What's Left of the U.S. Bill of Rights?
Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression. Ratified 12/15/1791.
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.
Currently, the Bush administration has made provisions for spending government funds to finance religious institutions. After Bush appointed key members of the Supreme Court, they have ruled that an adult on public property at a media event has no right to free speech. The writ of Habeas Corpus has been withdrawn from all persons designated "unlawful enemy combatants" - potentially anyone. Persons wishing to peacefully protest the government have been arrested and detained with false pretenses. The first amendment has been made meaningless.
Amendment 2 - Right to Bear Arms. Ratified 12/15/1791.
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.
Your right to keep and bear Arms can be rescinded at any time. You may be considered a terrorist for the mere possession of a firearm, or deprived of this right under a number of other provisions restricting the class of people permitted to carry weapons. This is clearly a direct threat "to the security of a free State", though presented as if it were needed for "National Security". The second amendment has been made moot.
Amendment 3 - Quartering of Soldiers. Ratified 12/15/1791.
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.
This one seems intact so far.
Amendment 4 - Search and Seizure. Ratified 12/15/1791.
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.
This amendment has been destroyed by warrantless wiretaps and black bag ops sanctioned by the government. Furthermore, the laws allow property to be seized before any conviction, and never returned regardless of innocence. In practice, there is no fourth amendment.
Amendment 5 - Trial and Punishment, Compensation for Takings. Ratified 12/15/1791.
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 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.
Clearly there is no right to a Grand Jury or to due process, nor to be free from takings, when the government can jail a person and seize their assets with no judge ever being involved. Torture has become SOP. So much for the fifth amendment.
Amendment 6 - Right to Speedy Trial, Confrontation of Witnesses. Ratified 12/15/1791.
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 defence.
This is not even worth discussing. Sixth amendment gone.
Amendment 7 - Trial by Jury in Civil Cases. Ratified 12/15/1791.
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 re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Aside from the prohibitive court fees, this one is almost intact, but efforts to cap damages continue.
Amendment 8 - Cruel and Unusual Punishment. Ratified 12/15/1791.
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
This is a joke, right?
Amendment 9 - Construction of Constitution. Ratified 12/15/1791.
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Well, it's not funny.
Amendment 10 - Powers of the States and People. Ratified 12/15/1791. Note
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.
These were your rights, too.
So, as you can see, we still have one right unabridged! If anyone has had a Soldier quartered in their home against their will, let me know and I can cross that one out, too.
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.
Currently, the Bush administration has made provisions for spending government funds to finance religious institutions. After Bush appointed key members of the Supreme Court, they have ruled that an adult on public property at a media event has no right to free speech. The writ of Habeas Corpus has been withdrawn from all persons designated "unlawful enemy combatants" - potentially anyone. Persons wishing to peacefully protest the government have been arrested and detained with false pretenses. The first amendment has been made meaningless.
Amendment 2 - Right to Bear Arms. Ratified 12/15/1791.
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.
Your right to keep and bear Arms can be rescinded at any time. You may be considered a terrorist for the mere possession of a firearm, or deprived of this right under a number of other provisions restricting the class of people permitted to carry weapons. This is clearly a direct threat "to the security of a free State", though presented as if it were needed for "National Security". The second amendment has been made moot.
Amendment 3 - Quartering of Soldiers. Ratified 12/15/1791.
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.
This one seems intact so far.
Amendment 4 - Search and Seizure. Ratified 12/15/1791.
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.
This amendment has been destroyed by warrantless wiretaps and black bag ops sanctioned by the government. Furthermore, the laws allow property to be seized before any conviction, and never returned regardless of innocence. In practice, there is no fourth amendment.
Amendment 5 - Trial and Punishment, Compensation for Takings. Ratified 12/15/1791.
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 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.
Clearly there is no right to a Grand Jury or to due process, nor to be free from takings, when the government can jail a person and seize their assets with no judge ever being involved. Torture has become SOP. So much for the fifth amendment.
Amendment 6 - Right to Speedy Trial, Confrontation of Witnesses. Ratified 12/15/1791.
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 defence.
This is not even worth discussing. Sixth amendment gone.
Amendment 7 - Trial by Jury in Civil Cases. Ratified 12/15/1791.
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 re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Aside from the prohibitive court fees, this one is almost intact, but efforts to cap damages continue.
Amendment 8 - Cruel and Unusual Punishment. Ratified 12/15/1791.
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
This is a joke, right?
Amendment 9 - Construction of Constitution. Ratified 12/15/1791.
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Well, it's not funny.
Amendment 10 - Powers of the States and People. Ratified 12/15/1791. Note
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.
These were your rights, too.
So, as you can see, we still have one right unabridged! If anyone has had a Soldier quartered in their home against their will, let me know and I can cross that one out, too.
posted by styrofoamtuna at 6:08 PM
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