Unit 3: AP Civil Rights and Liberties

Civil Liberties

• Rights to own property without government interference.

• Freedoms to think and act without government interference or fear of unfair legal treatment.

• The ability to vote in elections without restrictions.

• The right to free education provided by the government.

Time-Place-Manner Doctrine

• Laws that regulate all kinds of speech and all views are more likely to be upheld.

• Laws concerning the time, place, or manner of speech that are content-neutral are less likely to be struck down.

• Laws that regulate some kinds of speech but not others are more likely to be struck down.

• Laws that apply only to certain viewpoints are always upheld.

Right to Privacy

• The right to be left alone, which has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to entail individual access to birth control and abortions.

• A legal principle that allows individuals to keep their personal information confidential.

• A constitutional right that guarantees freedom of speech and expression.

• The right to own property without government interference.

Civil Rights

• Policies that promote economic growth and development.

• Policies or government actions that are designed to protect people against discriminatory treatment by government officials or individuals.

• Policies that restrict individual freedoms in favor of national security.

• Policies that encourage social inequality and discrimination.

Pro-Life Movement

• A movement that supports the right to choose abortion under any circumstances.

• A movement whose followers believe that abortion is murder and should not be conducted under any circumstances (or under limited circumstances involving the physical health of the mother).

• A movement advocating for the legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide.

• A movement focused on promoting reproductive rights and access to contraception.

Separation of Church & State

• The government may not favor any religion or establish an official religion, as stated in the 1st Amendment's Establishment Clause.

• The government must support all religions equally without any preference.

• The government can establish an official religion as long as it does not discriminate against others.

• The government is allowed to favor one religion over others if it is a majority religion.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

• A federal law designed to protect the voting rights of minorities by requiring the Justice Departments' approval of changes in political districts and other electoral procedures.

• A law that abolished the Electoral College in the United States.

• A legislation that granted women the right to vote in all states.

• A federal law that limited the voting age to 21 years.

Selective Incorporation

• The process by which provisions of the Bill of Rights are applied to federal laws only.

• The process by which provisions of the Bill of Rights are brought within the scope of the Fourteenth Amendment, one liberty at a time, and so applied to state and local governments.

• The process by which state laws are reviewed for constitutionality by the Supreme Court.

• The process by which the Constitution is amended to include new rights.

Establishment Clause

• Clause in the First Amendment that says the government may not establish an official religion.

• A provision that allows the government to endorse a specific religion.

• A rule that mandates the separation of church and state.

• A statement that protects the rights of religious minorities.

Majority-Minority Districts

• Drawing district boundaries to give a minority group a majority in order to give an opportunity to elect a minority representative.

• Creating districts that ensure equal representation for all racial groups.

• Establishing districts based solely on geographic boundaries without regard to population demographics.

• Redrawing district lines to favor a particular political party.