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Due Process Clause
United States Supreme Court began to apply the guarantees of the Bill of Rights to the states. The Court based its actions on the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, which reads in part as follows: No State shall...deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law. Due process is simply the right to be treated fairly under the legal system. -
Series Of Cases
In a long series of cases, starting in 1925, the Supreme Court gradually began using the due process clause to say that states could not abridge a right that the national government could not abridge. -
Freedom Of The Press
In a 1931 Supreme Court case, the Court ruled that the freedom of the press offered by the national Bill of Rights had to be offered by every state as well. -
Freedom Of Religion
In a 1934 case, the Supreme Court ruled that freedom of religion provided for in the First Amendment had to be provided by all states. -
Supreme Court Broadens
During the 1960's, the Supreme Court broadened its interpretations to limit state action in most areas in which national government action is limited. These areas include the Fourth Amendment prohibition against unreasonable searches and siezures, and Fifth Amendment prohibition against compulsory self-incrimination, and the Eighth Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishments.
