I. First Amendment
The first amendment of the United States is more complex than just “Freedom of Speech” but it is one of the most important amendment sin the Constitution. The first amendment guarantees the liberties of speech, religion, press, assembly, and to petition to the government to right potential wrongs. The freedom of speech clause also does not allow citizens to utilize their freedom of speech to initiate harm on others such as yelling “fire” in a crowded movie theatre and there is not fire. The religious clause implies that the government may not interfere with any personal religious worship nor may the government inflict any religion onto the people. In 1878, a Reynolds v. United States was a Supreme Court Case that involved a George Reynolds who was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) charged with bigamy under the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act. However, this conviction went against the first amendment of the United States because bigamy was apart of the Mormon religion. The court affirmed Reynolds’ conviction in a unanimous decision saying that although the first amendment reaffirms his right to freedom of religion, it does not condone actions that may be controversial such as bigamy or sacrifice that are religious worship rituals. II. Second Amendment The second amendment is the most controversial amendment; especially in today’s day and age. …show more content…
The second amendment guarantees the rights for states to maintain a well-regulated militia and for individual citizens to maintain the right to bear arms. The controversy today comes when criminals misuse guns and citizens lobby for gun control, but gun control violates the 2nd amendment. Presser v. Illinois, was a decision of the Supreme Court of the United States holding that "Unless restrained by their own constitutions, state legislatures may enact statutes to control and regulate all organizations, drilling, and parading of military bodies and associations except those which are authorized by the militia laws of the United States." This ruled that the second amendment clause concerning the right to bear and keep arms only applies to individuals and not groups. III. Forth Amendment The Fourth through Eighth Amendments concern the rights of people suspected of crime. The Fourth Amendment protects citizens from improper searches of their bodies, possessions, or homes. It requires that a detailed warrant be issued by a judge listing what can be searched. This protects the privacy rights to citizens and involves search and seizure. In 1914, the Supreme Court Case of Weeks v. United States involved the fourth amendment. Police officers went to …show more content…
It guarantees a speedy, public trial by an impartial jury in the area where the crime was committed. The defendant must be able to question the accusers and to force favorable witnesses to testify. The accused has a right to a lawyer. In 1932, a landmark case of Powell v. Alabama was decided. A group of seven black men were accused of raping two white girls on a train in Alabama. However, they were not given access to a lawyer until shortly before the trial; not allowing sufficient time for them to organize their defense. This was a violation of the sixth amendment, which guarantees citizens the right to a lawyer. If they cannot afford a lawyer, one is to be appointed to them. The court dissented on a 7-2 decision in which they decided that the due process clause was violated as well as the rights guaranteed by the Sixth