Principles of Ethical Government 2(c): Equal Protection and Due Process

Mormon Women for Ethical Government’s principles of ethical government 2(c) states:

(c) All people are entitled to equal protection and due process under the law and to be free from arbitrary deprivation of their life, liberty, property, and privacy. Criminal justice and national security institutions must be designed in ways that preserve and uphold those rights for all people equally (see D&C 101:77).

The Constitution, notably the 5th and 14th Amendments, clearly states that every “person” is entitled to due process and equal protection under the law, and the U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed that these rights extend to all persons as soon as they arrive on U.S. soil, regardless of citizenship or immigration status. Upholding due process and equal protection with vigor and exactness at the individual, institutional, and systemic levels is crucial to rooting out prejudice.

We strive to honor equal protection and due process as part of our commitment to the Constitution, the rule of law, and fundamental rights. We also recognize the importance of freedom from arbitrary deprivation of life, liberty, property, and privacy.

This document outlines methods and resources to accomplish these goals. It also includes thought questions, relevant scriptures, and explanations of the ideas and concepts that make up what George Washington declared to be “the

firmest pillar of good Government" — justice.

Read the document by clicking on the image below, or download the document here.