Is the right to engage in scientific inquiry a fundamental right?

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I am curious as to whether there is any precedent in the U.S. regarding the level of scrutiny applied to 14th amendment claims against statutes that hinder a person's ability to engage in scientific research. In particular, whether the courts have deemed the right to engage in science as "inherent in the concept of ordered liberty" or "deeply entrenched in our country's morals and traditions." It seems plausible to me that a case could be made for this, which would raise the level of scrutiny above rational basis.










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    I am curious as to whether there is any precedent in the U.S. regarding the level of scrutiny applied to 14th amendment claims against statutes that hinder a person's ability to engage in scientific research. In particular, whether the courts have deemed the right to engage in science as "inherent in the concept of ordered liberty" or "deeply entrenched in our country's morals and traditions." It seems plausible to me that a case could be made for this, which would raise the level of scrutiny above rational basis.










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      I am curious as to whether there is any precedent in the U.S. regarding the level of scrutiny applied to 14th amendment claims against statutes that hinder a person's ability to engage in scientific research. In particular, whether the courts have deemed the right to engage in science as "inherent in the concept of ordered liberty" or "deeply entrenched in our country's morals and traditions." It seems plausible to me that a case could be made for this, which would raise the level of scrutiny above rational basis.










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      I am curious as to whether there is any precedent in the U.S. regarding the level of scrutiny applied to 14th amendment claims against statutes that hinder a person's ability to engage in scientific research. In particular, whether the courts have deemed the right to engage in science as "inherent in the concept of ordered liberty" or "deeply entrenched in our country's morals and traditions." It seems plausible to me that a case could be made for this, which would raise the level of scrutiny above rational basis.







      united-states constitutional-law






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      David Reed

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          There is some precedent for claiming a right to free scientific inquiry. For example, the primary holding of Miller v. California, 413 U.S. 15 is that "Speech that is obscene and thus lacking First Amendment protection must be without serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value" (note the omission of commercial speech). In Meyer v. Nebraska, 262 U.S. 390, the court overturned a law banning teaching children foreign languages, finding that such a law "invades the liberty guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment", and observing




          While this Court has not attempted to define with exactness the
          liberty thus guaranteed, the term has received much consideration and
          some of the included things have been definitely stated. Without
          doubt, it denotes not merely freedom from bodily restraint, but also
          the right of the individual to contract, to engage in any of the
          common occupations of life, to acquire useful knowledge, to marry,
          establish a home and bring up children, to worship God according to
          the dictates of his own conscience, and generally to enjoy those
          privileges long recognized at common law as essential to the orderly
          pursuit of happiness by free men




          In Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479 the court finds that




          the State may not, consistently with the spirit of the First
          Amendment, contract the spectrum of available knowledge. The right of
          freedom of speech and press includes not only the right to utter or to
          print, but the right to distribute, the right to receive, the right to
          read (Martin v. Struthers, 319 U. S. 141, 319 U. S. 143) and freedom
          of inquiry, freedom of thought, and freedom to teach (see Wiemann v.
          Updegraff, 344 U. S. 183, 344 U. S. 195) -- indeed, the freedom of the
          entire university community.




          In Henley v. Wise, 303 F. Supp. 62, the court found unconstitutional an Indiana law that would have outlawed research done at the Kinsey Institute at IU (that would have been a later consequence of the law, not the instant matter), stating that "This chilling effect on the research, development and exchange of scholarly ideas is repugnant to the First Amendment", and




          the state has unconstitutionally intruded itself into two areas of
          protected activity. The first protected area is the right of scholars
          to do research and advance the state of man's knowledge. This is the
          freedom of inquiry referred to in Griswold v. Connecticut




          Then in Branzburg v. Hayes, 408 U.S. 665, the court glancingly groups academic research with other forms of First Amendment protected activities:




          Freedom of the press is a "fundamental personal right" which "is not
          confined to newspapers and periodicals. It necessarily embraces
          pamphlets and leaflets. . . . The press in its historic connotation
          comprehends every sort of publication which affords a vehicle of
          information and opinion." The informative function asserted by
          representatives of the organized press in the present cases is also
          performed by lecturers, political pollsters, novelists, academic
          researchers, and dramatists.




