The structure of the Const's protection of civil rights & civil liberties Flashcards
(38 cards)
State action doctrine
only govt actors can violate const. (exception 13th Amend)
What did Barron v. Baltimore decide?
none of the Bill of Rights specifically targeted at state govts. if the framers had intended this, they would have said as much
P or I clause of 14th Amend
- right to physically travel across state lines
- right to be treated equally as a non-resident visitor
- right to interstate migration
What did the Slaughterhouse cases do?
case limited the P or I clause
How were the Bill of Rights a conceptual turn?
Because the original constitution dod not protect civil rights
What does the 14th Amend do?
Prohibits states from abridging the P or I of citizens. Blocks states from taking action that denies people’s rights
Incorporation
makes amendments applicable to states and local govts
Analysis of incorporated rights
one that is deeply rooted in our nation’s history or is fundamental to notions of ordered liberty
What Amends are incorporated?
All except for 4: 3rd (quartering troops), 5th (grand jury indictment), 7th (jury for civil trials), 8th (guarantee against excessive fines)
Do the breadth and depth of protections in the Bill of RIghts have to be applied by states in the same way as by fed govt.?
No, but they generally are.
How do cts enforce individual rights?
if implicit in an ordered scheme of liberty and fundamental, needn’t be enumerated
What does Duncan v. LA say?
Not all rights are incorporated “jot for jot”
Analysis for determining whether an unenumerated right is const. protected
- is it fundamental to our nation’s scheme of ordered liberty or deeply rooted in our nation’s history?
- If so, apply strict scrutiny. Violation of right is presumably unconst.
What are substantive rights?
unenumerated rights that have been incorporated
What is the difference between P AND I, and P OR I?
P and I– Art. IV: substantial (intermediate) govt interest, substantially related to that interest
P or I–14th Amend: compelling (strict) govt interest, narrowly tailored or necessary to that interest
P or I analysis
compelling (strict) govt interest
narrowly tailored or necessary
What did Lochner do?
case defined “right to contract” as a fundamental right
Why was Lochner wrong?
- did not show appropriate level of deference to leg (strict scrutiny)
- right that ct protected is not enumerated
- protected the wrong kind of right
What did West Coast v. Parrish decide?
right to contract is not protected by Const. Basically overturned Lochner
Post-Lochner level of scrutiny applied to due process challenges to ordinary economic regulation
rational basis review
Footnote 4 in Carolene Products
where cts may interfere with legislature
3 circumstances in which cts may interfere w/ legislature
- when law is prohibited by const.
- when law interferes w/ proper functioning of the political process
- when the law is directed at a discrete and insular minority
strength of govt interest (strongest to weakest)
1a. compelling (strict)
1b. necessary (strict)/ substantial relationship
2a. legitimate (deferential)
2b. rational (deferential)
Saenz v. Roe
case says state may not distinguish between classes of citizens based on the length of residence