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A More Perfect Union: What We the People Can Do to Reclaim Our Constitutional Liberties

Page 20

by Carson MD, Ben


  text of, 209–10

  treason, 144–45

  Article 4, 148–50, 210–11

  Article 5, 150–52, 211–12

  Article 6, 152–54, 212

  Article 7, 154–55, 212

  assistance of counsel, 166

  bail, 167, 214

  balanced budget

  borrowing money, role of Congress, 113, 202

  dangers of debt, 84–87

  Baldwin, Abraham, 14

  ballot referenda, 48, 142, 169

  bankruptcy law, 114–15

  Bassett, Richard, 14

  Bill of Rights, 156–90. See also specific amendments

  Anti-Federalists and, 24

  later amendments, 171–90

  text of, 213–25

  bills of attainder, 121–22, 204

  Boston Tea Party, 19

  Broom, Jacob, 15

  Bush, George H. W., 134–35

  Bush, George W., 128

  businessmen, at the Constitutional Convention, 15–17

  Butler, Pierce, 13

  capitalism, 15, 80–81, 116–17

  charity, promoting private, 75–78

  checks and balances, 95, 110–11, 120

  child labor, 173

  Churchill, Winston, 133

  citizenship, 114, 174–75

  civil service jobs, 135–36

  civil unions, 53–54

  Clinton, Bill, 107

  Clymer, George, 15–16

  college students, right to vote, 188

  Colonial life, 8–12, 16

  commerce, role of Congress, 113

  commerce clause, 168–69

  “common defense” in Preamble, 56–66

  defense abroad, 57–60

  defense at home, 60–64

  protecting our future, 65–66

  too much defense, 64–65

  community-based programs, 76–77

  compulsory process, 166

  confiscation, 165, 214

  Congress, U.S. See House of Representatives; Senate, U.S.

  congressional elections, 101, 105, 107–8, 179–80

  congressional order, 108–10

  Congressional Record, 109

  congressional sessions, 108

  Constitutional Convention (1787), 11–25, 99, 191–92

  Constitution of the United States, 95–193

  amendments to. See Bill of Rights

  Article 1, 97–124, 197–205

  Article 2, 125–39, 205–9

  Article 3, 140–46, 209–10

  Article 4, 148–50, 210–11

  Article 5, 150–52, 211–12

  Article 6, 152–54, 212

  Article 7, 154–55, 212

  history of, 7–25

  as our guide to freedom, 1–6

  Preamble to. See Preamble to the U.S. Constitution

  text of, 197–212

  Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 125

  Continental Congress, 10–11

  copyright law, 116–17

  court system. See also judicial branch

  role of Congress, 117

  crimes

  citizens committing in other countries, 117

  extradition, 149

  habeas corpus, 121, 204

  treason, 144–46

  trial by jury, 143–44, 164–68

  cruel and unusual punishment, 167, 214

  culture of dependency, 73–75

  currency, 80, 115–20

  day-care centers, 76–77

  Dayton, Jonathan, 11

  death of president, and succession, 131–32, 187

  death penalty, 145, 167

  debt, 46, 80, 84–87, 113, 153, 176–77

  declaration of war, role of Congress, 118, 136–37, 203

  defense. See “common defense” in Preamble

  details trap, escaping the, 42–44

  Detroit riots of 1967, 132

  Dickinson, John, 13

  District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.), 119–20, 183–85

  doctors, at the Constitutional Convention, 17–19

  “double jeopardy” clause, 165

  due process, 165, 174–75

  early colonies, 8–12

  education, 14–15, 88–89

  egalitarianism, 13–14, 29–30

  Eighth Amendment, 167, 214

  Eighteenth Amendment, 180, 181, 219–20

  Eisenhower, Dwight D., 81

  elections (election procedure)