          Article 25 of the California constitution recognizes a specific research right




          There is hereby established a right to conduct stem cell research
          which includes research involving adult stem cells, cord blood stem
          cells, pluripotent stem cells, and/or progenitor cells.




          However, there have also been (failed) attempts at the federal level to prohibit such research.



          More generally, one might look into rulings on acts which are preludes to any form of expression, such as buying paper and ink, acquiring a printing press, hiring reporters, and investigations of events by reporters – it is unlikely that the courts would uphold a law that outlaws reporters investigating crimes or political situations because that is not yet "expression". Indeed, "freedom of the press" does not just refer to the act of disseminating ideas and information. But a definitive court ruling has not been made.






          share|improve this answer



























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            There is no body of constitutional law to that effect.



            In part, this is because the non-constitutional tradition of academic freedom is so great.



            Once research is done, publication of that research has strong academic freedom protections, but there is no real case law suggesting that the scientific inquiry itself is protected.



            For example, cases regarding whether stem cell research should be permitted are not argued in a manner that raises constitutional questions.






            share|improve this answer




















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              There is some precedent for claiming a right to free scientific inquiry. For example, the primary holding of Miller v. California, 413 U.S. 15 is that "Speech that is obscene and thus lacking First Amendment protection must be without serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value" (note the omission of commercial speech). In Meyer v. Nebraska, 262 U.S. 390, the court overturned a law banning teaching children foreign languages, finding that such a law "invades the liberty guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment", and observing




              While this Court has not attempted to define with exactness the
              liberty thus guaranteed, the term has received much consideration and
              some of the included things have been definitely stated. Without
              doubt, it denotes not merely freedom from bodily restraint, but also
              the right of the individual to contract, to engage in any of the
              common occupations of life, to acquire useful knowledge, to marry,
              establish a home and bring up children, to worship God according to
              the dictates of his own conscience, and generally to enjoy those
              privileges long recognized at common law as essential to the orderly
              pursuit of happiness by free men




              In Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479 the court finds that




              the State may not, consistently with the spirit of the First
              Amendment, contract the spectrum of available knowledge. The right of
              freedom of speech and press includes not only the right to utter or to
              print, but the right to distribute, the right to receive, the right to
              read (Martin v. Struthers, 319 U. S. 141, 319 U. S. 143) and freedom
              of inquiry, freedom of thought, and freedom to teach (see Wiemann v.
              Updegraff, 344 U. S. 183, 344 U. S. 195) -- indeed, the freedom of the
              entire university community.




              In Henley v. Wise, 303 F. Supp. 62, the court found unconstitutional an Indiana law that would have outlawed research done at the Kinsey Institute at IU (that would have been a later consequence of the law, not the instant matter), stating that "This chilling effect on the research, development and exchange of scholarly ideas is repugnant to the First Amendment", and




              the state has unconstitutionally intruded itself into two areas of
              protected activity. The first protected area is the right of scholars
              to do research and advance the state of man's knowledge. This is the
              freedom of inquiry referred to in Griswold v. Connecticut




              Then in Branzburg v. Hayes, 408 U.S. 665, the court glancingly groups academic research with other forms of First Amendment protected activities:




              Freedom of the press is a "fundamental personal right" which "is not
              confined to newspapers and periodicals. It necessarily embraces
              pamphlets and leaflets. . . . The press in its historic connotation
              comprehends every sort of publication which affords a vehicle of
              information and opinion." The informative function asserted by
              representatives of the organized press in the present cases is also
              performed by lecturers, political pollsters, novelists, academic
              researchers, and dramatists.




              Article 25 of the California constitution recognizes a specific research right




              There is hereby established a right to conduct stem cell research
              which includes research involving adult stem cells, cord blood stem
              cells, pluripotent stem cells, and/or progenitor cells.




              However, there have also been (failed) attempts at the federal level to prohibit such research.



