Judiciary
Which branch is considered to be the "least dangerous branch"
Judicial Branch
Name a few key players in the civil rights movement
Martin Luther King Jr.
Ralph Abernathy
Rosa Parks
James Meredith
Black Panthers
NAACP
Define Civil liberties
Individual rights protected by law from unjust governmental or other interference.
What's a PAC?
Political Action Committee - organized for the purpose of raising and spending money to elect and defeat candidates
Briefly discuss "don't ask, don't tell"
It was meant to serve as protection among gays and lesbians in the military.
Which article focuses primarily on the judicial branch?
Article III
Discuss the difference between civil liberties and civil rights
Civil rights are 'the basic right to be free from unequal treatment, based on certain characteristics which we deem important, like race, gender, and disability,' and civil liberties, which are 'basic freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights
Name a few exceptions to "freedom of speech"
Defamation (slander, libel)
Fighting words
Obscenity
What is said to be the easiest form of political participation?
Voting
What was the purpose for the equal rights amendment?
To establish civil rights, regardless of gender
Which landmark court case established judicial review?
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Discuss the implications of the Voting Rights Act of 1965
Landmark piece of federal legislation in the United States that prohibits racial discrimination in voting
Discuss the similarities and differences of the establishment clause and the free exercise clause
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
What are a few factors that have an influence on political socialization?
Friends, school, media, family, etc.
According to the Supreme Court, what is the standard for determining illegal sexual harassment?
A "hostile or abusive" work environment
Who appoints a federal judge, and who confirms them?
The president appoints, and the senate confirms
What is affirmative action?
Providing equal access for those groups that have been historically excluded or underrepresented, such as women and minorities.
Discuss at least 5 of the first 10 amendments
First Amendment - Freedom of speech, press,
Second Amendment-Right to bear arms
Third Amendment- No quartering soldiers
Fourth Amendment- No unreasonable search and seizure
Fifth Amendment- No double jeopardy, cannot be forced to be a witness against himself. Cannot be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law. Cannot have private property taken for public use without just compensation.
Sixth Amendment- Right to a fair and speedy trial
Seventh Amendment- Right to a trial by jury
Eighth Amendment- No excessive bail. No cruel or unusual punishment
Ninth Amendment- Rights to the people beyond the Constitution
Tenth Amendment- Powers reserved to the state
What are a few examples of extraordinary political participation?
Protests, strikes, boycotting, etc.
Discuss the difference of de facto and de jure segregation
de jure- separation of the races which occurs because of laws
de facto - separation of the races which occurs because of tradition or practice
Discuss the difference between judicial activism and judicial restraint
Judicial activism refers to judicial rulings that are suspected of being based on personal opinion, rather than on existing law.
Judicial restraint is a theory of judicial interpretation that encourages judges to limit the exercise of their own power. It asserts that judges should hesitate to strike down laws unless they are obviously unconstitutional
What was Lyndon B. Johnson's role in the civil rights movement?
He signed the 3 biggest civil rights acts of the 1960's
Briefly discuss the exclusionary clause
any evidence not obtained legally cannot be used in a trial
What is the relationship of age, education, and voting?
Older people vote more
Those who are more educated tend to vote more
Has voter turnout increased or decreased since the 1960's?
Decreased