The Declaration of Independence contains the following language:
“[A]ll men are created equal, that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are
Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
For Part I of your thread, based on this week’s reading of
Beerman, explain how the 5th Amendment of the U.S.
Constitution enforces this principle through due process.
For Part II of your thread, explain how these principles are
part of the Christian faith.
The Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects American
citizens from self-incrimination, guaranteed due process with
equal protection before the law, access to grand jury hearings,
and property rights. Unknown, Constitutional Amendments-
Amendment 5- “Legal rights and Compensation,” Ronald Reagan
Presidential Library and Museum,
https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/constitutional-amendments-
amendment-5-legal-rights-and-
compensation#:~:text=Amendment%20Five%20to%20the
%20Constitution,prosecution%20by%20the%20English
%20royalty. Throughout this week’s module we focused on due
process, which places constraints on the actions that the
government can wield. Jack M. Beermann, Administrative Law:
What Matters and Why 238-239 (2nd ed. 2020). Even though the
U.S. Constitution stems ideologies off the Magna Carta, which
comes from English common law, both the Fifth and Fourteenth
Amendment “advise[s] that government may not deprive any
person of life, liberty or property without due process of law.” Id.
Due Process does not happen overnight but rather there are
multiple analysis that is involved such as procedural due process
and substantive due process. Madison Hess, Laura Temme, Fifth
Amendment Due Process, FindLaw (August 27, 2024),
https://constitution.findlaw.com/amendment5/annotation05.html.
While procedural due process (example: Board of Regents of State
Colleges v. Roth, 408 U.S. 564) rights require that the government
follow fair and established legal procedures before depriving
someone of their life, liberty, or property; the substantive due
process (example: Allgeyer v. Louisiana, 165 U.S. 578) rights
protect individuals from unjust government interference with their
fundamental freedoms and personal rights. Id. Overall, the Fifth
Amendment is a living reality of the American citizen’s right to be
treated fairly under the law. It prevents the government from
removing an American citizen of their basic rights without
complying to established and fair procedures.
From a biblical perspective, “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of
Happiness” are deeply intertwined to the Christian faith. Genesis
1:26-27 discusses that every person is created in the image of
God with basic value and worth. This establishes that life, liberty,
and happiness are fundamental rights granted by God, which
cannot be taken away. Life is a precious gift that stems from God
so it should be valued and protected at all costs. “For with you is
the fountain of life; in your light we see light.” Psalm 36:9 (NIV).
Therefore, think of the Ten Commandments “You shall not
murder.” Exodus 20:13 (NIV). These verses highlight that life
shines throughout the world, and as Christians, we must advocate
for God’s vision which is preserving life while keeping darkness,
symbolizing murder, at bay. This aligns with the Fifth Amendment,
which guarantees every American citizen’s right to life as it is
protected against the unlawful removal of that right. The second
factor, Liberty, is emphasized in numerous biblical verses. “Now
the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is
freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 (NIV). As Christians, maintaining a
relationship with God through the Holy Spirit demonstrates the
actual freedom we can have. Therefore, by understanding biblical
verses about freedom one can see that there is a correlation with
the concepts within the Fifth Amendment, stating that freedom is
protected by the law for American citizens. Finally, the pursuit of
happiness, is another reoccurring concept throughout the Bible
that aligns with the Fifth Amendment. “You make known to me
the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with
eternal pleasuresOat your right hand.” Psalm 16:11 (NIV). This
verse illustrates that by aligning with God's purpose and
demonstrating a close relationship with God this leads to true
happiness, much like the Declaration of Independence, which
grants American citizens the rightOto pursue happiness. All in all,
both worldviews emphasize equality and human dignity,
acknowledging that American citizens are created for more than
just survival, but are meant to live as “all men are created equal
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable
Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of
Happiness.” The Declaration of Independence (U.S. 1776). To end
with a Biblical verse: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither
slave nor free,Onor is there male and female,Ofor you are all one in
Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28 (NIV).
