3: Constitutional Protections
- Page ID
- 17480
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- 3.0: Prelude to Constitutional Protections
- This page discusses the framers' emphasis on protecting against unfounded criminal accusations to uphold judicial independence, illustrated by the legal case Duncan v. Louisiana.
- 3.1: Applicability of the Constitution
- This page details constitutional protections for U.S. criminal defendants, differentiating between challenges to statutes (unconstitutional on their face vs. as applied) and procedural protections. It discusses standards of judicial review, emphasizing strict scrutiny for fundamental rights and rational basis for discrimination.
- 3.2: The Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses
- This page outlines key legal principles of the Bill of Rights, particularly their application to criminal defendants through the Fourteenth Amendment. It distinguishes between substantive and procedural due process, introduces "void for vagueness" and "overbreadth," and discusses the equal protection clause aimed at preventing unjust discrimination in criminal laws.
- 3.3: Freedom of Speech
- This page explores First Amendment protections for speech, noting that while various forms of expression are generally safeguarded against government regulation, there are exceptions for threatening speech, such as fighting words and incitement. Content-based restrictions must meet strict scrutiny standards. The text analyzes statutes on cross burning, obscenity, and the protection of nude dancing, and highlights specific legal cases (Wisconsin v. Mitchell, Reno v. ACLU, Holder v.
- 3.4: The Right to Privacy
- This page explores the constitutional basis for the right to privacy in the U.S., referencing amendments (First, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Ninth, Fourteenth) that collectively safeguard individual autonomy from government intrusion. It highlights key Supreme Court cases like Griswold v. Connecticut (birth control), Roe v. Wade (abortion), and Lawrence v. Texas (consensual sexual relations), and discusses how courts assess privacy-related legal challenges.
- 3.5: The Right to Bear Arms
- This page discusses the interpretation of the Second Amendment's protection of an individual's right to possess handguns, highlighting the Supreme Court cases District of Columbia v. Heller and McDonald v. Chicago. The Heller case affirmed the right to self-defense in the home but noted restrictions for certain individuals and locations. A scenario about a janitor unable to keep a handgun near a school illustrates the limitations of these protections.
- 3.6: Excessive Punishment
- This page examines the Eighth Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishment, particularly in the context of capital punishment in the U.S., including lethal injection and notable Supreme Court cases like Furman v. Georgia and Roper v. Simmons. It distinguishes between intellectual disability and mental illness, critiques California's "three strikes" law, and analyzes sentencing enhancements while referencing the Sixth Amendment's jury trial rights.
- 3.7: End-of-Chapter Material
- This page discusses the protections for criminal defendants provided by the US Constitution and parallels with state constitutions. Key provisions include due process, free speech, and prohibitions against cruel punishments. It highlights the scrutiny on retroactive penalties and vague laws.