Our Constitution

PlowBoy · Post by **PlowBoy** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 12:53 am

I like the 1st Amendment because it gives us freedom of expression; religion, speech, press, assembly and petition. Without those we couldn't self-govern properly. In the original Bill of Rights, when the states didn't ratify the first two original amendments, the 3rd Amendment moved up and has been the 1st Amendment ever since.

Any other thoughts or information on our Constitution?

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 4:55 am

I think you'll like this. This is from one of ForumGarden's founders:

Anastophe wrote: rights are a priori - their existence precedes any description of them. the constitution describes some of our rights, but it doesn't guarantee them. it merely codifies those rights into writing, so that no [despot/dictator/fascist/tyranny] may say 'oh, we weren't sure about that'. I hold the right regardless of the existence of the constitution or the bill of rights. sort of along the lines of 'we hold these truths to be self-evident'. that they are written in the constitution is a grand thing - but it's not the fact that they are written that guarantees them.

the biggest failing people have in this regard is in saying 'hey, see this, it says right here i have this right - the government says i have this right, and it's written down for all to see'. but the government didn't write the constitution, the people wrote the constitution. the people grant the government certain powers but the rights we hold ourselves. the government does NOT grant us our rights.

Our Constitution is a beautiful document, isn't it? I had never heard about these first two amendments you write of. What were they?

PlowBoy · Post by **PlowBoy** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 6:56 am

Real good points. The original 1st Amendment was about reapportionment and the original 2nd Amendment was about pay raises for congress. There is a web site that reprints them, but I couldn't post it because I don't have 15 posts yet. At least thats the message I got. It's sponsored by The Constitution Society. Part of the address is constitution.org/billofr_.htm I just hope this all helps.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 6:59 am

It was plenty.

Article the first [Not Ratified]

After the first enumeration required by the first article of the Constitution, there shall be one Representative for every thirty thousand, until the number shall amount to one hundred, after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall be not less than one hundred Representatives, nor less than one Representative for every forty thousand persons, until the number of Representatives shall amount to two hundred; after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall not be less than two hundred Representatives, nor more than one Representative for every fifty thousand persons.

Article the second [Amendment XXVII - Ratified 1992]

No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.

ChiptBeef · Post by **ChiptBeef** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 9:27 am

I like the idea behind Amendment VIII. Even if someone is found guilty in a court of law, they are protected from "cruel and unusal punishment." I think this right was extended to the "detainees" in Cuba from the war on terror. Another thing I love about America... fairness under the law. Of course, some argue that doesn't exist.

Cupid · Post by **Cupid** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 9:45 am

ChiptBeef wrote: I like the idea behind Amendment VIII. Even if someone is found guilty in a court of law, they are protected from "cruel and unusal punishment." I think this right was extended to the "detainees" in Cuba from the war on terror. Another thing I love about America... fairness under the law. Of course, some argue that doesn't exist.
Great word choice, CB.

ChiptBeef · Post by **ChiptBeef** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 2:59 pm

Cupid wrote: Great word choice, CB.
I'm all about the love. Especially when it comes to my country (and other things). :-4

Wolverine · Post by **Wolverine** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 9:05 pm

Accountable wrote: It was plenty.

it says ratified in 1992. is that right???

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 6:12 am

Wolverine wrote: it says ratified in 1992. is that right???
Yeh. 27th Amendment. No wonder they were able to give themselves such big raises. There weren't any rules. Even now there aren't enough.

ChiptBeef · Post by **ChiptBeef** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 8:18 am

Accountable wrote: 27th Amendment. No wonder they were able to give themselves such big raises. There weren't any rules. Even now there aren't enough.
Congress has been using "Cost of Living Allowances" as a loophole. Surprise.

www.claremont.org (type "27th Amendment" in search engine)

ChiptBeef · Post by **ChiptBeef** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 1:11 am

ChiptBeef wrote: I like the idea behind Amendment VIII. Even if someone is found guilty in a court of law, they are protected from "cruel and unusal punishment." I think this right was extended to the "detainees" in Cuba from the war on terror. Another thing I love about America... fairness under the law. Of course, some argue that doesn't exist.
Entertaining reading related to Amendment VIII. "Enemies Miranda Rights"

http://martinsvillemedia.com/forum/show ... php?t=4617