Due Process: Defining Fair Legal Treatment

Considered one of the fundamental guarantees of individual rights in the U.S. Constitution, due process of law has nonetheless been debated throughout American history. Which legal proceedings should be protected? Who should receive these rights, and in which jurisdictions? The articles in this compilation trace the evolution of due process from the early 20th century to the present, covering the impact of these rights on the American legal system and society. Beyond the rights of the accused in a criminal or civil trial, due process can have major implications for the right to privacy, the rights of immigrants and refugees, and even the pursuit of terrorist suspects. These issues are explored in the articles of this compilation and further explained with the aid of media literacy questions and terms.