This is the idea that the Supreme Court should interpret basic constitutional guarantees while always aiming at the ideal of a truly democratic society that seeks to respect and guarantee the liberties of all its members. especially those at the bottom and on the fringes of society. Majoritarian institutions are essential to democracy. but left unchecked they have a tendency to exclude from full citizenship those who depart from the majoritys image of itself. Throughout our history. this tendency has worked to the disadvantage of blacks and other racial groups. of immigrants. of women. of minorities in religious practice and sexual preferences. of the handicapped. of the aged. and of the poor. Historically. these groups have looked to the courts in general and the Supreme Court in particular as the branch of our Government that will listen to them when prejudice or indifference close the ears of the majority. Americans on the whole think this a better country because the Supreme Court has condemned racial discrimination. has protected privacy. and has said that legislative elections must follow the rule of one person. one vote.
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immigrants