The First Amendment is what many would call the foundation of our basic rights and freedoms. It has a profound affect on all of our lives, even though it was written over 200 years ago. It's the first part of the Bill of Rights and guarantees us freedom of speech, the freedom to practice any religion we want and the right to peacefully assemble. There have been many court cases challenging what the exact meaning of these rights are, especially concerning freedom of speech.
Here's what the rest of the Bill of Rights guarantees us:
Second Amendment- Right to Bear Arms
This is the one right that has led to the overwhelming, useless and deadly amount of firearms that poison many streets in America. It's also the lone piece of legislation that the NRA and every other gun-nut in this country hides behind whenever we have a school-shooting. Inevitably movies, music and video games are blamed, but guns are still designed to kill people. Unfortunately this amendment has yet to be revised despite the advent of automatic weapons and their mass production that did not exist 200 years ago.
Perhaps the ramifications of this amendment are best captured by two of our generation's finest actors -- Brian Austin-Green and Douglas Emerson -- in this 1991 clip from "Beverly Hills 90210," a quintessential piece of Americana. In this touching yet spectacularly unrealistic and over-the-top scene, the show's producers are faced with the timeless question that every Hollywood producer is forced to tackle; how to eliminate a useless cast member while addressing one of the hot button social issues of the moment. I know! Gun control!!!
Third Amendment- Right to Not Quarter Soldiers in Homes Without Owner's Consent
This was introduced to keep British soldiers from crashing in American homes during the American Revolution - I think? - and is completely irrelevant and undoubtedly collecting dust wherever it is stored.
Fourth Amendment- Right Against Unreasonable Searches and Seizures
This amendment keeps the government from kicking down your door and rummaging through your closet, but apparently not from randomly wire-tapping our phones calls. The Patriot Act trumps this one.
Fifth Amendment- Right to Due Process
This amendment basically gives us all the right to a fair trial. It also gives each state the power of eminent domain, meaning they can seize private property if they have a decent reason and give you enough money for it. Also included is the double jeopardy law, meaning you can't be tried for the same crime twice and is also responsible for the dreadful 1999 Tommie Lee-Jones movie of the same name.
Sixth Amendment- Right To A Speedy Trial
Basically an addition to the fifth amendment, saying that not only are we all entitled to a fair trial, but the courts can't hold it up just to keep you on trial for a crime. Most cases don't even go to court now anyway.
Seventh Amendment- Right to Jury Trial in Certain Civil Trials
This one seems outdated, it guarantees jury trial in federal civil court cases. Such cases are as extinct as Andrew McCarthy's career.
Eighth Amendment- Right Against Cruel or Unusual Punishment
Pretty self-explanatory. I understand what cruel punishment would be, but what would be unusual punishment? Having to listen to this for 48 straight hours?
Ninth Amendment- Enumerated Rights
Basically, the ninth amendment is a warning. It's a little vague however. The amendment says that there are right that may exist that are not mentioned in the constitution, and that those rights cannot be violated simply because they're not listed.
Tenth Amendment- State's Rights
This Amendment guarantees that the Federal Government only has power that is listed in the constitution, all other right are for states and individuals. It doesn't mean you or your governor can do whatever you or he/she wants, just that any laws the states wish to enact have to be within the confines of the constitution and must pass through each states own legal system. It's much more complicated than what I just typed, but that's pretty much the basis of it. Actually now that I read more about this Amendment, I'm not sure what it means exactly.
Here's what the rest of the Bill of Rights guarantees us:
Second Amendment- Right to Bear Arms
This is the one right that has led to the overwhelming, useless and deadly amount of firearms that poison many streets in America. It's also the lone piece of legislation that the NRA and every other gun-nut in this country hides behind whenever we have a school-shooting. Inevitably movies, music and video games are blamed, but guns are still designed to kill people. Unfortunately this amendment has yet to be revised despite the advent of automatic weapons and their mass production that did not exist 200 years ago.
Perhaps the ramifications of this amendment are best captured by two of our generation's finest actors -- Brian Austin-Green and Douglas Emerson -- in this 1991 clip from "Beverly Hills 90210," a quintessential piece of Americana. In this touching yet spectacularly unrealistic and over-the-top scene, the show's producers are faced with the timeless question that every Hollywood producer is forced to tackle; how to eliminate a useless cast member while addressing one of the hot button social issues of the moment. I know! Gun control!!!
Third Amendment- Right to Not Quarter Soldiers in Homes Without Owner's Consent
This was introduced to keep British soldiers from crashing in American homes during the American Revolution - I think? - and is completely irrelevant and undoubtedly collecting dust wherever it is stored.
Fourth Amendment- Right Against Unreasonable Searches and Seizures
This amendment keeps the government from kicking down your door and rummaging through your closet, but apparently not from randomly wire-tapping our phones calls. The Patriot Act trumps this one.
Fifth Amendment- Right to Due Process
This amendment basically gives us all the right to a fair trial. It also gives each state the power of eminent domain, meaning they can seize private property if they have a decent reason and give you enough money for it. Also included is the double jeopardy law, meaning you can't be tried for the same crime twice and is also responsible for the dreadful 1999 Tommie Lee-Jones movie of the same name.
Sixth Amendment- Right To A Speedy Trial
Basically an addition to the fifth amendment, saying that not only are we all entitled to a fair trial, but the courts can't hold it up just to keep you on trial for a crime. Most cases don't even go to court now anyway.
Seventh Amendment- Right to Jury Trial in Certain Civil Trials
This one seems outdated, it guarantees jury trial in federal civil court cases. Such cases are as extinct as Andrew McCarthy's career.
Eighth Amendment- Right Against Cruel or Unusual Punishment
Pretty self-explanatory. I understand what cruel punishment would be, but what would be unusual punishment? Having to listen to this for 48 straight hours?
Ninth Amendment- Enumerated Rights
Basically, the ninth amendment is a warning. It's a little vague however. The amendment says that there are right that may exist that are not mentioned in the constitution, and that those rights cannot be violated simply because they're not listed.
Tenth Amendment- State's Rights
This Amendment guarantees that the Federal Government only has power that is listed in the constitution, all other right are for states and individuals. It doesn't mean you or your governor can do whatever you or he/she wants, just that any laws the states wish to enact have to be within the confines of the constitution and must pass through each states own legal system. It's much more complicated than what I just typed, but that's pretty much the basis of it. Actually now that I read more about this Amendment, I'm not sure what it means exactly.
1 comment:
OK I really like the tone and the style of your whole blog.
But there's no excuse for winging it. The assignment was to FIND OUT what the amendments mean. So as witty as you are in telling me you don't get these various amendments -- it doesn't work. Good writers have to work HARDER not use their talent to cover up the holes --got it?
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