1. Sources of the legal rights to be fairly treated
Chapter 3
Sources of the legal rights to be fairly treated

2. The constitution of the United States was created to limit the powers of the federal government rather than itemize them
The federal governments power is further limited by being broken into three parts.
Legislative
Creates the laws
Judicial
Interprets the law
Executive
Enforces the law

3. The legislative branch has the power to enact laws, but only in areas that has been given jurisdiction by the constitution
Congress has not been given power to enact laws in areas that are under control of the states
The constitution determines what is congresses business and what is not
Laws enacted by congress must still satisfy the requirements of the constitution

4. The framers of the constitution wanted to make absolutely sure that the federal government could never engage heinous violations of basic human rights
For these reasons they created the first 10 amendments called the bill of rights
They protect us from government violations of our basic human rights
Among these are the right of free speech (1st amendment), the right to deny warrantless searches (4th amendment), and the right to not testify against yourself (5th amendment)

5. Until the creation of the 14th amendment after the civil war, these amendments only pertained to the federal government and not the state governments
This is important because if you worked for a state university they could pay an unfairly low salary, or not hire you based on gender or race.
The 14th amendment expanded the group of people who have to observe your basic human rights laid out by the constitution
It states that anybody working on behalf of any government entity including town, state and federal must abide by the rights guaranteed by the constitution

6. The 14th amendment also added very important rights
The right to due process
Fair procedures whenever life liberty or property are being removed of restricted
The right of equal protection
Fair treatment when compared to how other people are being treated in the same circumstances

7. Congress also has the power to enact statutes (laws) that sometimes give us additional specifications
Title VII is an example. This law prevents employers from treating people of different races, sexes, and religions differently from one another
Equal pay act is another statute where people are paid fairly

8. Sometimes congress creates laws that either exceed its power or subject matter, that can be considered unconstitutional
Congress can also create laws that are so vaguely written it needs interpretation
In these instances the judicial branch reviews the constitutionality or the wording of the law
Only the judicial branch court has the power to review and interpret statutes