Why the Bill of Right Still Matters

http://library.thinkquest.org/11572/...oad_const.html Preamble e the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. __________________ Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion[including athieism and/or communism], or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. This amendment set out the basic liberties regarding religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. It protects the peoples' right to worship as they please. It also prohibits the government from ever affiliating itself with a particular religion; effectively separating church and state. The freedoms of speech and press protect the peoples' right to say, write, or publish almost anything they please in expressing their views while the freedoms of assembly and petition allow them to meet in whatever groups they wish to discuss their concerns and influence public policy. All of these rights are subject not only to interpretation by the Judicial Branch but also to the rights of other people. Above all, no one may infringe on another's rights. (Ratified December 1791.) __________________ A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed The Other Amendments R but words on paper without this Linchpin(Ratified December 1791.) __________________ No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law. Elian Anyone? This guarantees that no one will be forced to house soldiers in their homes without consenting to do this. It was mainly written because Britain made this a common practice[and will do it again if they get the chance], as mentioned in the Declaration of Independence. (Ratified December 1791.) __________________ The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. Um, can U say janet poppins and her whole crew of streatsweepers (Janet Poppins..)? Protection from unreasonable searches and seizures is guaranteed by this amendment. However, law enforcement officials may search an area if they obtain a warrant to do so. This document specifies exactly what they intent to search and what they are looking for. To obtain a warrant, the official must "testify" as to the validity of the search and must have a "probable cause" to undertake the search. The "exclusionary rule" has been developed by the Supremem Court to reinforce this protection. It states that evidence obtained as a result of an unlawful search and seizure may not be used in the trial of the person from who it was obtained. (Ratified December 1791.) __________________ No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when inactual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, or be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. Federal forfeiture anyone? Someone can only be tried for a serious federal crime if she has been charged by a grand jury. No one may be tried for the same crime twice, called double jeopardy. Each is protected from self-incrimination in that one does not have to answer a question if in doing so she would implicate him or herself in the crime in question. The "due process clause" of this amendment forces the government to act fairly and similarly with each and every person; no one may be subject to something different than is prescribed by the appropriate law[gunowners R not 2nd class citizens dammit].The Federal Government does have the power of emminent domain, they may take private property for a legitimate public purpose. However, the clause referring to this protects the people's right to property in that the government must justly compensate the person for the property it takes. (Ratified December 1791.) __________________ In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, but an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense. Even MOVE members have this right This ensures that when on trial, the defendant will be tried in a public court in the district where the crime was committed as soon as possible[Not flown around 2 whatever court is most politically convenient]. (Also see Article III, Section 2, Clause 3) The accused must be told what he or she is being charged with, may cross-examine hostile witnesses, and may use testimony from favorable witnesses. He or she also has the right to be represented by an attorney, every step of the way. (This is further reinforced in the Miranda Code which is read to every person upon his or her arrest. -- "You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one will be appointed for you[hopefully one who's awake].")