Questions for American and US Based Boardites

[Tropicana]

Without looking it up, how many amendments are there to the US Constitution?

Please list the first 6 and identify and what each stands for or protects. I want to know how familiar people really are with the constitution.

[Blackstar*]

That's a tall order! I can name a few in no particular order.

2nd amendment is the right to bear arms, well-ordered militia, etc....
13th amendment abolish slavery except for convicts.

[Tropicana]

What about 1, 3, 4, 5, 6? Since you are from France I figured you would have it covered. :lol:

[Gen]

mi fix the 2nd amendment

That's a tall order! I can name a few in no particular order.

2nd amendment is the right to bear MUSKETS, well-ordered militia, etc....

[mangoskin]

Without looking it up, how many amendments are there to the US Constitution?

Please list the first 6 and identify and what each stands for or protects. I want to know how familiar people really are with the constitution.

ask them questions they know the answers to!

[Tropicana]

[WitchyOoman]

legally

mi fix the 2nd amendment

Sorry, gen, but you're wrong. It says (and I quote directly): "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms"


1. The Rights to Freedoms of Religion, Speech, Press, Petition and Assembly -- "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
This means that Congress may not establish a State religion, an official religion for our country, nor may Congress prohibit the free exercise of any religion thereof, either. Each American is free to practice any religion s/he wishes to practice. Neither may Congress pas any law(s) curtailing our individual freedoms of speech, or of the press. Ditto our Right to assemble peacefully. Ditto our Right to petition our government for any redress of grievances, as we see fit.

2. Right to keep and to bear arms. -- "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
*NOTE, Gen, that this ^ says nothing whatsoever about muskets. In fact, it says that " 'the people' (that translates, literally, legally, to 'each individual') shall not have their/his/her Right to keep and bear [fire]arms infringed [upon]". In other words, each individual has the absolute Right to keep and bear firearms.

3. Protection from the quartering of troops. -- "No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law."
We cannot be forced to quarter soldiers or their horses. In other words, the caring of, feeding of, or quartering of soldiers or their horses may not be foisted upon us against out will... This was a BIG fave method of getting the people to pay for the costs of war amongst the royalty of England (and other European rulers) in the past.

4. Protection against unreasonable search and seizure. -- "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
One may not be searched, and one's property may not be seized, without due legal process. One must be properly served with a search warrant, for example.

5. Right to due process and Rights against double jeopardy, self-incrimination and eminent domain. -- "No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."
Self-explanatory Rights. This is where, "I plead the fifth amendment" comes into play, for example.
Again, previously, in history, these were problems one faced, both in England and in other European countries.

6. Right to Trial by jury and Rights of the accused plus Confrontation Clause, Rights to speedy trial, public trial and counsel. -- "In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to
have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense."
Before the 18th century, these Rights were not enjoyed by everyone. Our colonial forefathers saw to it that we all enjoy these Rights today.
Civil Rights in the 1950s and 1960s made great strides in this area, which, previously, was unevenly applied.

7. Civil trial by jury (a/k/a Special Part Civil Court) -- "In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law."

8. Prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment, and of excessive bail. -- "Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."

9. Powers of States and People. -- "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

10. Protection of Rights not specifically enumerated in the Constitution are Retained by the People. -- "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."

[kia027]

Witchy can u not sense Gen's wry humour in her correction? that is why she put it the way she did

[Emperah]

yuh mean gen wasn't serious?

[Gen]

what is wrong with you ?

seriously.

legally
Sorry, gen, but you're wrong. It says (and I quote directly): "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms"


1. The Rights to Freedoms of Religion, Speech, Press, Petition and Assembly -- "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
This means that Congress may not establish a State religion, an official religion for our country, nor may Congress prohibit the free exercise of any religion thereof, either. Each American is free to practice any religion s/he wishes to practice. Neither may Congress pas any law(s) curtailing our individual freedoms of speech, or of the press. Ditto our Right to assemble peacefully. Ditto our Right to petition our government for any redress of grievances, as we see fit.

2. Right to keep and to bear arms. -- "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
*NOTE, Gen, that this ^ says nothing whatsoever about muskets. In fact, it says that " 'the people' (that translates, literally, legally, to 'each individual') shall not have their/his/her Right to keep and bear [fire]arms infringed [upon]". In other words, each individual has the absolute Right to keep and bear firearms.

3. Protection from the quartering of troops. -- "No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law."
We cannot be forced to quarter soldiers or their horses. In other words, the caring of, feeding of, or quartering of soldiers or their horses may not be foisted upon us against out will... This was a BIG fave method of getting the people to pay for the costs of war amongst the royalty of England (and other European rulers) in the past.

4. Protection against unreasonable search and seizure. -- "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
One may not be searched, and one's property may not be seized, without due legal process. One must be properly served with a search warrant, for example.

5. Right to due process and Rights against double jeopardy, self-incrimination and eminent domain. -- "No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."
Self-explanatory Rights. This is where, "I plead the fifth amendment" comes into play, for example.
Again, previously, in history, these were problems one faced, both in England and in other European countries.

6. Right to Trial by jury and Rights of the accused plus Confrontation Clause, Rights to speedy trial, public trial and counsel. -- "In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to
have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense."
Before the 18th century, these Rights were not enjoyed by everyone. Our colonial forefathers saw to it that we all enjoy these Rights today.
Civil Rights in the 1950s and 1960s made great strides in this area, which, previously, was unevenly applied.

7. Civil trial by jury (a/k/a Special Part Civil Court) -- "In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law."

8. Prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment, and of excessive bail. -- "Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."

9. Powers of States and People. -- "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

10. Protection of Rights not specifically enumerated in the Constitution are Retained by the People. -- "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."

[ILP]

Crise...after the day I've had....
oonu fool bad fi real....lawd mi need di laugh

[Tropicana]

So I still don't have an answer. How many amendments are there to the US constitution and identify the significance of the first 6? Remember no cheating. Go by memory. My impression was that this was all provided with each dose of the Kool-aid and I want to make sure that this is true.

[Tropicana]

Gen I am certain the Founding Fathers did not have M16s and assault rifles in mind.

[LinSkinny]

Gen I am certain the Founding Fathers did not have M16s and assault rifles in mind.

For every argument against guns, I can find an argument for guns. Guns don't kill people. People kill people. Tact? I grieve as much as anybody else with tears streaming down my cheeks as I think about all those helpless children. I grieve for the grown ups doing everything they could to think they were safe from the gunman, not knowing if it was over, not having a way to protect themselves, while they waited for the police. Since I've been called names by you in other treads, and directly received insults, when all I attempted to do was to gently point to the hypocritical message being posted, I'll just leave this thought provoking article as a rebuttal to the quoted comment above and step aside.

http://jpfo.org/articles-assd02/korwin-lobbyist-give-up.htm

[Pepper]

Off the to of my head, from what I recall is bout 24. Don't know them all by heart.....most of them are antiques anyway.