Glossary

ratified in 1865, this amendment abolished slavery.

ratified in 1868, this amendment says that all people born or naturalized in the United States are citizens; states cannot discriminate against citizens from other states; states cannot deprive a person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law; and states cannot deny someone equal protection of the laws regardless of their race, gender, religion, nationality, or other characteristics.

ratified in 1870, this amendment established the right to vote for male citizens regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

reducing or diminishing

a right that cannot be taken away for any reason

a solemn declaration

programs that favor groups who have faced historical discrimination

an arm of the government responsible for a specific function

the side of World War II that included the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and China

amicus curiae means “friend of the court”—someone who helps the court by giving information or advice but who is not part of the case. The brief they file is a report with all of that information or advice.

random; inconsistent

the original constitution of the United States. It was passed in 1781 but was replaced by the current U.S. Constitution in 1789.

to find something out for sure.

the head of the U.S. Department of Justice

the side of World War II that included Germany, Japan, and Italy

fundamental; basic

the first 10 amendments to the Constitution

a case where the death penalty is a possible punishment

the banning of expression from being heard, read, or seen

objection; disagreement

legal members of a particular country who have certain rights

the struggle for racial equality and justice in the 1950s and 60s in the United States

to persuade someone to do something by force or threat

to make money

the buying and selling of goods

the part of the Constitution that says Congress has the power to pass laws about the buying and selling of goods and services between the states

very important and persuasive

mandatory, obligatory, without choice

written explanation of a decision when a justice agrees with the result of a case, but for a different reason than the majority

to accept and allow immoral behavior to continue

an important issue about which people have differing opinions

to communicate an idea through words or actions

a lawyer

when a suspect is deprived of their freedom of movement; not free to go

segregation (setting apart by race) not based in law, but in fact or circumstance

segregation (setting apart by race) set by law.

saying or writing something that would hurt another person’s reputation. The statement about that person has to claim to be a fact instead of an opinion. Defamation usually implies that the statement is not true.

damaging the reputation of a person or group

the case presented by the defendant/the defendant’s attorney against an accusation of a crime or lawsuit

to give one’s power to another person

when citizens participate in their government by, among other things, voting, running for office, and telling their representatives about what issues are important to them

a public showing of a group’s opinion, as by rally or march

the process of ending racial segregation

dealing with international relations

the state of not having the same resources as those who are “advantaged”

to treat someone unfairly and differently than others just because of certain characteristics, like their race or gender

when someone is treated differently just because of certain characteristics, like their race or gender

differed in opinion.

a belief or set of beliefs.

required enlistment into the armed forces

the rule that states that the government cannot take someone’s life, freedom, or property without a trial

the part of the 14th Amendment that says the states cannot take away someone’s life, liberty, or property without due process of law. “Due process of law” means that the government must follow certain procedures, like a trial. These procedures are different depending on what the government is trying to take away.

the way a country manages its money and resources to produce, buy, and sell goods and services

show public support or approval for

the idea that people who are in the same situation must be treated the same by the government

rule that prohibits the use by the government of illegally obtained evidence in a criminal trial

the part of the government that is responsible for carrying out laws. The president is the head of the national executive branch.

actions that convey a particular message

specifically listed in the text of the Constitution

a fair way to carry out a procedure.

a case in which the defendant is being accused and tried for breaking a United States federal law (as opposed to a state law).

the medical term used for an unborn baby.

the Fourth Amendment protects individuals from “unreasonable searches and seizures.” That means that the government cannot simply enter someone’s house and search through their belongings without a good reason.

when a company gives another person the power to do business under the company’s name in exchange for a fee and part of the profits.

the right of the media to report news without being controlled or punished by the government.

states that did not allow slavery before the Civil War. Most of these states were in the North.

the right of an accused person in a crime to not be forced to give evidence against themselves.

necessary; basic; foundational.

a right that is considered so important that the government must protect it.

a rule requiring a person under arrest to be brought into court so the government can show that they were arrested lawfully.

bad or negative feeling toward something.

a person who leaves one country to settle permanently in another country

not already decided, not biased, not prejudiced.

powers that are not specifically listed in the Constitution. Instead, they are permitted by the “Necessary and Proper Clause” and inferred from other expressly stated powers.

evidence that was found or taken during an unlawful or unreasonable search.

to be formally charged with a crime

quality of being lower status or quality than someone or something else.

intruding on the rights of another.

to receive from an ancestor as a right or title

gradually harmful.

organizations founded for a specific purpose.

open to individuals of all races.

a branch of Christianity that considers saluting or pledging allegiance to state symbols as sacrilege.

