All flashcards
Flashcard 1: How does the Bill of Rights protect minorities?
Answer: Limits government power, protecting individual rights. Creates barriers against government overreach and tyranny.
Flashcard 2: What is the Equal Protection Clause?
Answer: Prohibits states from denying equal protection. Part of 14th Amendment requiring fair treatment under law.
Flashcard 3: Which Supreme Court case emphasized minority rights protection?
Answer: Brown v. Board of Education. Overturned 'separate but equal' doctrine in 1954.
Flashcard 4: What is the 'tyranny of the majority'?
Answer: Majority uses power to oppress minorities. Concept warned against by Madison in Federalist 10.
Flashcard 5: What is the principle of majority rule in a democracy?
Answer: Decisions are made by a majority of the voters. Core democratic principle where more than half determines outcomes.
Flashcard 6: What does the term 'civil disobedience' mean?
Answer: Nonviolent protest against unjust laws. Peaceful resistance to illegitimate government actions.
Flashcard 7: What does the term 'de facto segregation' refer to?
Answer: Segregation by social factors, not law. Separation occurring through practice, not legal mandate.
Flashcard 8: Which clause prevents government from establishing a religion?
Answer: Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Bars government from favoring or establishing official religion.
Flashcard 9: What is the main focus of Title IX?
Answer: Prohibit gender discrimination in education. 1972 law ensuring equal access to educational programs.
Flashcard 10: What is the significance of Obergefell v. Hodges?
Answer: Legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. 2015 ruling extending marriage equality nationwide.
Flashcard 11: Which court case established 'separate but equal' doctrine?
Answer: Plessy v. Ferguson. 1896 decision upholding racial segregation laws.
Flashcard 12: What does 'separation of powers' refer to?
Answer: Division of government into branches. Legislative, executive, and judicial branches with distinct powers.
Flashcard 13: What is the main focus of the NAACP?
Answer: Advocate for civil rights and racial equality. National Association for Advancement of Colored People.
Flashcard 14: How does the Constitution address religious freedom?
Answer: First Amendment prohibits state religion. Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses protect religious liberty.
Flashcard 15: What is the role of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission?
Answer: Enforce laws against workplace discrimination. Federal agency investigating and prosecuting employment bias.
Flashcard 16: Which amendment provides for women's suffrage?
Answer: The 19th Amendment. Granted women the constitutional right to vote.
Flashcard 17: What does the term 'pluralism' mean in politics?
Answer: Diverse groups compete for power. Multiple groups sharing political influence rather than elite rule.
Flashcard 18: What is the Lemon Test?
Answer: Test for determining violation of the Establishment Clause. Three-part test for church-state separation issues.
Flashcard 19: What is the main goal of the Americans with Disabilities Act?
Answer: Prohibit discrimination based on disability. Ensures accessibility and equal opportunities for disabled persons.
Flashcard 20: What is the role of interest groups in democracy?
Answer: Advocate for minority and majority interests. Organizations representing diverse viewpoints in political process.
Flashcard 21: How does the Constitution limit majority power?
Answer: Through checks and balances and separation of powers. Structural features prevent any group from gaining total control.
Flashcard 22: What is the importance of the First Amendment?
Answer: Protects freedoms of speech, religion, press. Safeguards fundamental democratic freedoms from government.
Flashcard 23: What is the significance of Roe v. Wade?
Answer: Recognized a woman's right to choose abortion. Protected reproductive privacy under 14th Amendment.
Flashcard 24: Which case established judicial review?
Answer: Marbury v. Madison. 1803 case giving courts power to review laws.
Flashcard 25: How do civil liberties differ from civil rights?
Answer: Liberties are protections from government; rights are equal treatment. Liberties limit government; rights ensure equal treatment.
Flashcard 26: What does 'equal protection under the law' mean?
Answer: Laws must treat individuals equally. Government cannot discriminate based on protected characteristics.
Flashcard 27: Which amendment abolished slavery in the U.S.?
Answer: The 13th Amendment. Ended forced labor and involuntary servitude.
Flashcard 28: Identify a method used to limit majority rule.
Answer: Filibuster in the Senate. Senate procedure allowing unlimited debate to block votes.
Flashcard 29: What is the 'tyranny of the majority'?
Answer: Majority uses power to oppress minorities. Concept warned against by Madison in Federalist 10.
Flashcard 30: How does the Constitution limit majority power?
Answer: Through checks and balances and separation of powers. Structural features prevent any group from gaining total control.