No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.
This amendment is simple. It just says that Congressmans' salaries won't be changed until their next term. This was basically made so that the current people in Congress couldn't vote for a raise for themselves. I think that this amendment was helpful because if we didn't have this amendment, Congress could need a couple more bucks for Christmas this year and raise their salary.
Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.
Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment 26 lowered the age of voting to 18. The big argument was that if an 18 year old was old enough to go fight in the Vietnam War for our country, he should be able to vote. This new thing that is pretty similar to that is the drinking age. People are saying if you can fight at 18 then you should be able to buy a beer. This does make sense, and there have been plenty of bills that have been brought up. And I agree with it, I believe that they should lower the drinking age to 18. 18 is the mark for everything; being an adult, voting, fighting in a war, and so on. Why is the drinking age three years more?
So many people drink before they are 21. The one clips says something like 85% of 21 drank before their 21st birthday. They say that they are going to be more car accidents from drunk drivers if the age is lowered. Well duh! There are going to be more people drinking in public becuase 18 year olds won't be afraid to go out anymore.
This video clip gives both sides of the issue. Talks about brain maturing and fighting in wars.
Another clip giving points on each side, but seems to be leading towards lowering the drinking age.
Section 1. In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.
Section 2. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.
Section 3. Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.
Section 4. Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.
The line of succession is what amendment 25 deals with. It talks about who comes after who if the president can't fulfill his duty or dies and so on. I think that have a line planned out is an extremely good thing. Otherwise we would have to have an election every time a president passes away in office or can't do their job. This would be very time consuming and present many problems to the country.
Couldn't find much media stuff on 25th amendment so I picked another one of James's clips. In this one he goes over the first 6 in line of the presidential succession.
Just a picture of Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of The House of Representatives. Also next in line after the Vice President.
Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax. Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment 24 clearly states that poll taxes shall be eliminated. We eliminated these taxes because they were used in the south to discriminate against the blacks because they were usually poor and couldn't afford the taxes. But on the other hand they were making the government money. If we still had poll taxes today, yeah we probably wouldn't be as much in debt, but voter turn out would be at an all time low. Especially with the way the economy looks right now.
This link takes you to a little commentary about how poll taxes worked and why the 24th amendment was created.
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This video talks about how long it takes to wait to vote. This is the problem mainly for presidential and popular election where everyone wants to vote in. She is saying that the amount of time that it takes to vote is simular to a poll tax because it's taking time from peoples jobs and cause them to have to pay anyway.
Section 1. The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as the Congress may direct: A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the District would be entitled if it were a State, but in no event more than the least populous State; they shall be in addition to those appointed by the States, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of the election of President and Vice President, to be electors appointed by a State; and they shall meet in the District and perform such duties as provided by the twelfth article of amendment.
Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article using appropriate legislation.
This amendment allowed citizens of the District of Columbia to vote in presidential elections. But why don't they have a vote in Congress? This is because they aren't a state, and the 23 amendment doesn't say any where in it that they can do anything more than have electors in the presidential election. On the other side, the District still has to pay taxes, why don't they have representation in Congress?
In my mind I believe that we should stay true to the Constitution, if we believe that they really need representation we can just make another amendment giving them that. But for now, things should stay the way they are.
This guy basically gives all of the reasons why the District of Columbia can't have a vot in Crongress.
This is a picture of the other side of the arguement. That there won't be any taxing without respresentation.
Section 1. No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once. But this article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.
Section 2. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission to the States by the Congress.
So the 22nd amendment just states that a president can't hold office for more than 2 terms, and only one term is he/she took office for longer than 2 years of the presidents spot they took. Basically there cannot be a president for longer than 10 years. In the early part of 2009 there was talk of a bill going through Congress dealing with the repealment of amendment 22 and taking the limit off of the amount of terms a president can have. Personally I don't think that doing this is a good idea. If we didn't limit the amount of terms a president could have, it would be basically like a king running the country. One person always in charge. There could be one good president that holds office for 5 terms, and because of that a better candidate of the same party might not get a chance to run. America is always looking for change so I don't think that this bill has any chance and probably never will.
