Saturday, December 20, 2014

Cite the branch of government that has been primarily responsible for the incorporation of the Bill of Rights.

The Judiciary or the
Judicial Branch of the US government has been primarily
responsible for incorporating the Bill of Rights. Originally, the Bill of Rights was
applicable only to the Federal government. American Courts have been incorporating
portions of it to the States and local governments and now the Bill of Rights is
applicable to these governments as well. The US Supreme Court, in 1833, clarified that
the Bill of Rights is only applicable to the federal government. However, beginning in
1920, a number of Supreme Court decisions interpreted the Fourteenth Amendment to
include states as well, meaning that now portions of the Bill of Rights are enforceable
against state governments. The Fourteenth Amendment provides for citizenship rights, due
process, equal protection, immunity, etc. and has not only been applied to states, but
for ending racial discrimination as well. 

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