Category: Constitutional Topics
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First Amendment & Religion
Understanding the Establishment Clause The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,” which primarily signifies a prohibition against the government establishing a state-backed religion or showing preference for one religion over another. The framers of the Constitution, influenced by the oppressive…
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First Amendment Analysis
Understanding the First Amendment The First Amendment articulates foundational freedoms — speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition. Each has played a pivotal role in establishing a society that values democracy and civil liberties. The drafting and ratification of the First Amendment underscored the distrust the Founders held toward a potentially overpowering government that could limit…
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US Constitution Checks & Balances
Historical Genesis of Checks and Balances The concept of checks and balances can trace its earliest known philosophical roots to Polybius in ancient Rome, who articulated the principle of "anacyclosis" which effectively presaged contemporary ideas of balance in political governance by suggesting that a stable state balanced the powers of monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy. A…
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19th Amendment History
Origins of the 19th Amendment The Seneca Falls Convention of 1848 marked the beginning of the formal women's suffrage movement in the United States. The convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York, brought together over three hundred people, including Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. The outcome included the Declaration of Sentiments, which challenged the…
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Unknown US Constitution Facts
1. The Living Document The Constitution has evolved significantly due to Supreme Court decisions and legal interpretations. These alterations extend beyond the familiar 27 amendments, showcasing how legal minds have shaped its application through reinterpretation in response to changing societal needs. Initially, the Constitution did not contain a Bill of Rights because it was not…
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God in the State Constitutions – The U.S. Constitution Online – USConstitution.net
God in the State Constitutions Advertisement The subject of God in the Constitution arises from time to time, and this site deals with the topic specifically elsewhere. However, another question also arises: how is God referenced, if at all, in state constitutions? This list is not guaranteed to be exhaustive, but it attempts to be.…
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1999 News Archive – The U.S. Constitution Online – USConstitution.net
1999 News Archive This page is an archive of articles presented on the Current News page of the USConstitution.net site. On this page are articles that were posted in 1999. 12/30/99 Judge denies restraining order against DVD copying software In what defendants are calling a blow for free speech and open software, a California judge…
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2007 News Archive – The U.S. Constitution Online – USConstitution.net
2007 News Archive This page is an archive of articles presented on the Current News page of the USConstitution.net site. On this page are articles that were posted in 2007. 12/13/07 Bush vetoes another children’s health insurance bill Calling it a virtual duplicate of a bill he vetoed just two months ago, President Bush today…
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2006 News Archive – The U.S. Constitution Online – USConstitution.net
2006 News Archive This page is an archive of articles presented on the Current News page of the USConstitution.net site. On this page are articles that were posted in 2006. 12/26/06 President Ford dies President Gerald Ford, 38th president of the United States, died today. Ford rose to office in the wake of the Watergate…
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2005 News Archive – The U.S. Constitution Online – USConstitution.net
2005 News Archive This page is an archive of articles presented on the Current News page of the USConstitution.net site. On this page are articles that were posted in 2005. 12/20/05 Pennsylvania court rebukes Intelligent Design instruction In a strongly-worded judgement against supporters of Intelligent Design, a Pennsylvania federal court judge today struck down a…