The Law of the Day today is the Bill of Rights which was passed by the United States Congress on this date in 1789. The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the US Constitution. It was passed along with two other amendments, the Congressional Apportionment Amendment, which was ratified but not accepted, and the Congressional Compensation Amendment, which was ratified and accepted in 1992 making it the XXVII amendment. The Bill of Rights came into effect on December 15, 1791 via ratification of three-fourths of the states. Adoption of the Bill of Rights was intended to put at ease the anti-federalists who feared an overly strong central government by setting “limits on government actions in regard to personal liberties.” The Bill of rights was influenced by the previously published Virginia Declaration of Rights, the English Bill of Rights, and the Magna Carta. Originally the Bill of Rights only applied to the federal government and not to the states, it was not until the passage of the Fourteenth Amendment in 1868 that the Bill of Rights was applied to the states through the process of incorporation. Recently, Jimmy Kimmel had a segment where he asked people on street if they knew what the first amendment of the Constitution was, though I am sure there was heavy editing, no one in the segment knew the first amendment. In case you too need a quick refresher, please find below summaries of the first ten amendments to YOUR constitution: Amendment I – Guarantees freedom of religion, speech, the press, the right to peaceful assembly and the ability to petition the government for grievances. Amendment II – Guarantees the right of people to keep and bear arms, as a well regulated Militia is necessary to the security of a free State. Amendment III – Guarantees that the government cannot quarter soldiers in private homes without the consent of the owner during times of peace and only as prescribed by law in times of war. Amendment IV – Guarantees people and their possessions against unreasonable searches and seizures. Searches and seizures can only be conducted with a Warrant issued because of probable cause. Amendment V – Guarantees the right to a jury trial, due process, not being tried for the same offense twice, not being forced to be a witness against oneself, and just compensation for seized belongings. Amendment VI – Guarantees that in a criminal prosecution the accused has the right to a speedy and public trial and an impartial jury. The accused also must be informed of the nature of the accusation, be confronted with the witnesses against him, have the ability to compel witnesses to appear in his favor, and have the assistance of counsel for his defense. Amendment VII – Guarantees the right to a jury trial in federal cases for claims of over twenty dollars and that no judge can overrule the findings of a jury. This is the only amendment in the Bill of Rights which does not apply to the states. Amendment VIII – Guarantees that there will not be excessive bail or fines imposed or cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. Amendment VIX – Guarantees that the rights of the people are not limited to just the rights specifically listed in the Constitution. Amendment X – Guarantees the states and peoples’ rights to all those powers not specifically prohibited by the states or delegated to the federal government in the constitution. youtube/watch?v=3EzVcm9G3JI
Posted on: Wed, 25 Sep 2013 16:27:22 +0000
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