INCORPORATION DOCTRINE

Incorporation in United States law is the concept that the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution “incorporated” the Bill of Rights (the first ten Amendments) to make them applicable to the states. As a result, state governments are held to at least the same standards as the federal government, such as a citizen’s right of First Amendment freedom of speech, religion, and assembly as well as the separation of church and state.  Also included are the Fourth Amendment (freedom against unreasonable search and seizures and arrest), the fifth amendment (right against self-incrimination), the Sixth Amendment (right to a speedy and fair trial).