Do You Know Your Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights contains the
first 10 amendments to the Constitution. Written by James Madison because
several states were seeking greater constitutional protection for individual
liberties, the Bill of Rights lists specific prohibitions on governmental
powers. Madison was strongly influenced by Mason who wrote the Virginia
Declaration of Rights.
This was one of many points of
contention between Federalists and Anti-Federalists was the Constitution’s lack
of a bill of rights that would place specific limits on government power.
Federalist would argue that the Constitution did not need a bill of rights,
because the people and the states kept any powers not given to the federal
government to the people. However, Anti-Federalists held that a bill of rights
was necessary to safeguard individual liberties…
On that point one might suggest
that if not for the bill of rights, governing powers may have trampled on the
rights of the people when government achieved power over the states and the
people. This is where we are today, a governing body that has circumvented the
Constitution and are attempting to remove the rights of the people, including
the bill of rights.
Currently our Liberty and our
Republic are in shambles, reading the bill of rights might bring some semblance
to the war at hand. The war between an over powering Federal Government against
the States and the People. It is self evident what is happening in Arizona with
border issue and a suit filed by the Federal Government against a State of
these United States to resend and back off of the states’ rights to protect the
citizens of the state of Arizona against illegal immigration.
The Bill of Rights
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of religion, 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.
Amendment II
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.
Amendment III
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.
Amendment IV
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.
Amendment V
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 in actual 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, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without
due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without
just compensation.
Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions,
the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by 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.
Amendment VII
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.
Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be
required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments
inflicted.
Amendment IX
The enumeration in the
Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage
others retained by the people.
Amendment X
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.
The founders new there would be
a time when the people and the government they created would be tested and to
that point the time is here.
The Bill of Rights is a list of
limits of government power. Currently our government has exceeded that power
with the Obama Care mandate and the suits filed against states trying to
protect the rights of the state and their citizens from illegal immigration and
the Obama Care Mandate.
One example, the natural right
to be free from unreasonable government intrusion in one’s home was safeguarded
by the Fourth Amendment’s warrant requirements.
That being said, what is
happening at airports and other venues across our land when TSA agents can
fondle, or use X-ray machines to intrude against a person right to unreasonable
searches and seizures. This would be a violation of the fourth amendment. The
lists go on and on but the sheeple continue to let it happen.
In the Constitution, are
principles and among those principles were included checks and balances,
individual rights, liberty, limited government, natural rights, republican
government and popular sovereignty.
We are at a turning point in
our history. There are two choices at hand, one that is leading us to dark side
of government and total control based on political objectives, and one that is
seeking followers towards the Republic we once had.
There is still hope for our
country and our Republic. One might think that the Freedom fighters of today
are dreamers but that is not the case at all. One must believe in what we are
and what we can still be if we only stand on the principles that were given by
the founders and the documents they created with Gods hand.
Choices?
