constitutional law ii outline
The Structure Of The Constitution’s Protection Of Civil Rights And Civil
Liberties...................................................................................................... 2
Individual Rights...................................................................................................2
Article IV.............................................................................................................. 3
Section 1: Full Faith And Credit Clause................................................................................................... 3
Section 2: Privileges & Immunities.......................................................................................................... 3
Section 3: Parity...................................................................................................................................... 3
Section 4: Guarantee Clause................................................................................................................... 3
Article V............................................................................................................... 3
Article VI.............................................................................................................. 3
Bill Of Rights........................................................................................................3
First Amendment.................................................................................................................................... 4
Second Amendment................................................................................................................................ 4
Third Amendment................................................................................................................................... 4
Fourth Amendment................................................................................................................................. 4
Fifth Amendment.................................................................................................................................... 4
Sixth Amendment................................................................................................................................... 5
Seventh Amendment.............................................................................................................................. 5
Eighth Amendment................................................................................................................................. 5
Ninth Amendment................................................................................................................................... 6
Tenth Amendment.................................................................................................................................. 6
Eleventh Amendment............................................................................................................................. 6
Thirteenth Amendment........................................................................................................................... 6
Fourteenth Amendment.......................................................................................................................... 6
Fifteenth Amendment............................................................................................................................. 6
State’s Action.......................................................................................................6
The Requirement for State Action........................................................................................................... 7
The Exceptions to the State Action Doctrine........................................................................................... 7
Equal Protection Clause................................................................................ 9
Constitutional Provisions Concerning Equal Protection...........................................9
Framework for Equal Protection Analysis.............................................................10
Question 1: What is the Classification?................................................................................................. 10
Question 2: What is the Appropriate Level of Scrutiny?........................................................................10
Question 3: Does the Government Action Meet the Level of Scrutiny?.................................................11
The Rational Basis Test.......................................................................................11
Introduction.......................................................................................................................................... 11
Does the Law Have A Legitimate Purpose?........................................................................................... 11
The Requirement for a “Reasonable Relationship”...............................................................................12
Classifications Based on Race and National Origin................................................12
Race Discrimination and Slavery Before the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments.........................13
Strict Scrutiny for Discrimination Based on Race and National Origin...................................................13
Proving the Existence of Race or National Origin Classification............................................................13
Remedies: The Problem of School Segregation.....................................................................................17
Racial Classifications Benefiting Minorities (Affirmative Action)............................................................18
Sex Discrimination..............................................................................................19
The Level of Scrutiny............................................................................................................................ 19
Proving The Existence of A Gender Classification.................................................................................20
Gender Classifications Benefiting Women............................................................................................. 20
, Discrimination Against Non-United States Citizens................................................21
Strict Scrutiny as The General Rule....................................................................................................... 21
Discrimination Against Noncitizens Related to Self-Government and The Democratic Process.............22
Congressional And Presidential Approved Discrimination.....................................................................22
Undocumented Noncitizens and Equal Protection.................................................................................22
Discrimination Against Nonmarital Children..........................................................22
Other Types of Discrimination- Only Rational Basis Review....................................23
Age Classification.................................................................................................................................. 23
Discrimination Based on Disability........................................................................................................ 23
Wealth Discrimination........................................................................................................................... 23
Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation......................................................................................... 23
Fundamental Rights...................................................................................23
The Concept of Fundamental Rights.....................................................................23
Procedural Due Process........................................................................................................................ 24
Framework for Analyzing Fundamental Rights......................................................24
1. Is There a Fundamental Right?......................................................................................................... 25
2. Is the Right Infringed?....................................................................................................................... 25
3. Is the Government’s Action Justified By a Sufficient Purpose?..........................................................25
4. Are the Means Sufficiently Related to the Goal Sought?...................................................................25
Constitutional Protection for Family Autonomy.....................................................25
The Right to Marry................................................................................................................................ 25
The Right to Custody of One’s Children................................................................................................ 26
The Right to Keep the Family Together................................................................................................. 26
The Right of Parents to Control the Upbringing of Their Children..........................................................26
Constitutional Protection for Reproductive Autonomy...........................................26
The Right to Procreate.......................................................................................................................... 26
The Right to Purchase and Use Contraceptives.....................................................................................27
The Right to Refuse Treatment............................................................................................................. 27
The Right to Sexual Orientation & Activity............................................................................................27
The Right to Travel................................................................................................................................ 27
The Right to Vote.................................................................................................................................. 27
The Right to Access Courts................................................................................................................... 27
The Right to Abortion............................................................................................................................ 28
The First Amendment: Freedom of Expression.............................................29
The First Amendment..........................................................................................29
Threshold Issue: Has the Government Burdened Speech?......................................29
What Is The First Amendment Analysis?...............................................................29
First Amendment Analysis: Who........................................................................................................... 30
First Amendment Analysis: What.......................................................................................................... 31
First Amendment Analysis: Where........................................................................................................ 33
First Amendment Analysis: When......................................................................................................... 34
First Amendment Analysis: Why............................................................................................................ 34
First Amendment Analysis: How............................................................................................................ 35
Other Principals..................................................................................................35
Unconstitutional Doctrine...................................................................................................................... 35
The St ruct ure Of The C onst it ut i on’s P rot ect i on Of Ci vi l Ri ght s And Ci vi l Li bert i es
Individual Rights
, There are a few provisions concerning individual liberties:
Art. I, Sec. 9; Art. III, Sec. 2; Art. III, Sec. 3; and Art. VI
Torcaso v. Watkins = the Supreme Court used the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to impose a similar requirement on state
governments. The Court declared that state constitutional provision was unconstitutional for the prerequisite of belief in God to taking
public office.
