The following amendments are written here to help the teacher familiarize students with fundamental rights that are guaranteed by the Constitution. They have been used in previous landmark court cases to argue laws that have been considered an invasion of individuals’ right to privacy and should be used here when arguing for or against a governmental ban on cloning and genetic engineering research and practice. These along with other Constitutional Amendments can be investigated in Your Rugged Constitution (cited in the Teacher’s Bibliography)
Fourth Amendment: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated; and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
You deny federal officials the authority to arrest you or to search your home or other possessions without a warrant. You get protection of your liberty and privacy except when it seems clear that you have broken the law.
Fifth Amendment “ No person shall ...; nor be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without
just compensation.”
You deny the government certain dictatorial powers over your life, your freedom and your property. You get safeguards that are vitally important to a free people.
Ninth Amendment: “The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.”
You deny to the federal government any authority over certain unspecified and indefinite rights. You get (a) protection against interference with any rights that were not thought of in 1791, (b) further assurance that the people’s power will not be seized by a dictator.
Fourteenth Amendment: “All persons born or naturalized...and of the state wherein they reside.” “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.”
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You deny the state any authority over certain rights and privileges no matter how legal the procedure. You get protection from the federal government if the state restricts any of those rights.
VOCABULARY
genes, DNA, genetic engineering, genetic enhancement, eugenics, biotechnology, stem cell, embryo,