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It is said that criminals, of all people, know their rights best. After all, when a burglar with stolen electronics in his trunk gets pulled over for a broken tail light, he has more incentive to know with certainty whether or not a police officer has the legal right to inspect his trunk than, say, an antiques dealer with colonial butter dishes in his trunk.
While this perception may be more urban folklore than empirical fact, one thing is certain: many Americans—both lawful and unlawful—do not know the Constitution of the United States as well as they should. And yet, the Constitution is the supreme law of our country, the framework for the organization of our federal system, the basis for our government’s relationship with its states, citizens and people!
But not to worry. You don’t need to become a political scientist—or criminal—to gain a better understanding of your constitutional rights. While all 27 amendments are important, the following are a few amendments that every informed and engaged American should, at the very least, be familiar with.
If you’ve ever written for a school newspaper, protested chinchilla rights, or listened to an Eminem CD, you’re already familiar with the First Amendment, as well as the often controversial dialogue around it. The First Amendment prohibits the making of any law that impedes our freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of press, freedom to petition, and freedom to peacefully assemble.
The Second Amendment is one of the most discussed amendments of them all. It protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms. U.S. Supreme Court Rulings in 2008 and 2010 further clarified the amendment’s meaning to specify the individual’s right to possess a firearm “unconnected with service in a militia” and to use that arm for “traditionally lawful purposes.”
The Fourth Amendment guarantees the right of the people to be “secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects” against unreasonable searches and seizures. Furthermore, search and arrest warrants can only be issued when judicially sanctioned and supported by probable cause. So feel free to keep that trunk closed.
The Sixth Amendment concerns criminal prosecutions. If you’re accused of a crime, you have the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury in the district where the crime took place, before your witnesses. You will also receive counsel for your defense, and if you’re deemed competent, you have the right to be represented by an attorney of your choosing.
Say you find yourself in jail for disorderly conduct. According to the Eight Amendment, you won’t have to worry about receiving the death penalty, being denied bail, or getting fined millions of dollars. This amendment prohibits the federal government from imposing excessive bail, excessive fines, or cruel and unusual punishments.
An informed citizen is a powerful citizen. Learn more about the United States Constitution and all 27 of its amendments at phoenix.edu/constitution!
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