Reason for the Constitution writing so little about individual rights:
The framers thought that an enumeration of rights was unnecessary in that they had created a government with limited powers and thus
without the authority to violate basic liberties.
The framers were concerned that the enumeration of some rights in the text of the Constitution inevitably would be incomplete and thus
would deny protection to those not listed.
Article IV
Section 1: Full Faith And Credit Clause
Full Faith and Credit Clause requires the states to honor each other's laws, records (licenses), and court decisions.
Primary Purpose: To help fuse into one Nation a collection of independent sovereign States
Section 2: Privileges & Immunities
Exceptions: Voting: (mandatory to meet the state's requirement – including residency).
Services or Privileges: states can charge nonresidents higher fees for services or privileges that residents support with their taxes.
Extradition-the return of an accused criminal to the state where the alleged crime occurred.
Fugitive Slave Clause allowed slave owners to pursue runaways into nonslave states and bring them back. It was overturned by the 13th
Amendment.
Section 3: Parity
This section gave Congress the power to admit new states to the union. But Congress has to give permission. This section says no new state
could include land that had been within another state, unless that state approved. No mergers, no hostile takeovers.
NO provisions for withdrawal or secession.
Section 4: Guarantee Clause
Provides for the federal government to protect states against invasion and domestic violence
Article V
Two methods to changing the Constitution:
1. Constitutional Congress: 2/3s of the states (34 out of 50) can petition Congress for a new convention. Then 38 out of 50 would have to
ratify any amendment for it to enter into effect.
2. Congress: both houses of Congress approves the proposed amendment by 2/3rds of the majorities. The proposed amendment is then sent
to the states for ratification
Article VI
Supremacy Clause:
Constitution, treaty, federal laws take precedence over state laws and all judges must follow that rule.
Requires all government officials, both state and federal, to give precedence to the US Constitution over any state constitution or other
laws.
Bill Of Rights
Incorporation Doctrine = Parts of the first ten amendments of the United States Constitution are made applicable to the states through the Due
Process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Applies to both substantively and procedurally.
This was one side of the debate over incorporation where the justices believed all the Bill of Rights should be incorporated within the states
Guided Questions:
1. Do states have to respect the individual liberties laid out by the BOR?
2. When, if ever, do private individuals need to respect those liberties?
Selective Incorporation Doctrine = Constitutional doctrine that applies the protections of the Bill of Rights to state governments on a case-by-
, case basis through the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause.
This process, driven by Supreme Court rulings, ensures that fundamental individual liberties, such as freedom of speech and religion, are
protected from infringement by both state and federal governments, not just the federal government
This was the other side of the debate of incorporation where it was believed that only some of the BOR were sufficiently fundamental to
apply to state and local governments
Why was there so little protection?
1. The framers thought than an enumeration of rights was unnecessary in that they had created a government with limited powers and thus
without the authority to violate the basic liberties
2. The framers were concerned that the enumeration od some rights in the text of the Const. inevitably would be incomplete and thus would
deny protection to those not listed
Issues Surrounding Incorporation:
1. History = whether the Framers of the 14th Amd. intended it to apply the BOR to the sides
2. Federalism
3. Appropriate judicial roles
First Amendment
Often litigated and is often considered controversial.