state and local laws that legalized racial segregation. These laws existed mostly in the South from the 1890s–1960s. They prevented African Americans from voting and required the segregation of schools, parks, libraries, restrooms, restaurants, and many other places.

the part of the government that decides the meaning of laws and how they should be applied.

a problem that can be decided by the courts.

the power of the courts to decide whether a law or action by the government conflicts with the Constitution

the court system in a country.

a law passed by Congress that gave the Supreme Court the power to issue orders requiring U.S. government officials to carry out certain duties.

official power to make legal decisions.

to show that something is right or reasonable.

someone who is not an expert, not a professional in a field.

action taken to settle a case in court including hearings, motions, and trials.

the part of the government that writes and passes laws. Congress is the national legislative branch.

the part of the government that writes and passes laws.

lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning.

freedom

the opinion signed by more than half of the Supreme Court.

a document that shows that the state has given a couple permission to get married. Couples must have a marriage license in order to get married.

an agreement to establish a government, written for and by the Pilgrims on the Mayflower ship.

warnings that law enforcement officers are required to give to suspects who are in custody and being interrogated. These include the right to counsel, the right to remain silent, and the warning that anything they say may be used against them in court.

a minor crime usually punishable by a fine less than $1,000 or sentence of less than a year in jail.

an agreement passed by Congress stating that Missouri would be added to the United States and that Maine would be added as a free state at the same time.

the belief that there is only one God.

a request from the defendant to keep out certain evidence from trial.

the part of the Constitution that grants Congress the power to pass laws that are needed to carry out the powers specifically given to them in the Constitution

power that is required to perform a job.

to block or prevent from occurring.

reversed; canceled; overruled.

theft that is worth less than a legally specified amount.

the act of taking someone else’s work or ideas and passing them off as one’s own.

a group of people who share the same beliefs and opinions about the way the country should be run.

a problem that the Court should not decide because either 1) the Constitution does not give the Court enough guidance to decide the issue or, 2) the issue is one for another branch of government (legislative or executive) to decide.

a negative opinion formed without good reasons.

having special advantages or rights

facts that allow a reasonable person to believe evidence of a crime will be found in that location.

acts not allowed (prohibited) by law.

the well-being of the general public.

the action or state of setting people of different races apart from one another.

formal confirmation of an official document giving it full legal effect. For amendments to the U.S. Consititution, ratification requires approval of 3/4 of state legislatures or 3/4 of conventions called in each state.

a fictional person that has an ordinary level of reason; a typical person.

to take away or eliminate

paying money to those who have been wronged.

reversed; invalidated; canceled.

the right of a criminal defendant to have a lawyer help in their defense, even if they cannot afford a lawyer

to formally leave a group. When the South seceded from the union, they were saying they were no longer part of the U.S.

a person appointed by the president to deal with foreign affairs and lead the Department of State.

free from danger, safe.

to take possession of

when the government takes someone’s property, often to use it as evidence in a criminal trial

a legal doctrine that allowed for racial segregation as long as the facilities provided for each race were equal. In reality, most facilities provided for black people were inferior to facilities provided for white people.

the idea that the three branches of government have to have separate powers to work correctly

a part of someone’s identity defined by their gender compared with the gender or genders of people they are attracted to.

a person who is the property of a person or household and who is required to serve

states that allowed slavery before the Civil War. Most of these states were in the South.

in a way that relates to how people live together.

a prosecutor is a lawyer who argues in a court that the defendant should be found guilty of their accused crime. The attorney general hired a “special prosecutor” because he could not prosecute the president himself because of potential bias.

when a law that conflicts with a federal law or the Constitution is voided or no longer has power.

major, serious, or considerable.

quality of being higher status or quality than someone or something else.

the part of the Constitution that says that the Constitution and federal law are the supreme law of the land and superior to state law.

the part of the Constitution that allows Congress to suspend the writ of habeas corpus during emergencies.

racism that exists in society in the form of wealth, healthcare, housing, access to food, school systems, and other areas of life

a part of the country that has not yet been added as a state

the part of the Constitution explaining how members of the U.S. House of Representatives will be chosen says that the number of representatives each state gets will be decided by adding together the number of free people and three-fifths of all slaves in the state

used by courts to decide whether student speech causes a substantial disruption to learning—if it does, the student speech may be prohibited

the act of being open and honest

the crime of betraying one’s own country

three months of a pregnancy. There are three trimesters in a pregnancy.

unimportant, of little value

unable to be taken away

agreed upon by everyone

confirm or support

from 1954 – 1975, the United States was involved in a war in Vietnam, a country in southwest Asia. The American people were deeply divided in their support for and against the war.