The process by which specific provisions in the Bill of Rights are applied to state governments through the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Related terms
Due Process Clause: A clause in both the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments that prohibits arbitrary denial of life, liberty, or property by any level of government.
Fundamental rights: Basic rights recognized by courts to be essential for individual freedom and protected against governmental interference.
Incorporation doctrine: The legal principle that applies certain provisions of the Bill of Rights to state governments through interpretation of due process clauses.