Constitutional Rights the Constitution Serves Essay

Total Length: 1656 words ( 6 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 3

Page 1 of 6

(The Sixth Amendment, http://civilliberty.about.com/od/lawenforcementterrorism/p/6th_amendment.htm. Retrieved 6 December 2009.)

The Fourteenth Amendment, although not (obviously) a part of the Bill of Rights, presents rights that are as central to our democracy as those outlined in the Bill of Rights, including an expansion of the definition of citizenship to include the slaves freed after the Civil War, and what is known as the "due process" clause. This clause argues that the government cannot act against its citizens without allowing them the protection of the "due process" of all applicable laws and other protections.

In the case of the Fourteenth Amendment, as is true for those of the other Amendments discussed here, the courts (including both the lower courts -- which have a great deal more power than many people realize -- and the Supreme Court have a rather mixed record on upholding what seem clearly to be the intentions of the amendment.

Stuck Writing Your "Constitutional Rights the Constitution Serves" Essay?

While no recent court would deny that blacks are citizens (except for those who argue that Barack Obama himself is not a U.S. citizen!), what constitutes "due process" has been interpreted in a range of strict and liberal ways by the courts.

That this should be the case should not surprise us. Law is after all, as subject to politics as is any part of the public debate......

Show More ⇣


     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Constitutional Rights The Constitution Serves" (2009, December 06) Retrieved April 28, 2024, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/constitutional-rights-constitution-serves-16674

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Constitutional Rights The Constitution Serves" 06 December 2009. Web.28 April. 2024. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/constitutional-rights-constitution-serves-16674>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Constitutional Rights The Constitution Serves", 06 December 2009, Accessed.28 April. 2024,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/constitutional-rights-constitution-serves-16674