CLEP American Government
Terms & Definitions
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Equal protection clause
In a two-party political system like the U.S., third parties have little political power but play important roles in politics. Impact elections by siphoning off votes from major parties spoiling a party's chance in a close race.
Formerly known as the Anti-Federalist, this party lead by Thomas Jefferson advocated states rights pressing the causes of the common people and agrarian interest. Dominated the political arena until the Civil War.
A clause in Fourth Amendment on which the Supreme Court relied in its decision in Brown v. Board to strike down segregationist state laws that has been built on the concept of "separate but equal."
The Fourteenth Amendment principle requires state government to respect all civil liberties guaranteed to a person under the Constitution and US law, such as protection of citizens from being sent to prison without a trial. In addition to respecting all legal rights given to a citizen under the law, due process also means that the government cannot take away people's rights until due process has been applied.