Introduction
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects people’s freedom of speech. However, the government can limit free expression under certain circumstances such as advocacy characterized by the use of force. Incitements capable of producing violence or suicide can also be limited (Gahagan & Brophy, 2014). Expressions that are intended to falsify facts can also be suppressed.
Analysis
The Sixth Amendment presents powerful provisions to ensure a fair trial. It states that every accused citizen must enjoy public and speedy trial. The jury must be impartial and ready to inform the individual about the cause of the targeted case (Sutherland, 2014). The accused should also be assisted to get a defense attorney.
The major provisions in the U.S. Constitution affecting civil rights policies include the Thirteenth, the Fourteenth, and the Fifteenth Amendments. The Thirteenth Amendment prohibits any form of involuntary servitude while the Fourteenth compels states not to pass regulations that deprive people of their property or liberties (McLaughlin, West, & Anderson, 2016). The Fifteenth Amendment protects citizens’ voting rights. Such provisions have continued to inform policies focusing on people’s civil rights.
There are specific circumstances under which employers and universities can consider the issue of race. For instance, affirmative action guides these stakeholders to offer new opportunities to misrepresented racial groups (Gahagan & Brophy, 2014). Companies and learning institutions can target minority races to increase diversity. Similarly, reverse discrimination is applied to attract people from minority races.
Civil rights policymaking is a process that attracts various participants. Courts can make suitable laws in accordance with the provisions of the U.S. Constitution. Similarly, Congress comes up with regulations that shape the country’s civil rights policies (Swinburn & Moore, 2014). The executive branch proposes new laws to address people’s needs. Interest groups are also critical players in civil rights policymaking.
Civil rights policymaking can be tedious depending on the targeted objectives, existing laws, and participants. However, policymakers must exhaust every avenue and resource in order to advocate for people’s rights. This discussion gives a detailed analysis of a political campaign that focused on the rights of the elderly in society. The paper offers meaningful insights that can be embraced by those who want to advocate for people’s civil rights or liberties.
A Detailed Analysis of the Attended Political Event
The observed event was a campaign organized by regional leaders, policymakers, civil rights activists, and members of different advocacy groups. Several religious leaders were also present during the event. The presence of these participants was a clear indication that the targeted agenda was relevant to the country. The campaign was held in one of the public gathering spaces in my local town. Many people had attended the rally in order to understand the importance of supporting the rights of the elderly in society. The organizers of the event acknowledged that every senior person in the nation required adequate medical care, support, and protection.
The political event was directly related to the issue of civil rights. The U.S. Constitution offers a number of provisions to protect the welfare and liberties of every American citizen. The campaign was staged in an attempt to support a proposed policy that could empower more senior citizens in the country. The event is related to civil rights since it helps every person in attendance to understand the process of civil rights policymaking (McLaughlin et al., 2016). Individuals who attend similar events can be informed about the importance of civil rights and why they should be taken seriously by all communities (Swinburn & Moore, 2014). Additionally, similar events can offer powerful incentives to encourage more people to be part of every policymaking process. The move can ensure the emerging needs of different underserved groups are met.
Conclusion
The observed political event had been organized to encourage, inform, and educate different stakeholders about the challenges encountered by the elderly in the United States. Those in attendance included politicians, religious leaders, members of the public, and activists. The agenda would catalyze new discussions aimed at supporting the changing needs of senior citizens and make it easier for them to lead quality lives. Similar events will, therefore, be needed in the future to support the rights and liberties of different groups.
References
Gahagan, S. M., & Brophy, A. L. (2014). Reading Professor Obama: Race and the American constitutional tradition. University of Pittsburg Law Review, 75, 495-581. Web.
McLaughlin, V. L., West, J. E., & Anderson, J. A. (2016). Engaging effectively in the policy-making process. Teacher Education and Special Education: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children, 39(2), pp. 134-149. Web.
Sutherland, D. W. (2014). Homeland security and civil liberties: Preserving America’s way of life. Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics & Public Policy, 19(1), 289-308.
Swinburn, B., & Moore, M. (2014). Urgently needed: Voices for integrity in public policy making. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 38(6), 505. Web.