Civil Liberties - Research Paper Example

In addition, the amendment also protects citizens from the use of evidence against them, which may have been acquired through unlawful means. Since the enactment of the fourth amendment, the United States citizens cannot to be subjected to unlawful acts by the law enforcement officers (Woody, 2006). The Fifth Amendment states that only an indictment by the Grand Jury can detain people when found to have committed capital offences. The only exception to this rule comes in handy when there is a case of civil emergency or war.

Under the Fifth Amendment also, an accused person cannot be forced to testify against himself in a court of law by the government. This amendment has a clause that also prohibits the government from engaging in confiscation of property belonging to citizens, facilitating the detention of people, or even facilitating their execution when the process is not followed. The impact of this amendment is that it has ensured that citizens can be prosecuted only by the courts. No other entity, except the court, has the ultimate right to prosecute a person without any adherence to the judicial process.

As a result, offenders have been accorded their rights since there is no violation of the court procedure (Woody, 2006). According to the Sixth Amendment, accused persons have the right to be tried in a speedy manner, which will avoid delays in the trial process. In addition, the amendment stresses the need for having a jury that is not partial conducting the trial. Moreover, the accused has the right to know what has caused his or her accusation, as well as the nature of the accusation to which he is subjected by the jury.

This amendment has had an impact on the trial process; as it has ensured that accused persons have the right to access the services of a Counsel during their defense. In addition, this amendment has ensured that trail takes place in a speedy manner and that accused persons can be tried publicly. The Sixth Amendment has also ensured that the jury to try the accused is impartial and does not pass judgment that is biased; the accused can also know the charges, which are pending (Vile, 2010). Under the Eighth Amendment, the constitution of the US states that there should be no application of excessive bail and suspects should not be given punishments that can be regarded as unusual, and the fines imposed on the accused should not be excessive.

The impact of this amendment is that it has ensured there is no severe punishment on the accused. This amendment has also limited amount of fines, which can be imposed on the accused persons (Vile, 2010). The 14th Amendment states that for a person to qualify as a United States Citizen, he or she should be born and naturalized in the America. In addition, such a person should be under the United States jurisdiction. The impact of this amendment is that it has protected the citizens from unlawful denial of their rights by their respective states (Lee, 2011).

Due process refers to the reasons for enforcing laws, as well as the process followed when enforcing these laws. In the United States, due process tends to be applicable to corporations and United States citizens. There are several due process rights contained in the United States constitution. These rights include the right to personal privacy, right to life right to liberty, as well as right to own property. Procedural due process