              More generally, one might look into rulings on acts which are preludes to any form of expression, such as buying paper and ink, acquiring a printing press, hiring reporters, and investigations of events by reporters – it is unlikely that the courts would uphold a law that outlaws reporters investigating crimes or political situations because that is not yet "expression". Indeed, "freedom of the press" does not just refer to the act of disseminating ideas and information. But a definitive court ruling has not been made.






              share|improve this answer
























                up vote
                2
                down vote













                There is some precedent for claiming a right to free scientific inquiry. For example, the primary holding of Miller v. California, 413 U.S. 15 is that "Speech that is obscene and thus lacking First Amendment protection must be without serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value" (note the omission of commercial speech). In Meyer v. Nebraska, 262 U.S. 390, the court overturned a law banning teaching children foreign languages, finding that such a law "invades the liberty guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment", and observing




                While this Court has not attempted to define with exactness the
                liberty thus guaranteed, the term has received much consideration and
                some of the included things have been definitely stated. Without
                doubt, it denotes not merely freedom from bodily restraint, but also
                the right of the individual to contract, to engage in any of the
                common occupations of life, to acquire useful knowledge, to marry,
                establish a home and bring up children, to worship God according to
                the dictates of his own conscience, and generally to enjoy those
                privileges long recognized at common law as essential to the orderly
                pursuit of happiness by free men




                In Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479 the court finds that




                the State may not, consistently with the spirit of the First
                Amendment, contract the spectrum of available knowledge. The right of
                freedom of speech and press includes not only the right to utter or to
                print, but the right to distribute, the right to receive, the right to
                read (Martin v. Struthers, 319 U. S. 141, 319 U. S. 143) and freedom
                of inquiry, freedom of thought, and freedom to teach (see Wiemann v.
                Updegraff, 344 U. S. 183, 344 U. S. 195) -- indeed, the freedom of the
                entire university community.




                In Henley v. Wise, 303 F. Supp. 62, the court found unconstitutional an Indiana law that would have outlawed research done at the Kinsey Institute at IU (that would have been a later consequence of the law, not the instant matter), stating that "This chilling effect on the research, development and exchange of scholarly ideas is repugnant to the First Amendment", and




                the state has unconstitutionally intruded itself into two areas of
                protected activity. The first protected area is the right of scholars
                to do research and advance the state of man's knowledge. This is the
                freedom of inquiry referred to in Griswold v. Connecticut




                Then in Branzburg v. Hayes, 408 U.S. 665, the court glancingly groups academic research with other forms of First Amendment protected activities:




                Freedom of the press is a "fundamental personal right" which "is not
                confined to newspapers and periodicals. It necessarily embraces
                pamphlets and leaflets. . . . The press in its historic connotation
                comprehends every sort of publication which affords a vehicle of
                information and opinion." The informative function asserted by
                representatives of the organized press in the present cases is also
                performed by lecturers, political pollsters, novelists, academic
                researchers, and dramatists.




                Article 25 of the California constitution recognizes a specific research right




                There is hereby established a right to conduct stem cell research
                which includes research involving adult stem cells, cord blood stem
                cells, pluripotent stem cells, and/or progenitor cells.




                However, there have also been (failed) attempts at the federal level to prohibit such research.



                More generally, one might look into rulings on acts which are preludes to any form of expression, such as buying paper and ink, acquiring a printing press, hiring reporters, and investigations of events by reporters – it is unlikely that the courts would uphold a law that outlaws reporters investigating crimes or political situations because that is not yet "expression". Indeed, "freedom of the press" does not just refer to the act of disseminating ideas and information. But a definitive court ruling has not been made.






                share|improve this answer






















                  up vote
                  2
                  down vote










                  up vote
                  2
                  down vote









                  There is some precedent for claiming a right to free scientific inquiry. For example, the primary holding of Miller v. California, 413 U.S. 15 is that "Speech that is obscene and thus lacking First Amendment protection must be without serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value" (note the omission of commercial speech). In Meyer v. Nebraska, 262 U.S. 390, the court overturned a law banning teaching children foreign languages, finding that such a law "invades the liberty guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment", and observing




