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The Constitution grants only the powers specifically stated in the contract. The real problem is when people begin to interpret the contract to give powers it does not.
Time for a pop quiz.
1. What are the limits on the Federal government "to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes?"
2. How does a semi-colon effect the following sentence: The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout; to borrow money...?
3. What are the limits imposed within the the Constitution regarding the promotion of the "General Welfare?" considering the following phrase "To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers,?"
4. Based upon a sentence in the Constitution, define "reasonable," as in: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures,"
5. Based upon a sentence of phrase in the Constitution, define the time period that would constitute a "speedy trial" as in; "In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial?"
The constitution is an outdated document that fails to apply to many of the perplexities of modern society. As time goes on it will become more and more meaningless as it slowly becomes increasingly more difficult to both apply and defend. This has been a trend for the last century. Guys like Thomas Jefferson had no way to envision something like the internet, Airports, or cloning. They didn't foresee overpopulation, acid rain, or globalization. There was no such thing as genetically modified food or things like credit cards, vaccines, or massive corporations. I'm not trying to bash the constitution, as it was brilliantly written for it's day, but to use it as the standard in regards to the rules of our society is just silly at this point. It should be kept for historical reasons, but it needs a huge overhaul at this point, and it's only going to get worse. We shouldn't be arguing about the meaning of the constitution. It should be plain as day for anyone that understands law as to what the rules are. The entire notion of the supreme court arguing about what exactly something means that was written over 200 years ago is retarded. Our constitution shouldn't be a subjective religious document that's up for debate. It should be clear as day, which means it's it needs to be massively updated.
my 2 cents
Last edited by lucky4life; 05-11-2014 at 04:42 PM..
The Constitution reads pretty easy and the only thing that gets misinterpreted is the language used then, compared to the words we use today.
Many here in the USA and especially citizens of this nation, think the US Constitution are the rules that govern, We The People.
Far from it. The US Constitution are the rules.... the chains, We The People, placed upon the Federal Government, for it to even exist.
It is very clear in the liberty We The People are to keep, no matter what, to stay a free society.
It is very clear as to what our Freedom & Liberties are, as given to us all by our creator.
It is also very clear if they get so powerful by taking liberties, we the people said were untouchable,is to happen.
Take our liberty and we change it peacefully, or by blood.
What does "cruel and unusual punishments", as used in the 8th Amendment, mean?
What did it mean to "the founders"? (for that matter, who are "the founders"?) How did you determine what "cruel and unusual punishment" meant to "the founders" in 1790? Does it mean the same thing today in 2014 as it did in 1790? When evaluating whether a punishment is cruel and unusual, should the Supreme Court use what they believe it meant to "the founders" in 1790, or what it means to us now?
True dat!!
Bring back duels, chain gangs, stockades and public hangings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1. What are the limits on the Federal government "to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes?"
Precisely that. The power to regulate commerce between us and foreign nations, trade that crosses state lines, and with the self governing Indian tribes. Not hard at all to grasp.
Quote:
2. How does a semi-colon effect the following sentence: The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout; to borrow money...?
It starts a new thought.
Quote:
3. What are the limits imposed within the the Constitution regarding the promotion of the "General Welfare?" considering the following phrase "To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers,?"
The limits are that contained in the part you dishonestly edited: "general Welfare of the United States" The "United States" being the federal government, in the Constitution. There are three parties named within it, The United States, the people, and the States.
Quote:
4. Based upon a sentence in the Constitution, define "reasonable," as in: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures,"
That which any reasonable man would object to. As in, pretty much all.
Quote:
5. Based upon a sentence of phrase in the Constitution, define the time period that would constitute a "speedy trial" as in; "In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial?"
Simple: It means the government may not delay for any reason other than that required by the defendant.
These are limitations on government. They are meant to be comprehensible to US, the people.
We read them and they are not difficult. Only the legal profession finds difficulty and complexity, where none exists.
The constitution is an outdated document that fails to apply to many of the perplexities of modern society. As time goes on it will become more and more meaningless as it slowly becomes increasingly more difficult to both apply and defend. This has been a trend for the last century. Guys like Thomas Jefferson had no way to envision something like the internet, Airports, or cloning. They didn't foresee overpopulation, acid rain, or globalization. There was no such thing as genetically modified food or things like credit cards, vaccines, or massive corporations. I'm not trying to bash the constitution, as it was brilliantly written for it's day, but to use it as the standard in regards to the rules of our society is just silly at this point. It should be kept for historical reasons, but it needs a huge overhaul at this point, and it's only going to get worse. We shouldn't be arguing about the meaning of the constitution. It should be plain as day for anyone that understands law as to what the rules are. The entire notion of the supreme court arguing about what exactly something means that was written over 200 years ago is retarded. Our constitution shouldn't be a subjective religious document that's up for debate. It should be clear as day, which means it's it needs to be massively updated.
my 2 cents
Tell me why any of the above is true.
What possible reason is there for any of the above to negate law and give us unrestrained federal government?
What does "cruel and unusual punishments", as used in the 8th Amendment, mean?
What did it mean to "the founders"? (for that matter, who are "the founders"?) How did you determine what "cruel and unusual punishment" meant to "the founders" in 1790? Does it mean the same thing today in 2014 as it did in 1790? When evaluating whether a punishment is cruel and unusual, should the Supreme Court use what they believe it meant to "the founders" in 1790, or what it means to us now?
What it meant to the founders is quite irrelevant.
What it meant to those who agreed to it (the states in ratifying it) is what matters. That is a matter of public record.
The constitution is an outdated document that fails to apply to many of the perplexities of modern society. As time goes on it will become more and more meaningless as it slowly becomes increasingly more difficult to both apply and defend. This has been a trend for the last century. Guys like Thomas Jefferson had no way to envision something like the internet, Airports, or cloning. They didn't foresee overpopulation, acid rain, or globalization. There was no such thing as genetically modified food or things like credit cards, vaccines, or massive corporations. I'm not trying to bash the constitution, as it was brilliantly written for it's day, but to use it as the standard in regards to the rules of our society is just silly at this point. It should be kept for historical reasons, but it needs a huge overhaul at this point, and it's only going to get worse. We shouldn't be arguing about the meaning of the constitution. It should be plain as day for anyone that understands law as to what the rules are. The entire notion of the supreme court arguing about what exactly something means that was written over 200 years ago is retarded. Our constitution shouldn't be a subjective religious document that's up for debate. It should be clear as day, which means it's it needs to be massively updated.
my 2 cents
No it does not need to be updated, just apply it the modern age.
The issues and problems at hand change nothing.
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