Reason: The tension between individual rights and the protection of society is a paramount consideration
The government cannot prefer one religion over another and also guarantees that the government cannot prefer religions in general over
nonreligion or the lack of religion
Two Prongs:
Establishment Clause – absolute
Free Exercise Clause – absolute to an extent
Freedom of Press
Two issues that arise from here is censorship and libel
Fiske v. State of Kansas = The Court for the first time found that a state law regulating speech violated the Due Process Clause of the 14 th Amd.
The rights of free speech, press, and religion covered by the First Amendment and the states must abide by it
Second Amendment
Militia Clause – states should have militias but the mention of individual gun ownership was not seriously questioned originally.
Second Amendment does not apply to the states under the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection provisions.
Private organizations, such as housing associations, can ban guns
District of Columbia v. Heller = the Supreme Court held that the Second Amendment is not limited to protecting the rights to have firearms for
militia service; it protects an individual’s right to have guns, at least for self-protection in the home
McDonald v. City of Chicago = the court held that the 2nd Amd. right is fully applicable to the States. The Court declined to disturb the
Slaughter-House holding and further held that the Due Process Clause of the 14 th Amd. incorporates the 2nd Amd. right recognized in Heller. The
Court noted that it is clear that the Framers and ratifiers of the 14 th Amd. counted the right to keep and bear arms among those fundamental
rights necessary to our system of ordered liberty.
Third Amendment
One of the least controversial passages in the entire Constitution.
This is not incorporated and does not apply to state and local governments because a case in question has never reached the Supreme Court and
if it does one day, it will likely be incorporated.
Fourth Amendment
Searches & Seizures
Privacy – protects you only in your home
Exceptions: public bathrooms; no protection for illegal acts.
Consent
Good Faith
Stop and Frisk – chips away at the Probable Cause standards
Knock and Enter
Mapp v. State of Ohio = the states must abide by the fourth amendment rights to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures and to have
excluded from criminal trials any evidence illegally seized
Fifth Amendment
Self-Incrimination = protects against having to give evidence against yourself.
Malloy v. Hogan = the right guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment to be freed of compelled self-incrimination and the states must abide by it
The Structure Of The Constitution’s Protection Of Civil Rights And Civil
Liberties...................................................................................................... 2
Individual Rights...................................................................................................2
Article IV.............................................................................................................. 3
Section 1: Full Faith And Credit Clause................................................................................................... 3
Section 2: Privileges & Immunities.......................................................................................................... 3
Section 3: Parity...................................................................................................................................... 3
Section 4: Guarantee Clause................................................................................................................... 3
Article V............................................................................................................... 3
Article VI.............................................................................................................. 3
Bill Of Rights........................................................................................................3
First Amendment.................................................................................................................................... 4
Second Amendment................................................................................................................................ 4
Third Amendment................................................................................................................................... 4
Fourth Amendment................................................................................................................................. 4
Fifth Amendment.................................................................................................................................... 4
Sixth Amendment................................................................................................................................... 5
Seventh Amendment.............................................................................................................................. 5
Eighth Amendment................................................................................................................................. 5
Ninth Amendment................................................................................................................................... 6
Tenth Amendment.................................................................................................................................. 6
Eleventh Amendment............................................................................................................................. 6
Thirteenth Amendment........................................................................................................................... 6
Fourteenth Amendment.......................................................................................................................... 6
Fifteenth Amendment............................................................................................................................. 6
State’s Action.......................................................................................................6
The Requirement for State Action........................................................................................................... 7
The Exceptions to the State Action Doctrine........................................................................................... 7
Equal Protection Clause................................................................................ 9
Constitutional Provisions Concerning Equal Protection...........................................9
Framework for Equal Protection Analysis.............................................................10
Question 1: What is the Classification?................................................................................................. 10
Question 2: What is the Appropriate Level of Scrutiny?........................................................................10
Question 3: Does the Government Action Meet the Level of Scrutiny?.................................................11
The Rational Basis Test.......................................................................................11
Introduction.......................................................................................................................................... 11
Does the Law Have A Legitimate Purpose?........................................................................................... 11
The Requirement for a “Reasonable Relationship”...............................................................................12
Classifications Based on Race and National Origin................................................12
Race Discrimination and Slavery Before the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments.........................13
Strict Scrutiny for Discrimination Based on Race and National Origin...................................................13
Proving the Existence of Race or National Origin Classification............................................................13