                  While this Court has not attempted to define with exactness the
                  liberty thus guaranteed, the term has received much consideration and
                  some of the included things have been definitely stated. Without
                  doubt, it denotes not merely freedom from bodily restraint, but also
                  the right of the individual to contract, to engage in any of the
                  common occupations of life, to acquire useful knowledge, to marry,
                  establish a home and bring up children, to worship God according to
                  the dictates of his own conscience, and generally to enjoy those
                  privileges long recognized at common law as essential to the orderly
                  pursuit of happiness by free men




                  In Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479 the court finds that




                  the State may not, consistently with the spirit of the First
                  Amendment, contract the spectrum of available knowledge. The right of
                  freedom of speech and press includes not only the right to utter or to
                  print, but the right to distribute, the right to receive, the right to
                  read (Martin v. Struthers, 319 U. S. 141, 319 U. S. 143) and freedom
                  of inquiry, freedom of thought, and freedom to teach (see Wiemann v.
                  Updegraff, 344 U. S. 183, 344 U. S. 195) -- indeed, the freedom of the
                  entire university community.




                  In Henley v. Wise, 303 F. Supp. 62, the court found unconstitutional an Indiana law that would have outlawed research done at the Kinsey Institute at IU (that would have been a later consequence of the law, not the instant matter), stating that "This chilling effect on the research, development and exchange of scholarly ideas is repugnant to the First Amendment", and




                  the state has unconstitutionally intruded itself into two areas of
                  protected activity. The first protected area is the right of scholars
                  to do research and advance the state of man's knowledge. This is the
                  freedom of inquiry referred to in Griswold v. Connecticut




                  Then in Branzburg v. Hayes, 408 U.S. 665, the court glancingly groups academic research with other forms of First Amendment protected activities:




                  Freedom of the press is a "fundamental personal right" which "is not
                  confined to newspapers and periodicals. It necessarily embraces
                  pamphlets and leaflets. . . . The press in its historic connotation
                  comprehends every sort of publication which affords a vehicle of
                  information and opinion." The informative function asserted by
                  representatives of the organized press in the present cases is also
                  performed by lecturers, political pollsters, novelists, academic
                  researchers, and dramatists.




                  Article 25 of the California constitution recognizes a specific research right




                  There is hereby established a right to conduct stem cell research
                  which includes research involving adult stem cells, cord blood stem
                  cells, pluripotent stem cells, and/or progenitor cells.




                  However, there have also been (failed) attempts at the federal level to prohibit such research.



                  More generally, one might look into rulings on acts which are preludes to any form of expression, such as buying paper and ink, acquiring a printing press, hiring reporters, and investigations of events by reporters – it is unlikely that the courts would uphold a law that outlaws reporters investigating crimes or political situations because that is not yet "expression". Indeed, "freedom of the press" does not just refer to the act of disseminating ideas and information. But a definitive court ruling has not been made.






                  share|improve this answer












                  There is some precedent for claiming a right to free scientific inquiry. For example, the primary holding of Miller v. California, 413 U.S. 15 is that "Speech that is obscene and thus lacking First Amendment protection must be without serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value" (note the omission of commercial speech). In Meyer v. Nebraska, 262 U.S. 390, the court overturned a law banning teaching children foreign languages, finding that such a law "invades the liberty guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment", and observing




                  While this Court has not attempted to define with exactness the
                  liberty thus guaranteed, the term has received much consideration and
                  some of the included things have been definitely stated. Without
                  doubt, it denotes not merely freedom from bodily restraint, but also
                  the right of the individual to contract, to engage in any of the
                  common occupations of life, to acquire useful knowledge, to marry,
                  establish a home and bring up children, to worship God according to
                  the dictates of his own conscience, and generally to enjoy those
                  privileges long recognized at common law as essential to the orderly
                  pursuit of happiness by free men




                  In Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479 the court finds that




                  the State may not, consistently with the spirit of the First
                  Amendment, contract the spectrum of available knowledge. The right of
                  freedom of speech and press includes not only the right to utter or to
                  print, but the right to distribute, the right to receive, the right to
                  read (Martin v. Struthers, 319 U. S. 141, 319 U. S. 143) and freedom
                  of inquiry, freedom of thought, and freedom to teach (see Wiemann v.
                  Updegraff, 344 U. S. 183, 344 U. S. 195) -- indeed, the freedom of the
                  entire university community.