This girl talks about the bill that was going through Congress that was going to repeal the 22nd amendment.
There are quite a few people out there who want the 22nd amendment ratified. And this is just a picture showing it.
Section 1. The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed. Section 2. The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.
Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.
The 21st amendment repealed the 18th amendment, making it okay to have alcoholic beverages again.
Just my boy James again. This time he is talking about the 21st amendment and how it repealed the 18th.
This is how a lot of Americans felt when the 21st amendment was ratified.
Section 1. The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.
Section 2. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.
Section 3. If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President. If a President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President elect shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have qualified.
Section 4. The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the House of Representatives may choose a President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them, and for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the Senate may choose a Vice President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them.
Section 5. Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October following the ratification of this article.
Section 6. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission.
Amendment 20 deals with when federal officers positions start and end. It states that the term of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on January 20th and then Congress at noon on January 3rd. This is also the time that the newly elected begin their term. Section two deals with Congress meeting once a year. The date is set to be on January 3rd, but can be changed by law. And the rest of the amendment deals with when it will take effect. The term lame duck comes from this amendment because a lame duck is someone reaching the end of their term.
Inauguration Day 2009. Demonstrating when the new presidental term ends, in this case George W, and a new one begins, Barack Obama
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment 19 game women the right to vote. The United States took along time for this one. They made 18 amendments before they thought, "hey, aren't we forgetting about someone?" It is a shame that it women's rights took so long to be recognized. Women are still looked down upon by some and averagely make %70 of what men do in the work force.
Just a clip of how some people don't know what suffrage is. It's pretty funny.
Section 1. After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited. Section 2. The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.
This amendment banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol. They did this because of how people act when they were intoxicated. But this led to high crime, such as bootlegging and the mafia. The people wanted their liquors and were willing to do anything to get them.
Another point to be made is the fact that this amendment does not prohibit the consumption of alcohol. I guess they did that so that people who might need it for religion or other non recreational purposes could still use it. They just made it really hard to get.
Even doctors new that people wanted to drink and would freely hand out prescriptions for whiskey.
This guys makes the point that the consumption of alcohol is okay, but it was just so ridiculously hard to get that no one would drink it.
The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures. When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.
This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.
The 17th amendment starts out by giving the qualifications and restrictions of a US Senator. It also says that a senator is suppose to be elected by the people and is talking about voting. But can be appointed if there is an opening, before an election.
I really like this goovy looking guys because he keeps it short and sweet about each amendment.
This one is pretty self explainatory, voting has a big role in the 17th amendment.
The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.
This amendment doesn't bother me much now, but soon it will. The 16th amendment gives the federal government the right to tax without the concent of the population.
This goovy looking fellows makes some good points about the 16th amendment.
I found this picture through google than thought that it represented how a lot of middle class Americans feel about the 16th amendment.
Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
The 15th amendment gives citizen who were previously denied the right to vote because of race the right to vote. The US finally got all of the rights for the freed slaves. But why did it have to take 3 amendments? Because America is afraid of change. Always has and always will be. Another interesting comment, there is still not mention of women having the right to vote.
This guy talk about the 14th amendment at his work (I know this from other videos he made) and gives a basic thought on it.
This picture is commonly represents the 15th amendment because it shows the "reconstruction" that the pervious video was talking about.
Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.
Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.
Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
This is the second part of the Civil War amendments, the US has almost figured it out, but not yet. This amendment gives the right of citizenship to any and every born American. The fact that states have most of the power in delegating these rights is implied. It also talks about civil liberties towards everyone, but basically it's talking about the slaves. The funny thing is that women are never mentioned in any of the amendment, how long till they get their rights?
This elderly lady gives her thoughts on the 14th amendment and how she believes that the states get most of the choice and say in what happens.
