Evaluate the view that the US Constitution ensures that civil liberties are effectively protected by the Supreme Court

Question 1

Para headings & LOA?

Question 2

LGBTQ Rights agr

Answer 2

• upholding of 14th amendment through LGBTQ rights by SC
• 2015 Obergefell v Hodges saw SC rule that the rich to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples

Question 3

LGBTQ rights disagr

Answer 3

• while 14th amendment rights to LGBTQ were protected they were at the detriment to other groups
• 2015 Miller v Davis case saw clerk in Kentucky argue that her religious rights are infringed upon as she refused to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple as it violated her religious beliefs

Question 4

Abortion rights agr

Answer 4

• upholding of 14th amendment regarding abortion rights by SC
• 2016 Whole Women’s Health v Helllerstedt saw SC rule that the requirements placed on abortion centres by Texas H.B.2 laws were unconstitutional + landmark 1972 Roe v Wade ruling that allowed women the right to an abortion

Question 5

Abortion rights disagr

Answer 5

• politicisation of SC appointments threaten reversal of Roe v Wade ruling
• Trump appointed of Amy Coney Barret who was a member of anti-abortion group ‘right to life’ prior to being a justice and her refusal to say Roe v Wade was super precedent and publicly supported the reversal fo Roe v Wade years before justice position threatens the upholding of 14th amendment

Question 6

Gun rights agr

Answer 6

• upholding of 2nd amendment of gun rights by SC
• 2008 D.C v Heller saw SC rule that there is a right to gun ownership without a connection to the militia and for use in the home for self-defence
• furthered by 2010 Chicago v McDonald ruling that saw court rule the right to bear arms for self-defence was also applicable to states as well as federal gov law

Question 7

Gun rights disagr

Answer 7

• pressure groups uphold 2nd amendment such as NRA
• one of largest groups in US with 5.5 million members and on average spends $3 million a year influencing gun policy and in 2019 they spent $1.6 million lobbying Congress against laws that would enact stricter background checks for people buying guns