. affirmative action

Q27. The constitutional amendment that establishes the four great liberties: freedom of the press, of speech, of religion, and of assembly

A27. First Amendment

Q28. Fourteenth Amendment

A28. The constitutional amendment adopted after the Civil War that states, “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws

Q29. The situation occurring when the police have reason to believe a crime has been committed and a person should be arrested. In making the arrest, police are allowed legally to search for and seize incriminating evidence.

A29. probable cause

Q30. unreasonable searches and seizures

A30. Obtaining evidence in a haphazard or random manner, a practice prohibited by the Fourth Amendment. Both probable cause and a search warrant are required for a legal and proper search and seizure of incriminating evidence

Q31. A written authorization from a court specifying the area to be searched and what the police are searching for

A31. search warrant

Q32. The constitutional amendment designed to protect the rights of persons accused of crimes, including protection against double jeopardy, self-incrimination, and punishment without due process of law

A32. Fifth Amendment

Q33. self-incrimination

A33. The situation occurring when an individual accused of a crime is compelled to be a witness against himself or herself in court.

Q34. The constitutional amendment designed to protect individuals accused of crimes. It includes the right to counsel, the right to confront witnesses, and the right to a speedy and public trial

A34. Sixth Amendment

Q35. A bargain struck between the defendant’s lawyer and the prosecutor to the effect that the defendant will plead guilty to a lesser crime (or fewer crimes) in exchange for the state’s promise not to prosecute the defendant for a more serious (or additional) crime

A35. plea bargaining

Q36. The constitutional amendment that forbids cruel and unusual punishment and excessive bails

A36. Eight Amendment

Q37. right to privacy

A37. The right to a private personal life free from the intrusion of government. The right to privacy is implicitly protected by the Bill of Rights

Q38. The constitutional amendment passed after the Civil War that forbade slavery and involuntary servitude

A38. Thirteenth Amendment

Q39. The law that made racial discrimination against any group in hotels, motels, and restaurants illegal and forbade many forms of job discrimination. (one of the most far reaching of any civil rights act)

A39. Civil Rights Act of 1964

Q40. The constitutional amendment adopted in 1870 to extend suffrage to African Americans

A40. Fifteen Amendment

Q41. Twenty-fourth Amendment

A41. The constitutional amendment passed in 1964 that declared poll taxes (small taxes levied on the right to vote) void

Q42. A law designed to help end formal and informal barriers to African American suffrage. Prohibited the use of literacy test to register to vote

A42. Voting Rights Act of 1965

Q43. Nineteenth Amendment

A43. The constitutional amendment adopted in 1920 that guarantees women the right to vote

Q44. A constitutional amendment originally introduced in 1923 and passed by Congress in 1972 and sent to the state legislatures for ratification, stating that “equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” Despite substantial public support and an extended deadline, the amendment failed to acquire the necessary support from three-fourths of the state legislatures

A44. Equal Right Amendment (ERA)

Q45. Comparable worth

A45. This issue raised when women are paid less than men for working at jobs requiring comparable skill

Q46. A law passed in 1990 that requires employers and public facilities to make “reasonable accommodation” for people with disabilities and prohibits discrimination against these individuals in employment

A46. Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

Q47. Court ruling that government cannot be involved with religion

A47. wall of separation

Q48. An error in gathering evidence sufficiently minor that it may be used in a trial

A48. good-faith exception