Eleanor Finch
The concept of individual freedom is an ancient one, stretching back to the founding of the first democracy in Greece. The idea is that people should be able to pursue their interests and goals without interference from the state. This philosophy has continued throughout history, with various founding documents, such as the US Constitution, reflecting these values. However, the founders of the US Constitution initially believed that a limited government would be enough to protect individual freedoms, and so did not establish specific protections for them. It was only later that they established the Bill of Rights, which includes 10 amendments that protect the rights of citizens. Since then, 17 additional amendments have been added to the Bill of Rights to further protect individual freedoms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Establishes a limited government | Protects individuals from their government |
| Establishes a Bill of Rights | Includes 10 amendments that protect the rights of citizens |
| Allows for amendments to be added to the Bill of Rights | Citizens can add an amendment to protect an issue not covered by the current Bill of Rights |
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What You'll Learn
The Bill of Rights
The concept of individual freedom stretches back to the founding of the first democracy in Greece. Their democracy placed more value on the individual and their relation to government. Democracy has continued throughout history, coming eventually to America as the colonists aimed to defend their rights against the laws established by the British monarchy. Various founding documents, such as the Constitution, reflect values of individual freedom. The Constitution forms the basis for America’s governmental system, but it did not originally protect individual rights to the extent that it does now.
The founders of the Constitution at first thought that it would be unnecessary to establish individual freedoms, as they imagined that the limited ruling powers alone would be enough to protect individuals from their government. However, they soon realised that the Constitution would not be enough, and so they established the Bill of Rights.
Citizens can add an amendment to the Bill of Rights if they feel that it fails to protect certain freedoms. Since the writing of the Bill of Rights, lawmakers have added 17 additional amendments.
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Democracy
Various founding documents, such as the Constitution, reflect the values of individual freedom. The Constitution forms the basis for America's governmental system, but it did not originally protect individual rights to the extent that it does now. The founders of the Constitution initially thought that a limited government would be enough to protect individual freedoms. However, they soon realised that the Constitution would not be sufficient on its own, and so they established the Bill of Rights.
The Bill of Rights includes 10 amendments that protect the rights of citizens. Some of the freedoms that these amendments offer include the freedom of religion, speech, and the press. Other amendments protect the right to a trial by jury and the right to bear arms. Since the writing of the Bill of Rights, lawmakers have added 17 additional amendments. If citizens agreed that the current Bill of Rights failed to protect certain freedoms, they could add an amendment to protect that issue.
The Constitution and the Bill of Rights work together to protect individual freedoms in a democratic society. By establishing a limited government and guaranteeing certain rights, individuals are able to pursue their interests and goals while being protected from the government.
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Individual rights
The founders of the American Constitution initially believed that a limited government would be sufficient to protect individual freedoms. However, they soon realised that the Constitution alone was not enough, and thus established the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights includes 10 amendments that protect the rights of citizens, such as the First Amendment, which defends freedoms of religion, speech, and the press. Other amendments protect the right to a trial by jury and the right to bear arms, among various other freedoms.
Citizens can also propose amendments to the Bill of Rights if they feel that their freedoms are not being adequately protected. Since the writing of the Bill of Rights, lawmakers have added 17 additional amendments to address these concerns. This process ensures that the Constitution remains a living document that can adapt to the changing needs and priorities of its citizens.
By enshrining these rights and freedoms in a written constitution, individuals are empowered to pursue their interests and goals while being protected from potential overreach by the government. The written constitution serves as a safeguard against the infringement of individual liberties and ensures that the government remains accountable to its people.
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Limited government
The founders of the Constitution originally believed that the limited ruling powers would be enough to protect individuals from the government. They thought that the limited government established by the Constitution would mean that individual freedoms did not need to be established. However, the founders soon realised that the Constitution would not be enough to protect individual freedom.
The Constitution forms the basis for America's governmental system, but it did not originally protect individual rights to the extent that it does now. The Bill of Rights was established to protect individual freedom. The Bill of Rights includes 10 amendments that protect the rights of citizens. The First Amendment defends freedoms of religion, speech and the press. Other amendments protect the right to a trial by jury, the right to bear arms and various other freedoms.
Citizens can add amendments to the Bill of Rights if they feel that their freedoms are not being protected. Since the writing of the Bill of Rights, lawmakers have added 17 additional amendments. The first 10 amendments opened the door for further revision to the Constitution.
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Freedom of religion, speech and the press
The First Amendment of the United States Constitution, adopted in 1791, protects the right to freedom of religion, speech, and the press. It prohibits any laws that establish a national religion, impede the free exercise of religion, abridge the freedom of speech, or infringe upon the freedom of the press. The First Amendment also safeguards the right to peaceably assemble and petition the government for a redress of grievances. The Supreme Court interprets the extent of these protections, and has ruled that the First Amendment applies to the entire federal government, not just Congress.
The First Amendment's central promise is that "debate on public issues should be uninhibited, robust, and wide-open". This means that the free speech clause can also protect conduct, such as burning the American flag.
The main purpose of the First Amendment is to prevent previous restraints on publications that had been practiced by other governments. It does not prevent the subsequent punishment of actions deemed contrary to the public welfare.
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Frequently asked questions
A written constitution is a document that forms the basis for a country's governmental system.
A written constitution can protect individual freedom by establishing a limited government and outlining the rights of citizens.
The Bill of Rights is a document that establishes the rights of citizens. It includes 10 amendments that protect the rights of citizens, such as the freedom of religion, speech and the press.
Yes, the Bill of Rights can be amended. Since the writing of the Bill of Rights, lawmakers have added 17 additional amendments.
If citizens believe that the Bill of Rights does not protect a certain freedom, they can add an amendment to protect that issue.
