Glossary

Federal Common Law

Law developed by the federal courts rather than state courts.

Federal courts

Cases involving the constitutionality of a law, cases involving the laws and treaties of the U.S. ambassadors and public ministers, disputes between two or more states, admiralty law, also known as maritime law, and bankruptcy cases.

Federalism

A doctrine that recognizes the existence and independent powers of the federal and state governments.

Federalism

A doctrine that recognizes the existence and independent powers of the federal and state governments.

Federalist

A member of one of the earliest American political parties who supported a strong central government.

Fifth Amendment

part of the Bill of Rights that addresses the rights of the accused, including the right to a trial by jury, protection against double jeopardy and self-incrimination, and the right to a fair trial.

First Amendment

states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Fourteenth Amendment

ratified in 1868, granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States—including formerly enslaved people—and guaranteed all persons “equal protection of the laws.”

Fourth Amendment

protects citizens from unreasonable search and seizure. The government may not conduct any searches without a warrant, and such warrants must be issued by a judge and based on probable cause.

Freedom Rides

A direct action tactic where African-American activists would ride interstate buses into the segregated South, where the buses were legally segregated.