Remedies: The Problem of School Segregation.....................................................................................17
Racial Classifications Benefiting Minorities (Affirmative Action)............................................................18
Sex Discrimination..............................................................................................19
The Level of Scrutiny............................................................................................................................ 19
Proving The Existence of A Gender Classification.................................................................................20
Gender Classifications Benefiting Women............................................................................................. 20
, Discrimination Against Non-United States Citizens................................................21
Strict Scrutiny as The General Rule....................................................................................................... 21
Discrimination Against Noncitizens Related to Self-Government and The Democratic Process.............22
Congressional And Presidential Approved Discrimination.....................................................................22
Undocumented Noncitizens and Equal Protection.................................................................................22
Discrimination Against Nonmarital Children..........................................................22
Other Types of Discrimination- Only Rational Basis Review....................................23
Age Classification.................................................................................................................................. 23
Discrimination Based on Disability........................................................................................................ 23
Wealth Discrimination........................................................................................................................... 23
Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation......................................................................................... 23
Fundamental Rights...................................................................................23
The Concept of Fundamental Rights.....................................................................23
Procedural Due Process........................................................................................................................ 24
Framework for Analyzing Fundamental Rights......................................................24
1. Is There a Fundamental Right?......................................................................................................... 25
2. Is the Right Infringed?....................................................................................................................... 25
3. Is the Government’s Action Justified By a Sufficient Purpose?..........................................................25
4. Are the Means Sufficiently Related to the Goal Sought?...................................................................25
Constitutional Protection for Family Autonomy.....................................................25
The Right to Marry................................................................................................................................ 25
The Right to Custody of One’s Children................................................................................................ 26
The Right to Keep the Family Together................................................................................................. 26
The Right of Parents to Control the Upbringing of Their Children..........................................................26
Constitutional Protection for Reproductive Autonomy...........................................26
The Right to Procreate.......................................................................................................................... 26
The Right to Purchase and Use Contraceptives.....................................................................................27
The Right to Refuse Treatment............................................................................................................. 27
The Right to Sexual Orientation & Activity............................................................................................27
The Right to Travel................................................................................................................................ 27
The Right to Vote.................................................................................................................................. 27
The Right to Access Courts................................................................................................................... 27
The Right to Abortion............................................................................................................................ 28
The First Amendment: Freedom of Expression.............................................29
The First Amendment..........................................................................................29
Threshold Issue: Has the Government Burdened Speech?......................................29
What Is The First Amendment Analysis?...............................................................29
First Amendment Analysis: Who........................................................................................................... 30
First Amendment Analysis: What.......................................................................................................... 31
First Amendment Analysis: Where........................................................................................................ 33
First Amendment Analysis: When......................................................................................................... 34
First Amendment Analysis: Why............................................................................................................ 34
First Amendment Analysis: How............................................................................................................ 35
Other Principals..................................................................................................35
Unconstitutional Doctrine...................................................................................................................... 35
The St ruct ure Of The C onst it ut i on’s P rot ect i on Of Ci vi l Ri ght s And Ci vi l Li bert i es
Individual Rights
, There are a few provisions concerning individual liberties:
Art. I, Sec. 9; Art. III, Sec. 2; Art. III, Sec. 3; and Art. VI
Torcaso v. Watkins = the Supreme Court used the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to impose a similar requirement on state
governments. The Court declared that state constitutional provision was unconstitutional for the prerequisite of belief in God to taking
public office.
Reason for the Constitution writing so little about individual rights:
The framers thought that an enumeration of rights was unnecessary in that they had created a government with limited powers and thus
without the authority to violate basic liberties.
The framers were concerned that the enumeration of some rights in the text of the Constitution inevitably would be incomplete and thus
would deny protection to those not listed.
Article IV
Section 1: Full Faith And Credit Clause
Full Faith and Credit Clause requires the states to honor each other's laws, records (licenses), and court decisions.
Primary Purpose: To help fuse into one Nation a collection of independent sovereign States
Section 2: Privileges & Immunities
Exceptions: Voting: (mandatory to meet the state's requirement – including residency).
Services or Privileges: states can charge nonresidents higher fees for services or privileges that residents support with their taxes.
Extradition-the return of an accused criminal to the state where the alleged crime occurred.
Fugitive Slave Clause allowed slave owners to pursue runaways into nonslave states and bring them back. It was overturned by the 13th
Amendment.
