Is there a provision in the American constitution that explicitly provides for a person's right to life? I don't think it is explicitly said in the first amendment... Thanks!
2006-08-13 05:41:43 · 6 answers · asked by blew 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
"No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. "
This is in the 14th ammendment.
2006-08-13 06:05:05 · answer #1 · answered by Shintz62 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The constitution does not grant rights to the people, it grants rights to government. Amendment 10 states
"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
In other words, the Constitution spells out the power granted to the federal government, and clarifies government has ONLY those powers specified. The bill of rights adds additional protection against the exercise of specific powers by the federal government, but this should not be taken to mean that people have only those rights guaranteed by the constitution. Indeed, Amendment X clearly states that the people have those powers not explicitly granted to government. Life I guess can be considered one of these powers that is granted to people by default, and the Constitution specifies when government has the power to curtail this default freedom (see e.g., amendments 5 and 8).
2006-08-13 13:00:42 · answer #2 · answered by wis 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's no part of the constitution that states that people have a "right to life" but there are numerous laws that state that no one has the right to take a life (even if the other person asks)
2006-08-13 12:45:45 · answer #3 · answered by DonSoze 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The source of our rights is stated in the Declaration of Independence. "Endowed by our Creator". The purpose of the Constitution is to limit the power of government not a laundry list of our rights.
2006-08-13 16:00:21 · answer #4 · answered by Roadkill 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As far as those 'right to lifers' go no....but we are all entitled to the right to life, liberty and the purduit of hapiness.
2006-08-13 12:57:40 · answer #5 · answered by polllydooodle 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
2006-08-13 12:45:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