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| − | '''Penumbra''' means, literally, "dim light"; it is the outer filamentary region of a [[sunspot]]. However, a "penumbra" may be any area of transition around an area of great light; a lamp casts light, a shadow, and in between (the gray area) is the penumbra.
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| − | In American [[constitutional law]], a "penumbra" refers to an area of law not clearly illumed or defined, but still important. The case [[Griswold v. Connecticut]] said that privacy in the "[[marriage|marital bedroom]]" - ''and privacy only in this specific area'' - is defined in the "penumbra" of constitutional rights, which do not specifically define a privacy right, but imply it by constitutional prohibitions against [[quartering]] and assurances of [[due process]]. Liberal jurists, such as Justice Blackmun, expanded ''Griswold'' out of step in [[Roe v. Wade]], where it was suggested that somehow [[abortion]] is a "penumbra" right as well.<!--------I was arguing with a liberal and he brought this argument up... luckily it's very easy to prove wrong!----------->
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| − | ==References==
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| − | *[[Griswold v. Connecticut]]
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| − | *[[Roe v. Wade]]
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| − | *[http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/dictionary/index.cfm?Letter=P NASA Glossary]
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| − | [[Category:Astronomy]]
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| − | [[Category:Law]]
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