Section 3: Parity
This section gave Congress the power to admit new states to the union. But Congress has to give permission. This section says no new state
could include land that had been within another state, unless that state approved. No mergers, no hostile takeovers.
NO provisions for withdrawal or secession.
Section 4: Guarantee Clause
Provides for the federal government to protect states against invasion and domestic violence
Article V
Two methods to changing the Constitution:
1. Constitutional Congress: 2/3s of the states (34 out of 50) can petition Congress for a new convention. Then 38 out of 50 would have to
ratify any amendment for it to enter into effect.
2. Congress: both houses of Congress approves the proposed amendment by 2/3rds of the majorities. The proposed amendment is then sent
to the states for ratification
Article VI
Supremacy Clause:
Constitution, treaty, federal laws take precedence over state laws and all judges must follow that rule.
Requires all government officials, both state and federal, to give precedence to the US Constitution over any state constitution or other
laws.
Bill Of Rights
Incorporation Doctrine = Parts of the first ten amendments of the United States Constitution are made applicable to the states through the Due
Process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Applies to both substantively and procedurally.
This was one side of the debate over incorporation where the justices believed all the Bill of Rights should be incorporated within the states
Guided Questions:
1. Do states have to respect the individual liberties laid out by the BOR?
2. When, if ever, do private individuals need to respect those liberties?
Selective Incorporation Doctrine = Constitutional doctrine that applies the protections of the Bill of Rights to state governments on a case-by-
, case basis through the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause.
This process, driven by Supreme Court rulings, ensures that fundamental individual liberties, such as freedom of speech and religion, are
protected from infringement by both state and federal governments, not just the federal government
This was the other side of the debate of incorporation where it was believed that only some of the BOR were sufficiently fundamental to
apply to state and local governments
Why was there so little protection?
1. The framers thought than an enumeration of rights was unnecessary in that they had created a government with limited powers and thus
without the authority to violate the basic liberties
2. The framers were concerned that the enumeration od some rights in the text of the Const. inevitably would be incomplete and thus would
deny protection to those not listed
Issues Surrounding Incorporation:
1. History = whether the Framers of the 14th Amd. intended it to apply the BOR to the sides
2. Federalism
3. Appropriate judicial roles
First Amendment
Often litigated and is often considered controversial.
Reason: The tension between individual rights and the protection of society is a paramount consideration
The government cannot prefer one religion over another and also guarantees that the government cannot prefer religions in general over
nonreligion or the lack of religion
Two Prongs:
Establishment Clause – absolute
Free Exercise Clause – absolute to an extent
Freedom of Press
Two issues that arise from here is censorship and libel
Fiske v. State of Kansas = The Court for the first time found that a state law regulating speech violated the Due Process Clause of the 14 th Amd.
The rights of free speech, press, and religion covered by the First Amendment and the states must abide by it
Second Amendment
Militia Clause – states should have militias but the mention of individual gun ownership was not seriously questioned originally.
Second Amendment does not apply to the states under the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection provisions.
Private organizations, such as housing associations, can ban guns
District of Columbia v. Heller = the Supreme Court held that the Second Amendment is not limited to protecting the rights to have firearms for
militia service; it protects an individual’s right to have guns, at least for self-protection in the home
McDonald v. City of Chicago = the court held that the 2nd Amd. right is fully applicable to the States. The Court declined to disturb the
Slaughter-House holding and further held that the Due Process Clause of the 14 th Amd. incorporates the 2nd Amd. right recognized in Heller. The
Court noted that it is clear that the Framers and ratifiers of the 14 th Amd. counted the right to keep and bear arms among those fundamental
rights necessary to our system of ordered liberty.
Third Amendment
One of the least controversial passages in the entire Constitution.
This is not incorporated and does not apply to state and local governments because a case in question has never reached the Supreme Court and
if it does one day, it will likely be incorporated.
Fourth Amendment
Searches & Seizures
Privacy – protects you only in your home
Exceptions: public bathrooms; no protection for illegal acts.
Consent
Good Faith
Stop and Frisk – chips away at the Probable Cause standards
Knock and Enter
Mapp v. State of Ohio = the states must abide by the fourth amendment rights to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures and to have
excluded from criminal trials any evidence illegally seized
Fifth Amendment
Self-Incrimination = protects against having to give evidence against yourself.
Malloy v. Hogan = the right guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment to be freed of compelled self-incrimination and the states must abide by it
