Constitutional Law

Constitutional Law

Name

Institution

Constitutional Law

The video is a lecture detailing more concerning substantive due process. Substantive due process is placed in the fifth and fourteenth amendments of the constitution. The video explains more about substantive due process and it gives examples of where and when it is applicable. It also provides examples of how law questions concerning substantive due process are framed and answered. The information presented in the video is reliable. The lecturer has used the constitutional law and the provisions contained in it. He has given examples of real life cases that have occurred, and detailed how the courts ruled. This makes his material credible and reliable. All the cases and the information presented in the video are included in published sources and they can be accessed easily. They are also used as references in court cases and they are included in the court records.

The lecturer has explained substantive due process in a clear and interesting way. He has used allegorical illustrations to as a foundation for his lecture. The illustration about the people stuck in an island and the rules they make makes it easier for one to understand the basis of the law in question. From the analogy used, it is clear to see why the government has to have compelling reason to deny people of their liberty. The video includes examples of the fundamental rights that are to be respected and the lecturer explains why such liberties are considered fundamental. This forms most of the content in the video and it is important in helping to gain more understanding on substantive due process.

The inclusion of the examples of the fundamental rights is important and it adds to the published research on substantive due process. The examples given include procreation, living together as a family, right to marry, appearance, learning, and bodily restraint. The cases highlighted cover multiple perspectives of the issue, and this gives one a chance to see how the law would be applicable in different situations. For instance, the lecturer has given three examples of court cases under procreation and they all cover different aspects. It is easy to identify whether a case would fall under this law by following the illustrated examples.

The lecturer identifies instances where the courts have ruled against state laws because they violated the constitution by failing to recognize substantive due process. For instance, in Meyers v. Nebraska and Pierce v. Society of Sisters, the states involved established laws that limited peoples’ liberty without having a compelling reason. In Stanley v. Illinois, the state had established a law that stated that unwed fathers were incompetent and could not bring up their children. The law was unfair because it would lead to the breakup of families. The courts considered such laws void. People have been learning and raising their children forever. Any laws that interfered with this were considered a violation of people’s liberty. The lecturer also identified the limitations of the federal laws and this makes it possible for one to understand why congress has limited power on some issues. However, state laws compensate for this, because the constitution has granted the state several powers to make laws.

The lecturer stated his objectives clearly at the beginning of the lecture and he explained all of them in details during the course of his instruction. He communicated well with the audience and he made the lecture interesting by making the examples and illustrations relevant. I found the lecture instructive and easy to understand. Therefore, if I had a chance to explain the concept, I would not consider adding or subtracting anything from it.