AP Government Course Vocabulary

AP Government Course Vocabulary 1st Amendment - Ans - Amendment: People have freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and the right to petition the Government. 1st Amendment - Ans - Freedom of religion (establishment & free exercise clauses), speech, press, assembly, and petition. 2nd Amendment - Ans - Amendment: People have the right to have a weapon to protect themselves. 2nd Amendment - Ans - Right to arm bears. Supported by National Rifle Association interest group & Republican Party. 3rd Amendment - Ans - Amendment: Soldiers cannot take or live in a person's house. 4th Amendment - Ans - Amendment: The government cannot arrest a person or search their property unless there is "probable cause." 4th Amendment - Ans - No "unreasonable" searches and seizures. Exclusionary rule (Weeks v. US, Mapp v. Ohio) 5th Amendment - Ans - (1) No Self-Incrimination (Miranda) (2) No Double Jeopardy (defendant cannot be tried again on the same, or similar charges) (3) No deprivation of life liberty or property without "due process of law" (fair treatment) 5th Amendment - Ans - Amendment: The government must follow the law (due process) before punishing a person. 6th Amendment - Ans - Amendment: A person has the right to a fair and speedy trial by a jury. 6th Amendment - Ans - The right to counsel in criminal trials. Gideon v. Wainwright held that states must provide indigent defendants with a free lawyer ("public defender"). Right to jury in criminal trials. 7 years - Ans - How How long do you have to be a resident of the US to run for the House of Representative? 7th Amendment - Ans - Amendment: A person has the right to a jury trial for civil cases. 7th Amendment - Ans - Right to jury in civil trials. 8th Amendment - Ans - Amendment: The government cannot demand excessive bail or fines, or any cruel and unusual punishment. 8th Amendment - Ans - Government cannot inflict cruel and unusual punishment. Meaning of "cruel" based on "evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society." Categorical bans on death penalty: juveniles, retarded, nonmurder crimes... 9 years - Ans - How long do you have to be a resident of the US to run for the Senate? 9th Amendment - Ans - Amendment: The Constitution does not include all of the rights of the people and the states. 9th Amendment - Ans - Unenumerated Rights Amendment. Citizens have unenumerated rights in addition to those stated in the Constitution. Not been developed by Supreme Court (too open ended) 10th Amendment - Ans - Amendment: Any powers that the Constitution does not give to the federal government belong to the states. 10th Amendment - Ans - Powers not expressly given to federal government by the Constitution are reserved to states or the people. Also known as "reserved powers amendment" or "states' rights amendment" 11th Amendment - Ans - Amendment: Citizens cannot sue states in federal courts. (There are some exceptions). 12th Amendment - Ans - Amendment: The President and Vice President are elected on a party ticket. 13th Amendment - Ans - Abolished slavery. First of three "Reconstruction Amendments" passed after Civil War (1865-70) 13th Amendment - Ans - Amendment: Slavery is illegal in the United States. 14 years - Ans - How How long do you have to be a resident of the US to run for the President? 14th Amendment - Ans - (1) All persons born in the U.S. are citizens; (2) no person can be deprived of life, liberty or property without DUE PROCESS OF LAW; (3) no state can deprive a person of EQUAL PROTECTION of the laws. Second of three "Reconstruction Amendments" passed after Civil War. 14th Amendment - Ans - Amendment: Every person born in the USA is a citizen. An immigrant can become a naturalized citizen. 15th amendment - Ans - Amendment: All US male citizens have the right to vote.