Supreme Court Decisions Kent v. Dulles

Kent v. Dulles

Kent v. Dulles was a landmark United States Supreme Court case that grappled with the limits of the government’s authority to restrict an individual’s freedom of movement. The case focused on an American citizen, Philip Neal Kent, who had his passport revoked by the government of the United States without due process. The case challenged the government’s ability to exercise its authority over its citizens and remains an essential precedent for upholding individual liberties.

Philip Neal Kent was a World War II veteran who was working as a journalist in Europe during the early years of the Cold War. In 1952, the United States government accused him of being sympathetic to Communism, citing his correspondence with a Soviet journalist. The government subsequently revoked Kent’s passport, effectively slapping him with a travel ban.

Kent’s lawyers argued that revoking a passport was an unconstitutional infringement on his right to travel and violated the Fifth Amendment’s due process clause. The government, however, contended that the legislature had authorized the Secretary of State to deny passports to individuals deemed to be a threat to America’s national security.

The Supreme Court’s decision in Kent v. Dulles was a significant setback to the government’s authority. The Court held that revoking a passport was akin to placing someone under house arrest, thereby restricting their right to travel and, by extension, violating their constitutionally guaranteed freedom of movement. The Court also held that Kent’s Fifth Amendment right to due process had been violated since he was not given the opportunity to present a defense or be heard before any decision was made.

The decision in Kent v. Dulles established a precedent for several vital constitutional protections that are still relevant today. Most notably, it showed that the government could not restrict the freedom of movement of its citizens without due process of law. The Court also highlighted the role of the judiciary as a protector of individual rights and reinforced the checks and balances system that is at the heart of American governance.

In conclusion, Kent v. Dulles was a watershed Supreme Court decision that represents a significant victory for individual liberty and personal freedom. The decision highlighted the fundamental importance of individual rights and the role of the courts in upholding them. It also set important legal precedent and safeguards that are still relevant today, reaffirming the role of the judiciary in protecting the constitutional protections and individual freedoms that make America unique.


Kent v. Dulles (1958) is a United States Supreme Court case that ruled that the right to travel was one of the personal liberties described in the Fifth Amendment to which no citizen can be denied without due process of the law. Rockwell Kent, who was attempting to travel to England found his passport denied because of his involvement with the Communist Party.

Kent was told that he would not be issued a passport unless he signed an affidavit that denied his relations with the Communist Party. Kent determined that this was a violation of his rights, and he sued in the District Court to obtain relief, where he was once again, was asked, and refused to sign an affidavit. Kent then appealed the decision to the Supreme Court.

In the decision of Kent v. Dulles, the Supreme Court examined the three liberties expressed in the U.S. Constitution: life, liberty, and property. The Justices determined that freedom of movement is included in this phrase and is one of the basic rights of citizens. This right, which they termed “freedom to travel”, cannot be denied to someone without due process of the law.

The Supreme Court also examined the extent of the authority of the Secretary of State to deny passports to citizens. Based on the precedent of Korematsu v. United States, it also took into consideration this authority during wartime. It found that the Secretary of State, under the due process of the law, had the right to deny passports under two conditions: if the applicant was using a passport in order to participate in some kind of illegal conduct and if the applicant was not a citizen of the United States. The Court determined that the primary use of a passport, in this case, was to exit a country, which, under the freedoms provided in the Fifth Amendment, fell under the category of the right to travel.

The Court held that the Secretary of State did not have the authority to deny a passport in this case. Kent was not offered the due process of the law when he was denied his passport. Kent v. Dulles was decided on 5-4. Kent was offered a passport and, as a result of the ruling, the questions concerning Communist Party affiliation was no longer included in passport applications. Justice William Douglas wrote the majority opinion while Justice Clark wrote the opinion for the dissenters.

The main argument of the dissenters was that the authority of the Secretary of the State did extend to the denial of passports to those citizens whose travel would be contrary to the interests of the United States. Kent had intended to attend a World Council of Peace Conference which was said to promote the interests of the Communist Party. Justice Clark and the dissenters argued that during wartime or in peacetime the Secretary could prevent citizens from traveling, under the assumption that it posed a national security risk. However, the majority opinion held in Kent v. Dulles that denying the right to travel without due process of the law was unconstitutional.