rights definitions distinctions derivation. misunderstandings about rights the assertion of a right...
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RIGHTS
DEFINITIONSDISTINCTIONSDERIVATION
MISUNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT RIGHTS• THE ASSERTION OF A RIGHT = THE
EXISTENCE OF A RIGHT• RIGHTS ARE SELF-EVIDENT• THE ASSERTION OF A RIGHT ENTAILS
NOTHING BEYOND THE ASSERTION• THERE ARE NO SUBSTANTIAL
DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN KINDS OF RIGHT
• ALL RIGHTS HAVE EQUAL STATUS
DEFINITIONS
• BASIC DEFINITION– CLAIM BASED UPON AN IMPORTANT VALUE,– RECOGNIZED BY THE COMMUNITY,– IMPOSING A DUTY ON ANOTHER TO ACT OR
FOREBEAR,– THEREBY PROTECTING THE CLAIMANT IN
THE PURSUIT OF THE VALUE.• RIGHTS CONFER POWER AND PROTECTION• RIGHTS LANGUAGE IS OFTEN ADVERSARIAL
ALTERNATIVE DEFINITION
• A RIGHT ENTAILS AN OBLIGATION OR DUTY IMPOSED ON ANOTHER, REQUIRING A CONSENSUS IN IDENTIFYING THE BEARER OF THE DUTY, TO ACT OR FOREBEAR IN A WAY, WHICH PROMOTES THE GOOD EMBODIED IN THE RIGHT FOR THE WELFARE OF THE CLAIMANT.
DISTINCTIONS
• MORAL– [WISHES] APPEAL TO THE ENLIGHTENED
CONSCIENCE– “HUMAN RIGHTS” FLOW FROM HUMAN NATURE
• LEGAL – [POWER TO SUE] APPEAL TO CODES OF LAW
• POSITIVE– IMPOSE A DUTY TO ACT
• NEGATIVE– IMPOSE A DUTY TO FOREBEAR [BEHAVE WITH
RESTRAINT]
ADDITIONAL DISTINCTION
• INDEFEASIBLE RIGHTS– RIGHTS WHICH OTHERS CANNOT
JUSTIFIABLY OVERRIDE
• INALIENABLE RIGHTS– RIGHTS WHICH THE BEARER MAY NOT
RENOUNCE
DERIVATION OF RIGHTS
• GOODS [THAT ARE VALUED]– Colonists Coming to America (17th & 18th
Centuries)• INDISPENSABLE GOODS/VALUES TO
ACHIEVE SPECIFIC GOALS– Colonists Developing Goods/Values for Self-
Determination (18th Century)• ASSERTION OF MORAL RIGHTS [WISHES]
– U.S. Declaration of Independence (1776)• CODIFICATION OF LEGAL RIGHTS
[STRUCTURED PROTECTIONS AND THE ABILITY TO SUE]– U.S. Bill of Rights (1791)
WHY A BILL OF RIGHTS
• A MAJOR PART OF DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS
• REDUCES CITIZEN VULNERABILITY• PROTECTS CITIZENS FROM EXCESSES• EMPOWERS CITIZENS• GIVES CITIZENS A VOICE• GIVES CITIZENS STANDING• ALLOWS CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
DETERMINATION OF THEIR DESTINY
U.S. CONSTITUTIONAMENDMENT XIV; SECTION 1• ALL PERSONS BORN OR NATURALIZED IN THE
UNITED STATES, AND SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION THEREOF, ARE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THE STATE WHEREIN THEY RESIDE.
• NO STATE SHALL MAKE OR ENFORCE ANY LAW WHICH ABRIDGES 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.
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
• ENTITLED TO THE CONSTITUTION’S PROTECTION
• “OBJECTIVELY, ‘DEEPLY ROOTED IN THIS [SOCIETY’S] HISTORY AND TRADITION,’ AND ‘IMPLICIT IN THE CONCEPT OF ORDERED LIBERTY,’ SUCH THAT ‘NEITHER LIBERTY NOR JUSTICE COULD EXIST IF THEY WERE SACRIFICED.’”– Washington v. Glucksberg. U.S. Supreme Court
(1997).
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