Knowledge: Law, Politics, History
 

I was reading an on-line commentary earlier today. Seems the particular web site I was reading had taken a poll of the general populace in the US. Not surprisingly, the results stated that most American can't recite the freedoms guarranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America.

So I stopped, thought about it briefly, and started rattling them off in my head.

And then I stopped again. I realized that there was one I was missing. Didn't know what it was, but I knew it ws there. Eventually gave up, and read the rest of the article for the missing freedom.

So I asked my housemate if he could recite them. Turns out, he missed the same one I did.

So, now a question for Pixies: what are these freedoms? Hint: threre are five of them. And no fair looking it up on-line, but if you happen to have a written copy of the US Constitution in your home, I won't call it cheating to look at that. I figure it's a bonus for actually caring enough to have one around.

And I'll check back to this thread in a couple of days, see who answered correctly.

I'm use to making an ass of myself. I'll take a stab.
I can't recite them verbatim nor the order :o but I 'think' I recall some.
Right to freedom of speech, freedom of religious choice, right of assembly, right to bare arms and right against 'unlawful' search and seizure. I'm only sure I gave you five. All the rest is questionable. I also believe the last one I stated includes something about the right to refuse quartering of troops in my home. :shrug:

I know that at one point I have known these, but now... well, I'm not sure I remember them all.

I'll hit reply and then check myself...

Freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom to organize a militia.

I make no claims to the accuracy of these and I may be confusing some items with other amendments. But at the very least I will know what they are very soon.

Good thread idea, gg.

The freedom to talk dirty to boys on the internet, the freedom to get stuff pierced, the freedom to sit on boys' faces, the freedom to spank peeps whether it is their birthday or not, and the freedom to buy sexy shoes.

Freedom of Religion,speech,of the press ,and right to assemble and petition, the right to a speedy trial,the right to bear arms shall not be infringed, secure from unreasonable searches and seizures.

I love that one! :nod:

Feel free to exercise that one any time you are near me, ok? :hot:

There was a Murphy Brown episode which starts with a vox-pop on the First Amendment. The answers were scary.

Scarier than the ones we gave? :roflmao:




Well, at least I showed that I didn't peek. :o

The freedom to petition for redress of grievances is realized each time I vote.

I pretty sure that speech, religion, press, and assemble are four of the five. I know for a fact that anything to do with armaments is second amendment. I am not sure where militia would fall. So it seems that I come up short which should be no surprise.

I will admit that after posting I looked it up and will give a hint. Militia is NOT mentioned in the first amendment.

The five freedoms in the first amendment are; speech, press, religion, assemble and petition. Although some say the there 4 freedoms and 1 right; The right to petition. The first amendment also states the the government can not mandate a state sponsored religion.

What's the difference between a right and a freedom?

I thought that a right was automatic, an inborn thing, where a freedom is a concession given by our lords and masters.

How can Americans, who acknowledge no masters and lords, accept freedoms rather than rights?

We do not accept as a gift, but possess as a genetic component.

So, in the end...

Scarecrow got it right. The one I kept missing was the right to petition for redress of grievences.

Old Fart's comments:
What's the difference between a right and a freedom?

I thought that a right was automatic, an inborn thing, where a freedom is a concession given by our lords and masters.



Essentially, it's only a distinction between legal semantics. The "freedoms" mentioned are usually guarranteed by proscription of curtailment of those "rights"; sometimes, by more direct stating of a given "right".

For example, the freedom of religion is specifically stated in terms of a prohibition on the establishment of any particular religion as the official religion, and by proscription of a law to prevent the exercise of religion; OTOH, the Forth Amendment specifically states (in part): "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated,..." In still other cases, the word "freedom" is used instead of "right". To whit, returning to the First Amendment, the wording is "Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech,..."

The individual legal rights (fair/speedy trial, no warrantless searches & seizures, preventions of self-incirimination), are mostly dealt with in the Fourth through Sixth Amedments. Bearing arms & militia are the Second. Non-quarting of troops in private homes is the Third.

BTW, the full text of the Constitution of the United States can be found here: http://www.usconstitution.net/