...The Bill of Rights is what had made up the first ten amendments to the Constitution of the United States. The first ten amendments give people the essential freedoms and civil liberties that would keep the United States categorized as a democracy. These ten amendments were ratified on December 15, 1791 and as such were added to the Constitution. One thing most people might not know is that the Bill of Rights had been proposed by George Mason during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The idea had been rejected due to the states already having documents that stated rights to their citizens and felt that a federal bill would be quite unnecessary. Another highly influential reason they did not form a Bill of Rights then was because all the...
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...The First Amendment I believe that the First Amendment was written as a means of protecting the church from the state. The First Amendment is considered the most important amendment in the United States Constitution. It protects the rights to freedom of religion, freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of press from government interference. [1] According to J. Hutson in his book the “Church and State in America”, he states the amendment “prevented the federal government from establishing a national religion and allowed people to freely exercise their religious beliefs and practices.”[2] Basically, the First Amendment gives the people the ability to live their lives the way that they want to, the lifestyle that they choose. This amendment was passed 1789. James Madison, known as the “Father of the Constitution” for his contribution to the Constitution, and proposed twelve amendments, which ended up becoming the first ten amendments of the Constitution. These first ten amendments make up what became known as the Bill of Rights. [3] The purpose of the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights, written mostly by James Madison, with the assistance of Thomas Jefferson, was to address three fundamental freedoms all citizens have: religion, speech and peaceful assembly. According to the Buchanan (2010), when the U.S. Constitution was signed, it did not contain the essential freedoms now outlined in the Bill of Rights, because many of the Framers...
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...United States Constitution is the supreme law of the land. The very first 3 articles of the Constitution make the rules and separates each of the three branches of government. They are the legislative, executive and judiciary branches. This constitution was created on September 17, 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It took two years before becoming effective on March 4, 1789. The United States Constitution can be changed through the amendment process. The first ten amendments are known as the Bill of Rights. The First Amendment guarantees citizens the right to practice whatever religion they choose. Therefore, the government cannot interfere in an individual’s freedom of worship. This is an example of an individual's liberty from the government. Civil rights are the positive actions the government should take to make all Americans equal. Civil rights, specified in the 14th Amendment is also in the Bill of Rights. The question is; do we need the U.S Constitution to protect our civil rights and liberties? The Bill of Rights in the Constitution is provided in Article 5. With the Bill of Rights our liberties are protected. These ten amendments are laws that gives each individual the same law to follow. Without the Bill of Rights in the Constitution, the government cannot be trusted with our given rights. If the government could be trusted, the First Amendment wouldn’t be based on what the government cannot do because we have freedom; it is said right in the Constitution. With the...
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...Bill of Rights & Amendments Paper Intro The United States is a country that was founded on the principle of freedom; it took the Bill of Rights to be added to the Constitution to guarantee citizens freedom. The Bill of Rights consists of the first ten amendments in the constitution; a document that outlines how the new American government would be created and operated. The Constitution was ratified in 1788 which was the start of protecting the interests of each citizen, two years later the Bill of Rights was proposed by congress and went into effect in 1791. It was designed to prevent the government from taking total power over citizens and to provide them with legal defenses. This essay will discuss the understanding of how amendments become apart of the constitution and how it adopted the Bill of Rights. As well as the changes in society that led to amendments XIII-XV that became part of the constitution. The effects of the Bill of Rights to this country have been beneficial; they lay down the blueprint for freedom by allowing citizens a voice. The failure of the Articles of Confederation was what led to the Constitution; The Articles had a weak national government with no president, or judicial branch. Hence, this led to the Constitution, which showed the three branches of government legislative, executive and judicial; it describes the power of each branch. It was set up by our forefathers in order to change it if necessary. It tells the relationship of the federal...
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...Bill of Rights and Amendments Paper Jessica Ruiz HIS/301 April 4, 2013 Ryan Tarr Bill of Rights and Amendments Paper The Constitution is a fundamental law, which describes how a strong government should work (Zink, 2009). The Framers had stated that America’s Constitution was a vast contribution to the governments practice, and offered a new form of government to the United States. The United States Constitution is also known as the ultimate law, which was created by our founding fathers to establish a strong governmental structure, to meet the needs of the people in our nation. The Constitution was created to protect the rights of the people and their freedom by enforcing laws on the individuals who did in fact hold power on a political level. The vision of the Framers of an appropriate government for American’s was incorporated in the Constitution known as the Bill of Rights. Amendments becoming part of the Constitution In the Constitution Article V reads, that there are two ways for an amendment to become a part of the United States Constitution. The first way is with a two third vote in both houses of Congress the House of Representatives and the Senate. Today the most common used method of the amendment process is the first way by having the Representatives and Senate vote. The second way is a convention that has been set up by two thirds of the state’s legislatures followed by ratification for the amendment (Patterson, 2009). The ratification process is...