This video gives a lot of good facts and example of how the 14th amendment has came up in cases in American history.
Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.[1]
The 13th amendment is the first of the Civil War amendments. This particular amendment set the slaves free. At this point America was willing to let the African American be free, but it won't be until later until America realizes that they forgot to give them the same civil rights everyone else has.
I was having trouble finding a good video source for this amendment, so I thought this one would get the point across, that this amendment freed the slaves.
The picture above represents slaves being freed and also states the 13th amendment
The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and all persons voted for as Vice-President and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted.
The person having the greatest Number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in the case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President.[1]
The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.
Amendment 12 was basically designed to make a better procedure of electing the president and vice president. The problem with the old way was that there would always be a tie between parties and nothing would ever get solved. It was also would have who ever got second place as the vice president, this would then cause issues because different parties had to try to work together to run the nation. The new way was is an much easier process and fixed the problems in the old way.
There are starting to be problems with the current electoral college. Some presidents have been elected into office without getting the majority vote (2000). The people are suppose to decide who they want to run the country and it is stupid for someone who didn't get popular vote to take office. This is the way we have been electing offices for 200 years now, a lot has changed since then. Some inventions people might not now about are the car, and the television (with color and sound), the airplane, and many more like computers with internet. I know it all sounds so scary but I believe it's time to use these inventions to make a better electing procedure.
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.
Amendment 10 limits the powers that the federal government has on the states. States are allowed to have different laws within their boarders that other states might be against. but overall the government has some ways to get around this. an example is when the drinking age use to be 18. Some states had the drinking age at 21 and others at 18. Louisiana didn't want to change the drinking age. So to help them change their mind, the federal government said if they don't make the new drinking age 21 like the rest of the country the feds will stop supplying Louisiana with money for their highways and other roads. So of course the drinking age was immediately changed.
Another big issue is the legalization of medical marijuana. 13 states so far have legalized it. The question is should it be just medical or can people of age buy it for recreational use too? Some people are in favor because it has been proven to help ease the pain of deadly diseases, but other are against it because it is a common drug used in a lot of street fights, and is also known as the gateway drug.
He has a squeaky voice and a pierced ear, but he makes a lot of good points about legalizing marijuana.
Equally as cool as the previous speaker, this man imforms his audience of the dangers of marijuana and clearly believes that it should not be legalized.
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
I believe that this amendment is saying that all of the rights in the US Constitution apply to everyone, not just certain people. Also this amendment is saying that the Constitution guarantees all fundamental rights. Just because a certain right wasn't listed in the Constitution doesn't mean that the people don't get it.
This old man talks about how the right to privacy is not brought up in either the Bill of Rights or any of the other amendments. He explains how privacy comes from all the different amendments combined, but it is overall an implied right that people just agree that we have.
One of many rights not listed in the Constitution.
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
There is no need to put a rediculous amount of bail or fines on someone, or make them go by "eye for an eye" rule. To me I personally feel like there should be a large bail on people who do high crimes. I believe this because if that person could come up with the money then they could get out of jail and flee the country.
This guy talks about the 8th amendment and some history behind it. He mainly talks about how the death penalty is similar to "eye for an eye" treatment.
A picture of what a lot of people think violate this amendments part about cruel and unusual punishment.
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.
In common law cases, the trial will be tried by a jury, no matter what.
The picture shows a jury. This is what you would see if some one brought a law suit upon you.
A little rap I found on youtube about the seven amendment and how "we care".
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.
So everyone has the right to a fair trial with a jury of your peers. Everyone also has the right to an attorney. Also the accused gets to know what they are being accused of. The trial is to be held in the state that one is accused in. There has been issues with this part because some criminals commit half of a crime, kidnapping, in one state. Then flee to the neighboring state and commit the other half, murder. In this case I believe that what ever the court wants to trial the accused for is the state the trial is in. If the murder occurred in Florida and the kidnapping in Georgia, then the trial for the murder would be in Florida.
