Random Thoughts @trevordrinen: A Forgotten Foundation: "We the People...."

Sometime I wonder if the people of the United States of America have forgotten or diluted the strong foundation which, "we the people" founded this nation.

What's at the the foundation?

We the People of the United States,

in Order to form a more perfect Union,

establish Justice,

insure domestic Tranquility,

provide for the common defense,

promote the general Welfare,

and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity,

do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

The introduction of the constitution "we the people" set a solid foundation and established several pillars for our nation to be supported on, but do we believe and live by them today?

Protects the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of the press, as well as the right to assemble and petition the government

Protects an individual's right to bear arms

Prohibits the forced quartering of soldiers during peacetime

Prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures and sets out requirements for search warrants based on probable cause

Sets out rules for indictment by grand jury and eminent domain, protects the right to due process, and prohibits self-incrimination anddouble jeopardy

Protects the right to a fair and speedy public trial by jury, including the rights to be notified of the accusations, to confront the accuser, to obtain witnesses and to retain counsel

Provides for the right to trial by jury in certain civil cases, according to common law

Prohibits excessive fines and excessive bail, as well as cruel and unusual punishment

Protects rights not enumerated in the constitution.

Limits the powers of the federal government to those delegated to it by the Constitution

Immunity of states from suits from out-of-state citizens and foreigners not living within the state borders. Lays the foundation forsovereign immunity

Revises presidential election procedures

Abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime

Defines citizenship, contains the Privileges or Immunities Clause, the Due Process Clause, the Equal Protection Clause, and deals with post-Civil War issues

Prohibits the denial of suffrage based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude

Allows the federal government to collect income tax

Establishes the direct election of United States Senators by popular vote

Establishes prohibition of alcohol (repealed by Twenty-first Amendment)

Establishes women's suffrage

Fixes the dates of term commencements for Congress (January 3) and the President (January 20); known as the "lame duckamendment"

Repeals the Eighteenth Amendment and prohibits violations of state laws regarding alcohol.

Limits the president to two terms, or a maximum of 10 years (i.e., if a Vice President serves not more than one half of a President's term, he or she can be elected to a further two terms)

Provides for representation of Washington, D.C. in the Electoral College

Prohibits the revocation of voting rights due to the non-payment of poll taxes

Codifies the Tyler Precedent; defines the process of presidential succession

Establishes the right to vote for those age 18 years or older.

Prevents laws affecting Congressional salary from taking effect until the beginning of the next session of Congress