The Constitution

I have posted a link to the United States Constitution on this Blog. As I realized the number of propositions which were on the ballots of states across the country, I was curious about the actual safeguards for all people in the constitution. Somewhere I had read that "the rights of individual citizens shall not be abridged. " And there it was, article 14 which reads: All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

This is and amazing concept, which has huge ramifications for all of us, and which will always be the subject of debate. This is part of what men and women have fought and died for, and what is missing in those parts of the world where there is no democracy. It applies to all people in the United States and subject to the laws of the U.S. "Equal protection" is what makes America great. Some of the propositions which were voted on will be overturned because of the 14th amendment. The propositions "abridge rights".

It's also rather good to know that the propositions were on the ballots because of the constitution.

Amendment 2: 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.

What a great country!

---