This website is a blog off of a CNN story. It speaks of a women would has waited 10 years in prison to be trialed. The sixth amendment isn't too speedy on this one.
An example of the 6th amendment in place. Man is accused of killing his family a year, and his trial keeps getting put off.
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 offence 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.
No one can be charged for the same crime twice. This topic is very controversial when it comes to OJ's case and how a lot of people believe that he was guilty. Even if he came out in the open and said he did that crime, he still could not be trialed for it. Double jeopardy is needed to keep the government from going and accusing the same people of the same crime and just keeping them in jail none stop. This amendment also says that the accused does not have to be a witness against him/her self.
This guy talks about how double jeopardy is necessary, and also talks about how OJ came out and said he did it.
Pleading the fifth has become a popular saying, meaning that the accused doesn't have to testify against themselves.
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.
Nobody can search any of your stuff without a warrant. The only way that someone could get pass this is if they see something sketchy, probable cause, or they are crooked. After September 11, this amendment seemed to be pushed aside because everyone was afraid of terrorist
Talks about how after 9-11 it seemed as if the president wanted to remove amendment 4 from the Constitution.
Showing that a warrent is required to search a house. Unless of course there is probable cause.
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.
Basically, no soldiers can force themselves into a house. I feel like this was more active in the civil war area, when soldiers would use the law to get into a home, even if they were for the other side. One could see where there might be an arguement at dinner time.
This was the most interesting video I could find. It's a song describing amendment 3.
A picture of a house with the amendment around it.
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.
So we have the right to carry and conceal. This means that anyone who wants to protect themselves can do it. Some people think that it should be illegal to carry a weapon, that too many people are getting killed. The people who are shooting other people are the ones who get their guns illegally anyway and are going to keep getting them that way no matter what laws are passed.
Other people think if we just banned the AK-47, and other versions of it, everything will get better. People who say that are ignorant and watch too much TV. The AK-47 and all other assault rifles available in the US are semi automatic only. It is illegal to own any automatic gun. The ones that the gangsters have on the streets are illegal just like every other gun they hold up gas stations and convent stores. The carry and conceal licence lets one get a pistol, not a sawed off shotgun or an automatic M16. We can ban the AK and the M16, the M4 and the G36, but the people who have them or want them will keep getting them. The guns that should be banned are mini Uzi, and other sub machine guns that can be easily modded into an automatic weapon. Or we should raise the prices on the ammo of the guns killing the most people.
Now the Mini Uzi
Which one would be easier for a thug to hide as they walk into a store?
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.
To me this basically means that that people can do what they want within the boundaries of the law. As long as what we say or do doesn't put any ones life in danger or threaten our own life's we can do it. This does not apply every where we are though. On public ground this amendment is thrown out the window. For example, at school students loose all of their rights. They can't say whatever they want, or do whatever they want. When at school students are the school's responsibility, no one else. So the school makes their own laws in place of the guardian no being present.
This news clip of a high school where the cheerleaders write a message with religious meaning it for their football team to run through. This shows that the freedom of speech is taken away at the public school.
Flag burning is a big part contraversy in the 1st amendment.
The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State.
So basically a state cannot be taken to federal court by anyone from a different state or a different country. The only example I could come up with for this amendment would be if Mexico had a problem with Texas or something, that would between those two, unless of course they started attacking each other.
Saying that there really isn't much more to the 11th amendment then you just can't sue the federal government for state issues.
Talks about how states can't go into other states and sue people.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
US Constitution Preamble
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, 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."
My Thoughts
To me the preamble is just letting the people of the United States know what exactly they should be working for and what the country offers them. It is also in a way explainly what the rest of the constitution will be like. Hints the "pre" in preamble. It also applies to everyone. No matter what age or race, as long as they are a US citizen
This video shows a 2 year old reciting the preamble, just showing the the words apply to everyone
This shows diversity and demonstrates "We The People" meaning everyone.
