Same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry based on the 14th amendment equal protection clause.

1973 Court decision established that abortion rights fall within the privacy implied in the 14th amendment; women have total autonomy over pregnancy in the first trimester (Burger Court)

1867 Supreme Court case that declared all laws against interracial marriage unconstitutional.

2011 Supreme Court case held that speech on a public sidewalk, about a public issue, cannot be liable for a tort of emotional distress, even if the speech is found to be "outrageous".

A 2010 decision by the United States Supreme Court holding that independent expenditures (political spending) by corporations, associations, and labor unions is free speech protected by the 1st Amendment and so cannot be limited by federal law. Upheld bans on direct contributions to candidates. Lead to creation of super PACs & massive rise in amount of third party electioneering

A 1989 case in which the Supreme Court struck down a law banning the burning of the American flag on the grounds that such action was symbolic speech protected by the First Amendment.

2010 Supreme Court ruling that struck down a Chicago ordinance banning the possession of handguns as well as other gun regulations; said that the right of individuals to keep and bear arms should apply to the states; uses the selective incorporation of the 14th amendment to say that the 2nd amendment is among fundamental rights necessary to our system of liberty. (Roberts Court)

1954 Supreme Court decision ruled that school segregation was unconstitutional; segregation psychologically damaging to blacks; overturned separate but equal; use of 14th Amendment (Warren Court).

A 1919 U.S. Supreme Court decision concerning the question of whether the defendant possessed a First Amendment right to free speech against the draft during World War I. Court ruled that speech may be punished if it creates a "Clear and present danger" of illegal acts.

1896 Supreme Court decision that upheld state-imposed racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine (Fuller Court).

1978 Supreme Court decision that a white man Allan Bakke had been unfairly denied admission to medical school on the basis of quotas. The court did not rule out all forms of affirmative action, but it did strike down the quota system

1962 Court decision that prohibited state-sponsored recitation of prayer in public schools by virtue of 1st Amendment's establishment clause and the 14th Amendment's due process clause (Warren Court).

(1972) The Court ruled that Wisconsin could not require Amish parents to send their children to public school beyond the eighth grade because it would violate long-held religious beliefs, would violate the free exercise clause of the 1st Amendment. (Burger Court)

1969 The Court ruled that public school students may wear armbands to class protesting against America's war in Vietnam when such display does not disrupt classes.

1971 court case that involved the"Pentagon Papers;" established that the government must prove actual harm to national security if it seeks prior restraint to censor the press (Burger Court).

1963 Case that extended to the defendant the right of counsel in all state and federal criminal trials regardless of their ability to pay (Warren Court).

1961 Court case that established the exclusionary rule; illegally obtained evidence cannot be used in court (Warren Court)

1966 court case that established that criminal suspects must be informed of their right to consult with an attorney and of their right against self-incrimination prior to questioning by police; established Miranda warnings of counsel and silence. (Warren Court).

Martin Luther King's 1963 response to a statement made by Alabama clergy regarding his protest; letter written from his cell in Birmingham where he was arrested for a non-violent protest; King wrote about what makes laws 'just or unjust' ; said that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere". . He was disappointed more white Christians and religious leaders didn't speak out against racism.

Classifications of people based on their race or ethnicity; laws so classifying people are subject to "strict scrutiny".

The police can question an un-Mirandized suspect if there is an urgent concern for public safety.

The standard by which "suspect classifications" are judged. To be upheld, such a classification must be related to a "compelling government interest," be "narrowly tailored" to achieve that interest, and use the "least restrictive means" available.

A standard developed by the courts to test the constitutionality of a law; when applied, a law is constitutional as long as it meets a reasonable government interest.

Racial segregation that occurs because of laws or administrative decisions by public agencies. (ie. segregation in schools, transportation).

Rights not clearly defined but existing in the "shadow" of formal constitutional rights. The rights guaranteed by implication in the Constitution or the implied powers of the Constitution. (ie Privacy)

Power of a government to take private property for public use.

Laws or administrative regulations that require a business firm, government agency, labor union, school, college, or other organization to take positive steps to increase the number of African Americans, other minorities, or women in its membership.

Segregation "in fact" or practice without being officially or legally established, (ie. racial discrimination in hiring practices, real estate).

1972 amendment to the Civil Rights Act that states that no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

Invalidated the use of any test or device to deny the vote and authorized federal examiners to register voters in states that had disenfranchised blacks, allowed for Federal preclearance of Congressional districts.

Banned discrimination in public accommodations, prohibited discrimination in any federally assisted program, outlawed discrimination in most employment.

Declares that all persons born in the U.S. are citizens and are guaranteed due process of law and equal protection of the laws.

Abolished the use of the poll tax as a prerequisite to vote in national elections and was later applied to the states as well.

Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.

Amendment to the Constitution that guaranteed women the right to vote.

Citizens cannot be denied the right to vote because of race, color , or precious condition of servitude.

Abolished slavery.

An approach to affirmative action policies that takes demographics (ie race, gender) into account when making decisions, but does not use this a the lone determining factor.

a numerical requirement for hiring, promoting, or admitting a certain number of people as a means for diminishing discrimination.

Part of the 14th Amendment that ensures all those born in U.S. are citizens, clarified the question of who were considered citizens.

14th amendment clause that prohibits states from denying equal protection under the law, and has been used to combat discrimination.

Part of the 14th amendment stating that no state may deprive a person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.

First Amendment ban on laws "respecting an establishment of religion"

First Amendment requirement that law cannot prevent free exercise of religion

The rights of people to be treated without unreasonable or unconstitutional differences, usually pertain to a group

Allows for the admissibility of evidence obtained by police in a warrantless search of an automobile when the police have probable cause that a crime has occurred and delaying a search could result in the loss of evidence.

Statements that must be made by the police informing a suspect of his or her constitutional rights protected by the Fifth Amendment, including the right to an attorney provided by the court if the suspect cannot afford one.

The first ten amendments to the Constitution

Rights - chiefly, the rights to be free of government interference - accorded to an individual by the Constitution (free speech, free press, and so on), rights included in the Bill of Rights

A violation, as of a law, regulation, or agreement; a breach

A government preventing material from being published. This is a common method of limiting the press in some nations, but it is usually unconstitutional in the United States, according to the First Amendment and as confirmed in the 1931 Supreme Court case of Near v. Minnesota.

Law should not punish speech unless there was a clear and present danger of producing harmful actions, things that might be said safely during peacetime, may be punished during wartime.

Improperly gathered evidence may not be introduced in a criminal trial

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

Act of harming or ruining another's reputation, slander or libel.

Government regulations that place restrictions on free speech. These regulations, specifying when, where, and in what way speech is allowed, are applied when unrestricted free speech will conflict with the rights of others, intended to minimize public safety threats.

The three-part test for Establishment Clause cases that a law must pass before it is declared constitutional: it must have a secular purpose; it must neither advance nor inhibit religion; and it must not cause excessive entanglement with religion.

Court sentences prohibited by the Eighth Amendment. Although the Supreme Court has ruled that mandatory death sentences for certain offenses are unconstitutional, it has not held that the death penalty itself constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.

The situation occurring when an individual accused of a crime is compelled to be a witness against himself or herself in court. The Fifth Amendment protects against self-incrimination.

The police can question an un-Mirandized suspect if there is an urgent concern for public safety.

The process by which the Supreme Court has applied portions of the Bill of Rights to the states.

Writing that falsely injures another person.

The action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation.

Indecent or offensive speech or expression.

A form of profanity meant to degrade, intimidate, or dehumanize groups of people, could be on the basis race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other group.