The Tenth Amendment

Here it is! The 10th Amendment. This one says any power that is not given to the federal government is given to the people or the states. This wraps up our journey through the Bill of Rights. I hope you've learned as much as I have!

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness

Amendment 9 is pretty interesting. I would recommend some research on it. In quick summary, it was a compromise. It means there are other rights that may exist aside from the ones explicitly mentioned in the Bill of Rights, and even though they are not listed, it does not mean they can be violated. 

No Cruel or Unusual Punishments

Our Right to a Trial by Jury

Here is our 7th Amendment ... a right to a trial by jury.

Courts Uphold Our Constitutional Rights

Some may be wondering why I have been spending time reviewing our first 10 amendments over this past week. This Jurist article from July 9th is just one of many examples of how some are trying to take our constitutional rights away from us. Kudos to the courts for this decision. 

The Right to a Speedy Trial

The right to a speedy trial, a public trial, a lawyer and more ... these rights are all yours simply because you are a U.S. citizen.

I Plead the Fifth

Here are our fifth amendment rights ... 

We Have the Right Against Unreasonable Searches and Seizures

This is how the Fourth Amendment came about, according to an online dictionary. Interesting. Makes me grateful for this amendment.

The Framers drafted the Fourth Amendment in response to their colonial experience with British officials, whose discretion in collecting revenues for the Crown often went unchecked. Upon a mere suspicion held by British tax collectors or their informants, colonial magistrates were compelled to issue general warrants, which permitted blanket door-to-door searches of entire neighborhoods without limitation as to person or place. The law did not require magistrates to question British officials regarding the source of their suspicion or to make other credibility determinations.

Amendment III

On the 4th of July I felt a great deal of gratitude for being an American. Then, on July 7th, a story in the Sun-Times said 29% of Americans do not know any of their first amendment rights. Yikes! That got me all fired up about what a great country we live in. I'm letting that passion take me on a day-by-day review of our first 10 amendments. Here is the third.

The Right To Bear Arms

Continuing on from yesterday's post ... here are our second amendment rights for your review!

29 Percent of Americans Can't Name Any First Amendment Rights

There was a story in today's Chicago Sun Times that said 29% of Americans can't name any of their first amendment rights. I'm sure that's none of us here, but it has been a long time since we first learned them, so let's review, anyway!

In God We Trust

Today at Mass we heard from our priest, Father Gilbert, about the significance of the 4th of July to him. This year was only his fifth 4th of July in the US. He is originally from a village called Bwanjai in Tanzania.

He wanted to share with us what he thinks is the most unique thing about our United States. He said it is not our big buildings or big cities or big highways that make us unique -- he believes any country can build these things.

What makes the U.S. so unique is that our country was founded on FAITH -- so much so that our formal currency says, "In God We Trust."

He pointed out there are five references to God in the Declaration of Independence -- two in the first paragraph, one in the middle and two in the last paragraph.

It was a great reminder on this 4th of July weekend that our country was founded on Christian principles. I pray those in leadership positions in our country will remember this.

God Bless America