Constitutional Laws
What is Constitutional Law?
Constitutional law encompasses any law or right that originates from the United States Constitution. Constitutional law is most often associated with fundamental rights like equal protection, the right to bear arms, freedom of religion, and the right to free speech. The U.S. Supreme Court is the absolute and final authority on all constitutional law issues.
Constitutional Rights
The following are important constitutional rights:
- Equal Protection - The 14th amendment to the Constitution provides that "no state shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." Consequently, state governments and their agencies are prohibited from discriminating against any individual on the basis of classifications such as race, sex, or religion.
- Right To Bear Arms - The Second amendment grants the people "the right to keep and bear arms." Probably no other constitutional right is more hotly debated. The Supreme Court has yet to clarify what the Second Amendment exactly means. At the moment, debates continue as to whether the government can implement gun control laws and whether ownership and possession of a firearm is a constitutionally guaranteed right.
- Freedom of Religion - The First Amendment provides some of the most basic and fundamental rights guaranteed to people in the United States. Of these fundamental rights, many consider the right to freedom of religious choice paramount. The First Amendment explicitly prohibits the intersection of church and state. Today, school sponsored prayer is one of the most controversial topics invoking the freedom of religion clause.
- Freedom of Speech - Another fundamental right guaranteed under the First Amendment is the right to freedom of speech and press. Both the federal and state governments are prohibited from limiting an individual's rights to expression. Today, government sponsored censorship is a controversial topic in constitutional law.
Do I Need a Constitutional Law Attorney?
If you feel that your constitutionally guaranteed rights have been compromised, you should contact a constitutional law attorney. Speaking with the proper attorney experienced in constitutional law will inform you of your rights as well as preserve any possible legal remedies you may have.
Vea esta página en español: Leyes de la Constitución o visita Abogados-Leyes.com para más información legal.
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Last Modified: 06-25-2009 10:27 AM PDT
