Journal of Undergraduate Research
Keywords
privacy line, originalist interpretation, semantic change, legal interpretation
College
Humanities
Department
Linguistics
Abstract
In a nation governed by laws, change in the meaning of the words that compose those laws can have an unexpected impact. When I began to research this topic, I noticed that in certain Supreme Court cases, the word liberty was central to the discussion of the rights in question, and was used in some surprising ways. In the 2003 Supreme Court case, Lawrence v. Texas, liberty was described as something that guaranteed “the full right to engage in private conduct without government intervention.” After this statement piqued my interest, I noticed that Planned Parenthood of Southeastern PA v. Casey states: “At the heart of liberty is the right to define one’s own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and of the mystery of human life.” Subsequent examination of other “Privacy Line” cases revealed similar shifts in usage. I also noticed that in these modern cases, where liberty was defined, the word private, or privacy, was often included.
Recommended Citation
Prestidge, Adam and Eggington, Dr. William
(2013)
"Semantic Change in Supreme Context: Semantics in the Privacy Line and Originalist Interpretation,"
Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013:
Iss.
1, Article 918.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/918