The Declaration of Independence Links to an external site
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The Declaration of Independence Links to an external site. The Constitution of the United States
Assignment type: Essay (any type)
Service: Writing
Pages/Words: 5.5 pages / 1700 words (Double spacing)
Education Level: College
Language: English (US) Assignment topic: The Declaration of Independence Links to an external site. The Constitution of the United States
Subject: American history
Sources: 2 sources required
Citation Style: MLA
Instructions:
You must write an essay (1300 words minimum) in which you address the following two questions or topics:
The fundamental values that inform how our democratic government is legitimated and organized are enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and in the Constitution of the United States.
1.
Identify the most important Supreme Court cases and executive actions and their impact on law and on our society.
The history of the United States has been marked by the progressive expansion of voting rights and the protection of its citizens through legislation and Supreme Court decisions. At the same time, executive orders, particularly in periods of crisis led to the violation of individual rights. Throughout this module, these issues are covered. In chapters 3 and 4 you will find the information you need to answer this question. You are also encouraged to visit the following websites for further details.
Supreme Court LandmarksLinks to an external site: https://www.uscourts.gov/about-
federal-courts/educational-resources/supreme-court-landmarks
15 Supreme Court Cases that Changed AmericaLinks to an external site: https://edition.cnn.com/2012/10/10/justice/landmark-scotus-cases/index.html
Executive Orders - The American Presidency ProjectLinks to an external site: https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/statistics/data/executive-orders
NAACP was instrumental in the landmark case of Brown v Board of Education. Visit the website to find information on the case that led to desegregation. NAACP Website (Brown v Board of Education)Links to an external site. https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/brown/brown-brown.html#:~:text=The%20NAACP
%20immediately%20instituted%20lawsuits,litigated%20concurrently%20with%20Briggs%20v
. Instructions for Writing Your Essay:
All essays must be written using proper English grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Points will be deducted for grammatical, punctuation, syntax, capitalization, etc. errors. Essays are automatically submitted to Turnitin. Turnitin identifies work as having more than a 10% similarity rate (plagiarism) after quoted material and small matches (10 words or less) are excluded will not be read and will receive a grade of 0.
Introduction
The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States are two of the most important documents in American history. They enshrine the fundamental values that inform how
our democratic government is legitimated and organized. These values include liberty, equality, justice, and the rule of law.
Over the years, the Supreme Court and the President have played a crucial role in interpreting and applying the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Through their decisions and executive actions, they have had a profound impact on law and society.
Supreme Court Cases
The Supreme Court has issued many landmark decisions that have shaped American law and society. Some of the most important cases include:
Marbury v. Madison (1803): Established the principle of judicial review, which gives the Supreme Court the power to strike down laws that it finds to be unconstitutional.
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819): Established the principle of implied powers, which gives the federal government the power to do whatever is necessary to carry out its enumerated powers.
Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857): Ruled that African Americans were not citizens and could not sue
in federal court. This decision helped to precipitate the Civil War.
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896): Upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation laws, establishing the "separate but equal" doctrine.
Brown v. Board of Education (1954): Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson and ruled that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional. This decision was a major victory for the civil rights movement.
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963): Established the right to an attorney for indigent defendants in criminal cases.
Miranda v. Arizona (1966): Established the Miranda rights, which must be read to suspects before they can be interrogated by police.
Roe v. Wade (1973): Established the right to abortion.
Obergefell v. Hodges (2015): Established the right to same-sex marriage.
These are just a few of the many Supreme Court cases that have had a significant impact on American law and society. The Supreme Court continues to play an important role in shaping the
country's future through its decisions.
Executive Actions
Executive actions are directives from the President that have the force of law. They can be used to implement the President's agenda and to respond to crises.
Some of the most important executive actions in American history include:
Emancipation Proclamation (1863): Freed slaves in Confederate-held territory.
Executive Order 9066 (1942): Authorized the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
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Brown v. Board of Education II (1955): Directed the federal government to ensure that public schools are desegregated with "all deliberate speed."
Executive Order 11246 (1965): Prohibited discrimination in employment by federal contractors.
Executive Order 12333 (1981): Established the Classified Information Procedures Act, which governs the classification and declassification of government information.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) (2012): Deferred deportation and granted work permits to certain undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children.
Executive actions have been used to both promote and curtail individual rights. They have also been used to expand and limit the power of the federal government.
Impact on Law and Society
The Supreme Court and the President have had a profound impact on law and society through their decisions and executive actions.
The Supreme Court has helped to protect individual rights and to expand the scope of equality in American society. For example, the Court's decisions in Brown v. Board of Education and Roe v.
Wade were major victories for the civil rights and women's rights movements.
The President has also used executive actions to promote individual rights and to expand the scope of equality. For example, President Obama's executive order on DACA has protected hundreds of thousands of young undocumented immigrants from deportation.
However, the Supreme Court and the President have also taken actions that have curtailed individual rights and limited the scope of equality. For example, the Court's decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford helped to precipitate the Civil War, and President Roosevelt's Executive Order 9066 led to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
Despite their flaws, the Supreme Court and the President play an important role in American democracy. They have the power to shape the country's future through their decisions and executive