                  In Henley v. Wise, 303 F. Supp. 62, the court found unconstitutional an Indiana law that would have outlawed research done at the Kinsey Institute at IU (that would have been a later consequence of the law, not the instant matter), stating that "This chilling effect on the research, development and exchange of scholarly ideas is repugnant to the First Amendment", and




                  the state has unconstitutionally intruded itself into two areas of
                  protected activity. The first protected area is the right of scholars
                  to do research and advance the state of man's knowledge. This is the
                  freedom of inquiry referred to in Griswold v. Connecticut




                  Then in Branzburg v. Hayes, 408 U.S. 665, the court glancingly groups academic research with other forms of First Amendment protected activities:




                  Freedom of the press is a "fundamental personal right" which "is not
                  confined to newspapers and periodicals. It necessarily embraces
                  pamphlets and leaflets. . . . The press in its historic connotation
                  comprehends every sort of publication which affords a vehicle of
                  information and opinion." The informative function asserted by
                  representatives of the organized press in the present cases is also
                  performed by lecturers, political pollsters, novelists, academic
                  researchers, and dramatists.




                  Article 25 of the California constitution recognizes a specific research right




                  There is hereby established a right to conduct stem cell research
                  which includes research involving adult stem cells, cord blood stem
                  cells, pluripotent stem cells, and/or progenitor cells.




                  However, there have also been (failed) attempts at the federal level to prohibit such research.



                  More generally, one might look into rulings on acts which are preludes to any form of expression, such as buying paper and ink, acquiring a printing press, hiring reporters, and investigations of events by reporters – it is unlikely that the courts would uphold a law that outlaws reporters investigating crimes or political situations because that is not yet "expression". Indeed, "freedom of the press" does not just refer to the act of disseminating ideas and information. But a definitive court ruling has not been made.







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                  answered 48 mins ago









                  user6726

                  51.1k24386




                  51.1k24386




















                      up vote
                      0
                      down vote













                      There is no body of constitutional law to that effect.



                      In part, this is because the non-constitutional tradition of academic freedom is so great.



                      Once research is done, publication of that research has strong academic freedom protections, but there is no real case law suggesting that the scientific inquiry itself is protected.



                      For example, cases regarding whether stem cell research should be permitted are not argued in a manner that raises constitutional questions.






                      share|improve this answer
























                        up vote
                        0
                        down vote













                        There is no body of constitutional law to that effect.



                        In part, this is because the non-constitutional tradition of academic freedom is so great.



                        Once research is done, publication of that research has strong academic freedom protections, but there is no real case law suggesting that the scientific inquiry itself is protected.



                        For example, cases regarding whether stem cell research should be permitted are not argued in a manner that raises constitutional questions.






                        share|improve this answer






















                          up vote
                          0
                          down vote










                          up vote
                          0
                          down vote









                          There is no body of constitutional law to that effect.



                          In part, this is because the non-constitutional tradition of academic freedom is so great.



                          Once research is done, publication of that research has strong academic freedom protections, but there is no real case law suggesting that the scientific inquiry itself is protected.



                          For example, cases regarding whether stem cell research should be permitted are not argued in a manner that raises constitutional questions.






                          share|improve this answer












                          There is no body of constitutional law to that effect.



                          In part, this is because the non-constitutional tradition of academic freedom is so great.



                          Once research is done, publication of that research has strong academic freedom protections, but there is no real case law suggesting that the scientific inquiry itself is protected.



                          For example, cases regarding whether stem cell research should be permitted are not argued in a manner that raises constitutional questions.







                          share|improve this answer












                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer










                          answered 1 hour ago









                          ohwilleke

                          44.8k252113




                          44.8k252113



























                               

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