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...Bill of Rights and Amendments Tahitia G. Brown HIS/301 May 17, 2012 Abeba Salter-Woods Bill of Rights and Amendments The original United States Constitution was ratified in 1787. However the current document by which all laws are governed was confirmed and made into law on September 17th of 1789. This document enabled the people some control over government, which was created not only for them by also by the said people. The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution in a manner, that the text could evolve and mature just as the persons for which it was written. This paper will detail how and why amendments become a part of the constitution, problems which have arisen due to the original document motivating the adoption of the Bill of Rights and their effects. Further listing other issues arising, due to changes in society which have led to amendments thirteen, fourteen, and fifteen, and their affects (University of Phoenix, 2010). Amendments In Article V of the Constitution an amendment process was adopted to ensure that as changes in society occur, so should the document by which all inalienable rights and freedoms are explained in depth. The aforementioned article stipulates the ways in which the Constitution may be amended. The first is by a two-thirds vote from both the House and Representatives and the Senate and 38 of the 50 states must ratify the proposed amendment, which has been the only manner in which all...
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...Bill of Rights and Amendments Paper Jeremy Hall, Sheila Henderson, Sondra Lettsome, Elvina Scott, Desmond Thomas University of Phoenix U.S. Constitution HIS/301 Dr. John Theis November 10, 2011 Bill of Rights and Amendments Paper The founding fathers of our country had it right when they put in place an irrefutable plan of action and order. Although many things have changed since the inception of the original documents, the process and ways of which something must be done and adopted remains viable to us today. This example is not only found in the legislative democracy but also in the educational, religious, and social genres of the world. The constitution shares with all who take the time to peruse, the reasoning behind it, the amendments that are attached, and the rights of each person living the American Dream. After Congress proposes an amendment, the Archivist of the United States, who heads the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), is charged with responsibility for administering the ratification process under the provisions of 1 U.S.C. 106b (Archives.Gov.) If two-third of the number of votes of both the Senate and the House of Representative are in favor an amendment can be proposed by the Congress. Otherwise, two-thirds of the legislatures of the fifty states can call for a constitutional agreement for the purposes of proposing amendments to the Constitution. After an amendment to the Constitution has been proposed, it must be ratified...
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...Bill of Rights and Amendments Bill of Rights and Amendments The United States Constitution was recognized to Americans as a vague statement in clarifying the privileges and the rights of individuals and centralizing the power within the government itself. With the passing of the Bill of Rights and the first ten amendments, it grants the people to what is said to be their “natural rights” following additional rights that have significantly changed our society. Amendments and Constitution According to the Constitution, an amendment may be proposed and be presented, where it is put to a two thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The original article is then forwarded for processing and publication to NARA's Office of the Federal Register (OFR) (U.S. Constitution, 2011). The OFR maintains the document until it is either adopted or a failed amendment, then it is transferred for protection to the National Archives. Soon after a proposed amendment is ratified by three-fourths of the states, it becomes a part of the Constitution. (U.S. Constitution, 2011) Not all proposed amendments are accepted and must meet certain constitutional purpose to be passed, for example: after the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and stating that “all men are created equal” the institutionalized system of servitude was a reason to pass to what is now the 13th Amendment of the Constitution and the abolition of slavery. This amendment provided that neither...
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...Constitution Paper Nikki Collins HIS/115 Amy Obszarski 9/7/2013 The Constitution was a big part in making the United Stated of America. It did a lot in setting rules as well. The Constitution addressed many things: weakness, complaints, and representation. All of these would make many different things come together to what we see today in our society. The help of the Constitution brought together the government and made it fair to the states and people. This is what we see in the government today and it is also what we know. The Declaration of Independence was also a great aspect in the United States. It also had grievances; these grievances would be helped by the Constitution. In the Declaration of Independence there was a problem with taxes, “For imposing taxes on us without our consent.” This was very troubling to the colonists. So the Constitution stopped this, “congress has the power to collect taxes.” Since the Declaration says “for cutting off trade with all parts of the world.” “Congress has the power to regulate trade.” Also military “congress has the power to declare war…rise and support armies.” As well as Amendment three “no soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered into any house, without the consent of the owner, or in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.” There are weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation that the Constitution addressed. In this way the Constitution became Supreme law, levy taxes, regulate trade with...
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...Written in 1787 at the Philadelphia convention, The United States Constitution is the shortest and oldest written constitution still in use. It contains a preamble, seven articles and twenty seven amendments. The very first thing you will read in the Constitution is the Preamble. It expresses the ideas in the Constitution using only these 52 words, “We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, 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”. Below the Preamble there are seven articles. The first article explains the Congress which consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. There are ten sections in this article. Some of these sections describe the terms in which one may be elected for in the House or the Senate, how many people each state can have in each, and the compensation of these people. Other sections refer to bills, taxes and the power of Congress. The second article has four sections and it explains that the President holds executive power. It demands that the President must be at least thirty five years of age, and a resident in the United States for at least fourteen years. The article notes that the President is commander in chief of our military and reasons for impeachment. The third article and its three sections...
