V. Civil Liberties

A. Affirmative Action Affirmative Action – Government policy that gives preference to minorities, women, or physically challenged people Makes up for past discrimination Used by employers and colleges Practice was made unconstitutional in Nebraska in 2008

B. Right to Privacy Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) – Constitution protects personal privacy USA Patriot Act (2002) – Gives the federal government great powers to detain anyone expected of terrorism Government does not have to charge you with a crime to detain you

C. Roe V Wade (1973) Decided the question (for now) on what limits a state can have on a woman’s right of abortion Texas law prohibited all abortions unless the mother’s life was endangered

Supreme Court ruled the Texas law unconstitutional Separated a pregnancy into trimesters – (3 months)

1 st Trimester State can pass no laws that prevent women from having an abortion

2 nd Trimester Acting in the interest of the mother states may regulate but not completely prohibit abortions

3 rd Trimester States may prohibit all abortions except those necessary to save the life of the mother

D. Peter Singer the Final Frontier on Abortion Dr. Peter Singer – Ethic professor who teaches at Princeton Believes that the ability to rationalize is where life begins States that since newborns are unable to rationalize – Parents and doctors should be allowed to put them to death until the 18 th week of life

Claims that it is no different than the practice of abortion Unborn children like newborns can not think for themselves Parents should also be able to put a disabled child to death

Believes this practice would rid the world of crime and poverty States that unwanted children are born ever day These parents do not do a proper job of raising these children

Children without loving parents are the cause of all evils in society Society as a whole would be better off if these unwanted children were put to death as infants