The American democratic system is not always based on the simple majority rule. There are certain principles that are so important to the nation that most have agreed not to interfere in these areas. For example, the Bill of Rights was approved because concepts such as freedom of religion, expression, equal treatment and due process of law were considered so important that, barring a constitutional amendment, even the majority should not be allowed to change them. Courts play an integral role in maintaining the rule of law, especially when they hear complaints expressed by minority groups or by people who may have minority opinions.
Equality before the law is such an essential part of the American system of government that, when a majority, whether acting intentionally or not, infringes on the rights of a minority, the Court may consider it appropriate to hear both parties to the dispute in court. This site is maintained by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts on behalf of the Federal Judiciary. The purpose of this site is to provide information from and about the United States Judiciary. Aquino conceives creatures, depending on the type, as governed by final causes or ends that they naturally seek.
It refers to a type of moral theory as well as a type of legal theory, but the fundamental statements of the two types of theory are logically independent.