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...The Bill of Rights and Amendments Throughout history the United of States experiences several of events. These events made an impact on our nation which left a mark. The impact of the events led to the changes of the constitution which are referred to as amendments. The original ten amendments made to the United States Constitution are known as the Bill of Rights, these were created by our forefathers. This essay will discuss, the understanding of why did our amendments became a part of the constitution, and what issues of the original documents motivated the adoption of the Bill of rights. People and the government are constantly making changes which could affect their lives as well as others. Therefore, there were many effects because the Bill of Rights. This essay will further discuss the problems with the original document, the changes in society, which led to later amendments, and the effect of those amendments. How and why the amendments become part of the Constitution In order to adjust to society constantly changing, there are changes made to the constitution. It is mention within an article that changes could be made to the constitution. Making changes involves proposing an amendment following ratification, through this process the amendment become a part of the constitution. This process consist of The Constitution provides that an amendment may be proposed either by the Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate...
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...Rights and Freedoms Caffie Moore Grand Canyon University: POS-301 February 12, 2014 The Delcaration of Independence brought about the essential part of our country, the United States of America. The Constitution with the first ten amendments granted a rule of law for a genuine government to achieve those main beliefs. The Bill of Rights guards each individual right as American people. The first ten amendments to the United States Constitution are known as the Bill of Rights. During the debate on the Constitution the bill of rights were added, it was created to defend people against mistreatment by the federal government and provide rights to the people and state, therefore setting boundaries on the power of the government. We as the people were born with certain natural rights and the govenments are shaped to defend the rights of the people, when the government rejects to guard the rights of life, liberty and property we the people have the right to rebel against the system. The first Ten Amendements are rights that are guaranteed to the American citizens and the government can not disobey those rights. The freedom most relevant to me is the Freedom of Speech in the First Amendment. This right protect us an American citizen because we have the right to speak out in any way that we choose and not be punished. People are entitle to their own opinion and can speak at their own free will; this right allows people to speak out about abortion and the government decision. This...
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...Criminal Procedure Policy Paper John Doe CJA/364 April 12, 2013 James Thomas Criminal Procedure Policy Paper The Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth amendment guarantee many rights to the people in the United States. This paper will explain the key elements that are guaranteed by these amendments. Also to be discussed is how these policies have impacted criminal procedures utilized by courts and police officers. Critical elements needed to meet the end state of this paper are the fourteenth amendment and the Bill of rights. The pursuit of the American dream and happiness are made possible by the laws which are made and enforced by law enforcement from the highest to lowest levels. Without these laws and law enforcers, the liberties which make this country great could easily be violated, ruining the pursuits earlier talked about. The United States Constitution has many amendments which provide protections of American liberties. Out of the constitution, the amendments which are most critical to the protections are the fourth, fifth, sixth, eight and fourteenth. The Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments are the key to providing these protections. Crime in the United States would be out of control without a solid criminal justice system. Without a strong criminal justice system and crime being out of control, a life filled with liberties, happiness and freedoms would only be a dream. In order for a society to flourish and provide those liberties...
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...Rights and Freedoms The Bill of Right are the first Ten Amendments that were given to us by our founding fathers under the United States Constitution, which included: freedom of speech, freedom to practice any religion, the right to have weapons, the right of trial with a lawyer, and many more. These rights were opposed due to the fact that the Americans did not want to be controlled by England king any more. They wanted a country that would not be controlled by the country like many other countries around the world they wanted to be different and have the freedom to develop their own right and regulations. The Bill of Rights was written to provide all the people equal rights and freedoms to do as they please, yet they must obey the laws given to them in the United States Constitution, and “the peoples constitutional rights cannot lawfully be denied by government officials” (Patterson, 2011, p. 43). The freedom that was guaranteed to me in the first amendment that is relevant to my personal self is freedom of religion. As states by Thomas E. Patterson, Freedom of “religion: you are protected from having the religious beliefs of others imposed on you, and you are free to believe what you like” (Patterson, 2011, table 4-1). I personally can relate to this specific freedom, since I came of a country that has been in conflicts about who the land of Palestine (Israel) belongs to and which religion should take over. The way I see is that in Palestine (Israel) the Jewish people and...
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...The Constitution and the Bill of Rights The freedom documents from early America were the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The U.S. Constitution was documented and presented in 1787 and finally ratified by all states, except Rhode Island, and put into effect as a suitable replacement of the Articles of Confederation in the year 1788. Since then, it has played a significant role in ensuring the security and integrity of the United States of America. It has been accepted as the highest law of the land that determines the enforcement of all other laws by the federal government. The constitution is important for a great number of reasons. Primarily because it was the document that founded our government, and it was the basis of what would form the United States. The constitution is important because it outlines all of our rights as citizens. It gives a complete list of all the things that we can do, and the rights that we have. The constitution, and its amendments protects us, protects us from each other, protects us from our own government, protects us from wrongful prosecution, incriminating ourselves, our right to speech, our right to bear arms, and our right to freedom of religion. The constitution isn't just important; I believe it is the most important document ever crafted in American History, and the one document that affects every single citizen within the United States every single day. It is the foundation of our country. It provides a single legal basis for all...
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