The application essay assignments address topics integral to the criminal justice field and future
criminal justice professionals from a biblical worldview. As societal change compels criminal
justice reform, studying the effects of reform related to justice from a biblical worldview is
essential. Rethinking law enforcement procedures, criminal sentencing, and law, overall, are just
a few of the topics examined.
INSTRUCTIONS
As specified in the Declaration of Independence, a just criminal justice system has limited power
and upholds the unalienable rights of the citizenry.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that 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.–That to secure these rights, Governments are
instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed- (US
1776)
To protect these God-given unalienable rights, the framers of the U.S. Constitution adopted the
Bill of Rights. Thus, the heart of the Constitution strictly limits the federal government’s power
to those entrusted to it. You will analyze a case or incident that depicts a constitutional violation
for this assignment. Complete the following instructions.
First, choose ONE of the following cases or incidents (A, B, or C) to discuss. Links located
under Application Essay: Limited Governmental Powers Assignment Resources.
A. (KENNEDY V. BREMERTON SCHOOL DISTRICT, 597 U.S. ___ (2022) Whether
the District’s actions violated the high school football coach’s First Amendment’s Free
Speech and Free Exercise Clauses
B. (303 CREATIVE LLC V. ELENIS) Whether applying a public-accommodation law to
compel an artist to speak or stay silent violates the Free Speech Clause of the First
Amendment.
C. (DOBBS V. JACKSON WOMEN’S HEALTH ORGANIZATION) Whether all pre-
viability prohibitions on elective abortions are unconstitutional or not?
Second, respond to the two questions below (a brief example follows).
1. Explain the details of your selected case or incident, discussing the specific constitutional
infringements involved.
2. Explain how the case ruling (or potential ruling) reinforces or weakens constitutional
rights.
For example, in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. (2014), the U.S. Supreme Court had to
decide whether the regulations enforced by the Department of Health and Human Services
(under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (2010)) substantially burdened the
exercise of religion of Christian owners of three corporations. The Court determined the
regulations substantially burdened the exercise of religion. The Supreme Court ruling reinforced
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the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 and the Free Exercise Clause of the First
Amendment.
Your 400-word minimum (with a suggested 500-word maximum) essay supports your views on
this week’s required readings and study materials, demonstrating course-related knowledge. You
must support your work with at least 3 scholarly citations in the APA format. Specifically, 1
citation will refer to the course materials, 1 citation will refer to the Bible, and the third may refer
to a scholarly article published within the last five years. (Exclude assignment questions, title
page, and reference section from the word count.)
Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.
