Voice of the People: In Defense of the Constitution

GRAND TERRACE>> On Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016 three freshly-elected Councilmembers recited the Oath of Allegiance before assuming office. Each Councilmember swore to bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States. To the best of his or her ability, each Councilmember promised to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. The United States Constitution is the supreme law of our federal government, and it is the authority that all state, county and city governments get their powers from. After winning independence from England, inspired patriot leaders outlined what the President, Congress and Supreme Court could do and could not do. The Constitution also drew a clear line between federal and state rights and responsibilities. After 42 state delegates approved the Constitution in 1789, ten clarifications were adopted within two years that preserved individual liberties and restricted government powers. What became known as “The Bill of Rights” granted freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly and right to petition for redress of grievances; rights to maintain a state militia, and bear arms; protection against lodging soldiers private homes during peacetime, unreasonable search and seizure, warrants without probable cause, trial for a major crime without indictment, double jeopardy, self-incrimination, judgment without due process, unjust compensation, excessive bail and/or fines and cruel or unusual punishment. The Bill of Rights amendments to the Constitution also granted rights to a speedy, local and public trial by an impartial jury, notice of the nature and cause of the accusation, accuser confrontation, compulsory process in defense, defense counsel, Miranda rights and a jury trial for federal civil suits; limited Federal powers to those specifically granted by the Constitution; and protected the non-specific fundamental rights of the individual. Seventeen more amendments have been adopted expanding individual civil rights. Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence, and a prominent Constitutional Convention contributor, firmly believed that government was originally instituted among men by their permission, and that the true office of a representative is to declare and to enforce the natural rights and duties of a person. As citizens, it is our privilege to defend the Constitution of the United States as the supreme law of a free nation.