Principles of Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
What is the difference between…… Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Definition Civil Liberties -- Rights that need protection from the government (These are listed in the Bill of Rights) Civil Rights -- Rights that need protection by the government (These are provided through legislative acts)
What offers us protection? The Constitution Bill of Rights / Amendments Legislation (Civil Rights Acts of 1964) Court Decisions (Brown v. Board of Ed. 1954) State Constitutions
Are there instances where we treat people differently? Examples??
Are there instances where we treat people differently? Muller v. Oregon (1908) Oregon enacted a law that limited women to 10 hrs. of work a day in factories and laundries (Does the law violate a woman’s freedom to enter into a contract?) Ruling: NO. Identified physical and social effects on women compared to men (accepted wisdom of the day)
Application of Constitution Prior to the 14 th Amendment In the 1 st Amendment it states “ CONGRESS shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion……. There is no mention of the states. Barron v. Baltimore (1833) John Barron was co-owner of a wharf in the harbor of Baltimore. The city developed placing large amts. of Sand in the harbor affecting his business. He sued the city to recover a portion of his losses
Court Ruling Question: Does the 5 th Amendment deny the states the right to take public property for public use without just compensation Ruling: No. (7-0) Court has no jurisdiction in this case. Limitations of the 5 th Amendment were designed to limit powers of national government, not the states
Impact of Federalism Effect of the 14 th Amendment “….. no state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges and immunities of citizens of the U.S.; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of the law; nor deny to any person the equal protection of the laws.”
Impact of Federalism Effect of 14 th Amendment Due process clause is used to apply Bill of Rights to states. Bans states from denying life, liberty, and happiness Two Views: Total Incorporation- View would apply most provisions of Bill of Rights to states (Except 2, 3, 7, 10) Selective Incorporation- This view holds that only some provisions would apply and would do so on case by case basis
Example of Incorporation Gitlow v. New York (1925) Gitlow was passing out left-wing manifesto calling for strikes Arrested in N.Y. for violating “anarchy” laws Court ruled that Gitlow’s 14 th Amend. Rights violated State could prohibit speech if it posed a “clear and present” danger to public and security was at risk
Amendments: Nationalized 1 st Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly 4 th Search and Seizure 5 th Due Process / Rights of Accused 6 thSpeedy and Public Trial 14 th States shall not deprive any person of life, liberty, or property w/o due process of the law who is a citizen
Religion Establishment Clause: Gov’t may not establish an official religion Jefferson’ “wall of separation” called on gov’t to allow NO mixing of church and state Engle v. Vitale (1962) Board of Ed. in N.Y. required recitation of nondenominational prayer at beginning of the day. Showed favor for a religion. Violated establishment clause Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971) – “Lemon Test” PA. And RI. Had laws that funded teachers of secular subjects, even in religious schools. Court ruled statutes violated establishment clause if money had secular purpose, did not advance religion, and did not mix religion/gov’t
The “Wall of Separation” “Religious institutions that use government power in support of themselves and force their views on persons of other faiths, or of no faith, undermine all our civil rights. Moreover, state support of an established religion tends to make the clergy unresponsive to their own people, and leads to corruption within religion itself. Erecting the 'wall of separation between church and state,' therefore, is absolutely essential in a free society.” ― Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson
Fundamental Rights Test Courts subjects laws which deny fundamental rights to strict scrutiny Such rights include those implied in Constitution Ex.- Travel, Political Association, Privacy, (Griswold v. Connecticut, 1965) Roe v. Wade (1973) Prior to 1973, states set their own policies Roe set one federal policy w/ trimester guidelines. Based on right to privacy Webster v. Reproductive Health Services (1987). Didn’t overturn Roe, but gave states leeway in restricting abortion
De Jure Segregation 14th Amendment (1868): Equal Protection Amendment “All persons born in U.S. are citizens. No state shall deprive of life, liberty, or property w/o due process of law Rise of Jim Crow laws (literacy test, poll tax, etc. ),
Discrimination: Rulings/Legislation Women Civil Rights Act (1964), Title IX of Education Act (1972) prohibited gender discr. In federally funded education programs African-Americans Dred Scott Decision (1857), Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), Brown v. Board (1954), Civil Rights Act (1964), Voting Rights Act (1965) Hispanics Lau v. Nicholas (1974) schools must take action to help non- English speakers
Search and Seizure Arrests may be conducted with a warrant based on probable cause (no warrant for “emergencies”) Search may be conducted to save lives (protect lives, if evidence is in “plain” view) Exclusionary Rule: illegally obtained evidence may not be used in court (Mapp v. Ohio, 1961) Police Questioning Forced questioning/coercion prohibited Miranda warnings to silence and counsel (Miranda v. Arizona, 1966) Habeus Corpus Court order requiring authorities to bring accused person to court
Rights of An Accused Counseled Gideon v. Wainwright (1963); states must provide legal help for suspects who cannot afford it Speedy and Public Trial Prevents delays Prevents secret trials Trial by Jury Guaranteed in criminal cases, most cases settled through plea bargain