What is the concept of incorporation in constitutional law?

In constitutional law, the concept of incorporation refers to the process by which certain provisions of the U.S. Constitution are applied to the states through the 14th Amendment. Prior to the 14th Amendment, the Constitution was not applied to the states; while states could not enact laws that were contrary to the Constitution, they were not required to adhere to certain constitutional protections. After the 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868, the Supreme Court began to apply the protections of the Bill of Rights to the states through the incorporation doctrine. This means that states must adhere to the same constitutional protections that the federal government is required to adhere to, such as the freedoms of speech and press, as well as the right to due process and equal protection under the law. While some rights, such as the right to vote, do not apply to the states, most other rights established in the Bill of Rights are applicable to the states through the incorporation doctrine.

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