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Magna Carta
Document signed by King John of England that set up the first limited government. -
English Bill of Rights
An act that parliament passed to limit the powers of the monarchy and protect the rights of the citizens. -
Declaration of Independence
A big letter that basically had the US break up with Great Britain. The formal thing that let Great Britain know that US was done with it. -
Articles of Confederation
First constitution of the US, which was later proven to establish a weak central government in the US. Established the functions of a government. -
Federalist Papers
A collection of essays that were published to encourage the public to adopt the US Constitution. Written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay. -
US constitution
To create a government that had enough power to act on a national level. -
9th Amendment
That any rights not written in the Constitution are held by the people. -
10th Amendment
Federal government only has the powers that are stated in the constitution. Everything else is held by the states and the people. -
1st Amendment
Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, etc. -
3rd Amendment
Government cant force a family to have a soldier live in somebodies home during peacetime -
5th Amendment
Guarantees the right to grand jury. The right to remain silent -
4th Amendment
Have to have a search warrant to be able to search somebodies house or property -
2nd Amendment
Right to bear arms -
6th Amendment
Protects the right to a speedy and public trial, and all the other stuff pertaining to that. Rights for criminals? -
7th Amendment
Provides for the right to a jury trial and civil lawsuits. -
8th Amendment
Does not allow excessive fines, excessive bail, and cruel and unusual punishments. -
US Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments in the US Constitution. Guarantees civil rights and liberties to the people. -
11th Amendment
Prohibits the federal courts from hearing certain lawsuits against states -
Marbury vs. Madison
This is where the U.S Supreme Court first ruled an act of Congress unconstitutional, which established the doctrine of judicial review. -
12th Amendment
Revised the presidential election. The president and vice president will be elected together rather than the vice president being the runner up. -
McCulloch vs. Maryland
Basically that the Federal Government had the power to set up a Federal Bank and that states couldn't tax the Federal Government. -
Dred Scott vs. Sandford
A slave by the name of Dred Scott sued for freedom when his master took him to a free state, but the court said that enslaved people were not citizens and considered property, so they couldn't sue in court. -
Emancipation Proclomation
President Lincoln issued this proclamation that freed all the slaves that were in the confederate states. -
13th Amendment
Abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude, unless its for a punishment -
14th Amendment
Grants citizenship to everyone born and naturalized in the U.S., including the slaves -
15th Amendment
Prohibits the denial of the right to vote because of color, race or previous servitude. -
Plessy vs. Ferguson
This was the separate but equal doctrine, where kids were separated in schools but were supposed to be equal in everything. -
16th Amendment
Gives Congress the authority to issue an income tax without determining it on population. -
17th Amendment
Establishes where the U.S. Senators are elected by popular vote. -
18th Amendment
Does not allow the making or selling of alcohol in U.S. (Later repealed) -
19th Amendment
Prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on sex. -
20th Amendment
Changed the dates of when the presidents and vice presidents terms ends. Also says that if the president elect dies before taking office, the vice-president elect can take office. -
21st Amendment
Repeals the 18th amendment, and says that's its a federal offense to transport alcohol into areas where the alcohol ban is in place. -
22nd Amendment
Limits the number of times somebody can be president -
Brown vs. Board of Education
The Supreme Court said that separating kids in schools just because of their race was unconstitutional. -
Cooper v Aaron
Basically saying that states cant just decide to not do what a Supreme Court ruling had decided. Basically reaffirmed the Brown v Board ruling. States cant disregard what the Supreme Court ruling was just because they interpreted the constitution differently. -
23rd Amendment
Allows D.C. to have electors in the Electoral College -
Mapp v Ohio
Basically saying that any illegally seized evidence cannot be used in a state criminal trial. -
Gideon v Wainwright
Basically said that criminals have the right to a lawyer, even if they don't have the money to get one. So the government has to give them one. -
24th Amendment
Abolished poll taxes to vote for any election -
Miranda vs. Arizona
Basically that an arrested individual is entitled to rights against self incrimination and to an attorney. Its where the police got those things they have to say when making an arrest from. -
25th Amendment
Basically says what to do if something happens with the president or the office and what to do and how to fill the vacancies. -
26th Amendment
Lowered the voting age to 18, after being 21 for a long time. -
Roe vs. Wade
Basically protected the women's right to have an abortion under the 14th amendment, but the government still ahs power to regulate abortions based on the stage of the pregnancy. -
U.S. v Nixon
Basically saying that the president don't get no special treatment just cause he's president, and told Nixon to give up all the videos relating to like, the Watergate Scandal. -
Bethel School District #43 v Fraser
Basically a Supreme Court case that says that schools can discipline students of they make indecent speeches that have vulgar and offensive language. -
27th Amendment
Basically doesn't allow any change to the salary of congress members until after the next election. -
Bush vs. Gore
An election dispute between Al Gore and President Bush over who won the election and counting the vote. -
Roper v Simmons
Basically said that you cant put a death penalty on somebody who committed a crime when they were younger than 18 at the time of the crime. Because that is a cruel and unusual punishment. -
Riley vs. California
Basically saying that you cant search the contents of a cellphone during arrest without a warrant, cause that's unconstitutional under the fourth amendment.