(Ratified December 1791.) __________________ In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law Trial by Jury is one of our greatest freedoms The right to trial by jury is guaranteed in any civil cases (cases between private parties or between a private party and the government) heard in federal courts in which the sum involved is greater than twenty dollars. This right may be waived by both parties if a bench trial, one without a jury but tried by a judge[if he's Ur Buddy], is preferred. (Ratified December 1791.) __________________ Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted They've ignored this one as well This amendment [supposedly]protects the accused from any unwarranted bail, fine, or punishment. This is the major source of opposition to the death penalty as it is a "cruel and unusual punishment." (Ratified December 1791.) __________________ The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. Individual Civil Rights R Inalienably retained as long as they R not specifically outlawed in the Constitution. Laws that profess 2 take away these Rights R unconstitutional and therefore unlawful The rights defined by the Constitution are not the only rights people enjoy but there are many others that are not enumerated and the defining of some of these cannot be misinterpreted to mean that people do not have other rights. (Ratified December 1791.) __________________ The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people. Unless it is retained specifically in the Constitution, Federal government authority is superseded by State Law. No Exceptions. Medical marijuana is not addressed by the Constitution and therefore the present administration is unlawfully violating the 10th amendment in their continuing battle for expansion of federal powers. Up Urs Janet and Bill! The powers that are not expressly given to the Federal Government nor denied to the States belong to the States. (Ratified December 1791.) __________________ http://www.rumormillnews.net/forum/config.cgi?read=85 __________________ from the Fall 2000 Bill of Rights Sentinel JPFO A Story U live in a country that has a King. One day U decide that U R really fed up with how the King has been acting. U decide 2 let people gnow how U feel[and being such a repressive state having no internet], so U make a sign that says: The King is an Idiot. U print up 100 copies of that sign, and stand next 2 the grocery store ans hand them out 2 people, and tell people why U don't like the King. Then U make a poster that says the same thing and U peacefully carry the poster on the sidewalk in front of the mayor's office.[First Amendment] A few minutes later the police arrive. Without saying a word, they grab U, handcuff U and put U in jail. U keep asking why U have been arrested, and they tell U nothing except that U shouldn't have called the King an Idiot[regardless of what the facts may be:rollseyes:].[Fifth & Sixth Amendments] In jail U R told nothing, but kept in a cell all alone where U can't talk 2 people. U ask 4 a lawyer, but they say U don't need one.[Sixth Amendment] They keep U there 2 weeks.[Eighth Amendment] Meanwhile, the police have gone 2 Ur home. Nobody told U they were going 2 Ur home. They smash through the front door, because that seems like a quick way 2 get in. They R looking 4 evidence, anything they can find, that they can use 2 charge u with breaking the law. The police spend all day, opening up every cabinet and drawer and dumping the contents on the floor. They slice open Ur mattress looking 4 something, they don't gnow what. They knock a few holes in the wall looking 4 concealed safes. They don't find anything except the computer U used 2 print Ur sign against the King.[Fourth Amndment] After two weeks in jail, the jailers take U into a dark room, strap U 2 a chair, and tell U 2 confess 2 all of Ur crimes. U tell them that U haven't commited any crimes. They say things will be much better 4 U if U just confess. U keep telling them there is nothing 4 U 2 say. The jailers bring in a big guy with a baseball bat and boxing gloves. he starts 2 pound Ur face with his fists, and then 2 hammer Ur knees with the bat. U're bleeding from the mouth and nose, U lose a tooth, and U're screaming 4 it all 2 stop. The jailers tell U that it will stop if U just if U tell them the crimes u commited. U say that U'll say anything 2 stop the torture.[Fifth Amendment] The jailers provide U with a written statement that says U admit 2 have burned down a school, stolen a car, and tried 2 kill the mayor. U sign the statement and the torture stops.[Fifth Amendment] A couple of days later, Ur bruises have healed a bit, the bleeding has stopped, and U can barely walk on Ur battered legs. They take U from jail 2 a court house. They bring u 2 a judge. U have no lawyer.[Sixth Amendment] The judge asks U what u've done. The police tell the judge that U openly insulted the King, that U printed signs against the King, and paraded around with the sign in public. The police also give the judge that written statemen U signed, where it says U burned the school, stole a car, and tried 2 kill the mayor. The judge asks U if U admit 2 all the crimes. The jailer who tortured U, standing in a nice suit a few feet away, looks at U carefully. U say yes, U did commit all those crimes[what the hell else can U do?][Fifth & Sixth Amendments] The judg sentences U 2 life in prison in Alaska. It's a prison where they keep the most vicious of criminals. In addition 2 being jailed 4ever, U will be whipped every Saturday 4 the rest of Ur life.[Eighth Amendments] All of Ur household goods and property R taken and sold, with all revenue from sales being kept by the local government officials. Not a penny goes 2 U or Ur family.[Fifth Amendment] ~~~ Now why hell do we need the UN[British] Declaration of BS again? Just give me the Bill of Rights already! Mavi forum