The Bill Of Rights

We as Americans greatly respect and honor the framers of our Constitution because they were the ones who laid the foundation stones of the greatest country in the world. Among the many wonderful aspects of the Constitution, however, one stands out as an act of wisdom and foresight that has ensured that the Constitution remains a living document for centuries. That was the provision of the constitution that allowed amendments to be made.

Not long after the Constitution was ratified, the first ten amendments were actually arranged and became law. That those ten amendments have become as fundamental to the American system of government as the Constitution itself. They became known as the Bill of Rights.

The Bill of Rights is so deeply ingrained in the American consciousness that it is often referenced in conversations about issues, how Americans work and live together, and our relationship with government. The real genius of the Bill of Rights was the work it did to severely limit the ability of the United States government to interfere with the basic rights of its citizens. This is a staggering achievement at the governmental level when you think about the legal systems of governments throughout history and around the world.

These ten amendments ensure that the rights of citizens in this country are forever protected against any move by any administration to take those rights and give them to the government itself. As such, government is forever prohibited from becoming too powerful, relegating it to the role of servant in society, which is not often the case in government policy elsewhere in the world.

The Ten Amendments to the Constitution cover the fundamental rights of Americans, including…

1. Freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the fundamental right to assemble without fear of government harassment. Also the right to ask the government to seek relief for wrongs caused by the government.

2. The right to bear arms.

3. Protection against forced stay of units in civilian houses during conflict.

4. Protection from warrantless search and seizure in criminal investigation.

5. Right to a fair trial when charged with a crime.

6. The right to a jury trial, to be able to cross-examine one's accusers and other rights of the accused to ensure that Americans cannot be "swayed" by the legal system.

7. Right to Civil Trial by Jury

8. Protection from cruel and unusual punishment and right to bail.

9. Protection of rights not expressly granted in these ten amendments

10. Protection of States' Rights.

Of these rights, those listed in the First Amendment are the most frequently cited and most valued by Americans. The original authorship of the Bill of Rights is credited to James Madison. These ground rules about how the government will respect its own citizens, established and about the rights of American citizens, have fundamentally shaped this country and how Americans expect their government to behave.

It has equipped the citizens of the country with the expectation that the rights of the citizens of the country at a very basic level are more important than the rights of the government and that the government "works for us", a phenomenal change in manner. societies have been organized throughout history. As such, the Bill of Rights is one of the many reasons why America can be considered the most unique country in the world and one that many citizens of other nations wish to emulate in their own countries.