Rights and Liberties (1st Amendment)

Question 1

Free Speech

Answer 1

The right to express opinions without government interference, a fundamental aspect of the First Amendment.

Question 2

Symbolic Speech

Answer 2

Non-verbal expression, such as gestures or actions, that conveys a political or social message and is protected as a form of free speech.

Question 3

“Low Value” Speech

Answer 3

Speech with limited constitutional protection, including obscenity, defamation, and fighting words.

Question 4

Libel

Answer 4

False and damaging written statements that HARM the reputation of an individual or entity.

Question 5

Defamation

Answer 5

FALSE spoken or written statements that harm the reputation of an individual or entity.

Question 6

True Threats

Answer 6

Communications that constitute a serious expression of intent to commit unlawful violence.

Question 7

“Fighting Words”

Answer 7

Offensive and inflammatory language likely to provoke an immediate violent reaction, NOT protected under the First Amendment.

Question 8

Obscenity

Answer 8

Offensive or sexually explicit material that lacks literary, artistic, political, or scientific value and is NOT protected by the First Amendment.

Question 9

Hate Speech

Answer 9

Expression that offends, threatens, or insults a particular group based on attributes such as race, religion, or sexual orientation.

Question 10

Sedition

Answer 10

Advocating the overthrow of the government through force or other unlawful means.

Question 11

Special Interest Groups

Answer 11

Organizations that advocate for specific causes or issues to influence public policy.

Question 12

Lobbying

Answer 12

The act of attempting to influence decisions made by government officials.

Question 13

Campaign Financing

Answer 13

Financial contributions made to influence the outcome of elections, including donations to political campaigns.

Question 14

Corporation

Answer 14

A legal entity (organization) separate from its owners, often formed for business purposes.

Question 15

Federal Election Campaign Act (1971)

Answer 15

Legislation regulating campaign financing and disclosure in federal elections.

Question 16

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (McCain-Feingold Campaign Act) [2002]

Answer 16

Legislation aimed at reforming campaign finance laws, including restrictions on soft money contributions

Question 17

Political Action Committee (PAC)

Answer 17

An organization that raises and spends money to elect or defeat political candidates.

Question 18

SuperPAC

Answer 18

An independent political action committee that can raise unlimited funds but cannot directly coordinate with candidates.

Question 19

Assembly

Answer 19

The right to gather peacefully with others, protected under the First Amendment.

Question 20

Petition

Answer 20

The right to address the government with grievances, requests, or demands.

Question 21

Civic Action

Answer 21

Participation in activities aimed at influencing the political, social, or economic well-being of a community.

Question 22

Establishment

Answer 22

The clause in the First Amendment prohibiting the government from establishing an official religion.

Question 23

Free Exercise

Answer 23

The right to practice one’s religion freely, protected under the First Amendment.

Question 24

Separation of Church and State

Answer 24

The concept that government and religious institutions should operate independently of each other.

Question 25

Religious vs. Civic Displays

Answer 25

Controversy surrounding the use of religious symbols or displays in public spaces.

Question 26

Corporation

Answer 26

A legal entity separate from its owners, often formed for business purposes.

Question 27

Schenck v. United States (1919)

Answer 27

Upheld limitations on free speech during wartime, establishing the “clear and present danger” test.

Question 28

Chaplinsky v. State of New Hampshire (1942)

Answer 28

Defined “fighting words” as unprotected speech, allowing for their regulation and punishment.

Question 29

New York Times v. Sullivan (1964)

Answer 29

Set a high standard for proving libel against public figures, protecting the press’s right to criticize public officials.

Question 30

Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969)

Answer 30

Affirmed students’ right to symbolic speech in schools, unless it disrupts the educational environment.

Question 31

Texas v. Johnson (1989):

Answer 31

Declared that flag burning is a form of symbolic speech protected by the First Amendment.

Question 32

Citizens United v. FEC (2011)

Answer 32

Protected the Westboro Baptist Church’s right to engage in controversial protests at military funerals

Question 33

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Answer 33

Prohibited state-sponsored prayer in public schools, establishing the separation of church and state.

Question 34

Employment Division v. Smith (1990)

Answer 34

Limited the scope of religious exemptions from neutral and generally applicable laws.

Question 35

Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores (2013)

Answer 35

Recognized certain closely held corporations’ right to religious exemptions from the Affordable Care Act’s contraception mandate.

Question 36

Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission (2017)

Answer 36

Considered the balance between religious freedom and anti-discrimination laws, ruling in favor of a baker who refused to create a cake for a same-sex wedding.