Truth In News
Constitutional Freedoms
Americans faught the War of Independence and 56 patriots signed 'THE DECLARATION'
in 1776. The 'Bill of Rights' was later signed into federal law, following the
establishment of the federal rules of operation (US Constitution). The Bill of Rights
protects US citizens from an ever growing 'muscle flexing' federal government.
- The First Amendment gives US citizens the freedom to peacefully assemble and
petition the government (complain to the government) about policies instituted by
the government that the people do not like or want.
- The First Amendment also gives US citizens the freedom to practice the religion of their
choice or not to have any religion at all. The US Congress is further prohibited from
making laws that favor or promote one religion over another religion.
- The First Amendment gives all US citizens 'freedom of speech' and protection from
the government to alter or curtail that freedom. You can say what you want to say without
fear or retaliation by the government.
- The 2nd Amendment gives all US citizens the 'freedom to keep and bear arms' and
the government is prohibited from altering or negating that right. You can protect
yourself, your family and your posessions from those that would do harm.
- The 2nd Amendment also states that the government is responsible to protect the citizenry
and the country by instituting 'A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of
the free state'. The US government can create and maintain a military for the protection
of the country and its people.
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The 3rd Amendment prevents citizens from being compelled to house (quarter) soldiers, in
a time of peace, without the consent of the owner. During a time of war, soldiers can
be housed, but only in a manner to be prescribed by law.
- The 4th Amendment prevents the government from 'unreasonable searches and seizures'.
The government can perform a search, but only after issueing a warrant, stating
probable cause and supported by an 'oath or affirmation' (by a court) that describes the
place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized.
- The 5th Amendment prevents the government to force a citizen, in a court of law, to
testify against himself or herself. The government if further denied to 'deprive citizens
of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law'.
- The 5th Amendment also guarantees US citizens 'just compensation' for their private
property if it is taken away and used for 'public use'.
- Amendment 6 guarantees US citizens the 'right to a speedy and public trial, by an
impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed' and
the accused shall be informed 'of the nature and cause of the accusation'. The government
cannot detain the accused without a proper accusation.
- The 7th Amendment guarantees the accused to 'the right of trial by jury' and the
government is prohibited from re-examining a fact previously examined. You cannot be
tried more than once for an offense.
- Amendment 8 prohibits the government from levying 'excessive fines' on the accused,
nor can the government impose 'cruel and unusual punishments' on its citizens.
- The framers of the Constitution and the Ninth Amendment intended that no rights that
they already held would be lost through omission.
- Amendment 10 states that the powers not delegated to the federal government by
the US Constitution, and not prohibited by the states, can be delegated to the states or
to the people.
The forsignt of the framers determined that the federal government would expand and push
against the rights of its citizens. To prevent erosion of citizens rights, they instituted
the 'Bill o Rights' for all citizens. The accused are provided due-process in a court of
law without being denied life, liberty or property.
The framers also understood that the most basic of all rights was speech and that it
should never be infringed and the protection of an individual, his family and posessions is
guaranteed.