  House of Representatives, 101, 107–8

  the president, 128–31, 172–73

  Senate, 105, 107–8, 179–80

  Electoral College, 128–29, 172–73

  Eleventh Amendment, 171–72, 215

  eligibility

  House of Representatives, 101

  the president, 131

  the Senate, 105–6

  enumeration, 168

  environmental preservation, 79–80

  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 79–80

  excessive fines, 167

  executive branch. See Article 2

  executive orders, 99

  executive overreach and abuse, 111, 126, 139

  limits on, 98–99, 125–27, 197–205

  executive powers, 132–37

  “ex post facto,” 121–22, 204

  extradition, 149

  federalism, 44–46, 47–48, 148–50, 168–69

  Federalist Papers, 24

  Federalists, 23–24

  First Amendment, 34–38, 156–60, 213

  Fifth Amendment, 164–65, 213–14

  Fifteenth Amendment, 177–78, 218

  flat tax, 72

  foreign relations

  “provide for the common defense” in Preamble, 57–60

  role of Congress, 117–19

  role of president, 133–34, 207–8

  Fourth Amendment, 65, 162–64, 213

  Fourteenth Amendment, 91, 174–77, 217–18

  Franklin, Benjamin, 11, 21–22

  Franklin, James, 21

  freedom of assembly, 159

  freedom of speech, 34–38, 158–59

  freedom of the press, 158–59

  free trade, role of Congress, 113

  gay marriage, 53–54

  “general Welfare” in Preamble, 67–82

  benefit of supporting families, 78–79

  dangers of government dependency, 73–75

  dangers of unfair taxation, 71–73

  maintaining the currency, 80

  one party vs., 70–71

  promoting private charity, 75–78

  protecting the environment, 79–80

  special accommodation vs., 68–70

  Geneva Conventions, 60

  gerrymandering, 104

  Gilman, Nicholas, 15

  God, 14, 93, 154

  gold standard, 115

  “good Behavior” clause, 142

  Gore, Al, 128

  government bailouts of 2008, 115

  government dependency, dangers of, 73–75

  government employees, 135–36

  Gray, C. Boyden, ix–x

  gun control, 62–63, 161

  guns, 57, 60–63, 160–61

  gun safety, 63–64

  habeas corpus, 121, 204

  Hale, Nathan, 86–87, 187–88

  Hamilton, Alexander, 13, 23, 153

  handouts, 68, 74, 75

  health care, 18, 110. See also Affordable Care Act

  Henry, Patrick, 81

  history of the Constitution, 7–25

  House Jou
rnal, 109

  House of Representatives, 99–104

  congressional order, 108–10

  congressional sessions, 108

  limits on power, 120–23

  passing bills, 110–11

  specific powers, 112–20

  immigration policy, 44, 99

  role of Congress, 114

  immunities clause, 174–75

  impartial juries, 166

  impeachment of the president, 138

  role of House, 103–4

  role of Senate, 106–7

  imperfect union, dangers of, 46–48

  income tax. See taxation

  informed voting, 33

  Internal Revenue Service (IRS), 36, 163

  international relations

  role of Congress, 117–19

  role of president, 133–34

  interstate commerce, 113, 204

  Islamic terrorism, 57–58, 64–65, 145

  Jay, John, 12, 24

  Jefferson, Thomas, 2, 4, 5–6, 11, 47, 61–62, 84, 129, 191

  Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 40–41, 42–43

  Johnson, William Samuel, 12

  judicial branch (Article 3), 140–46

  juries and justice, 143–44

  jurisdiction, 143

  text of, 209–10

  treason, 144–45

  judicial interpretation, 166–67, 168

  judicial overreach, 47–48, 54

  limits, 98–99, 142, 209–11

  juries (jury system), 143–44, 164–68

  jurisdiction, of federal courts, 143

  “Justice and domestic Tranquility” in Preamble, 49–55

  local rule, 54–55

  in marriage, 53–54

  preserving justice, 55

  proper procedure, 50–51

  trustworthy law enforcement, 51–53

  Langdon, John, 15

  law enforcement, 51–53

  leadership

  of House of Representatives, 102–3

  of Senate, 106

  legislative branch (Article 1), 97–124

  congressional order, 108–10

  elections and congressional sessions, 107–8

  House of Representatives, 99–104

  laws for liberty, 124

  legislative powers, 98–99, 124

  limits on federal power, 120–23

  limits on state power, 124

  passing bills, 110–11

  the Senate, 104–7

  specific powers, 112–20

  taxation, 112

  text of, 197–205

  legitimate trials, 121–22

  letter of marque and reprisal, 118

  Lewis, C. S., 63

  “liberty and justice for all,” 124

  Lincoln, Abraham, 138

  Livingston, Robert, 12

  local police, 51–53

  local rule, 54–55

  McClurg, James, 19

  McHenry, James, 18

  Madison, James, 3, 20, 24, 60–61, 138, 189

  marriage, 53–54

  Marshall, Thurgood, 50–51

  martial law, 132–33

  Martin, Luther, 22–23

  Mason, George, 14–15

  medical malpractice, 144

  Mercer, John, 23

  Mifflin, Thomas, 17

  military. See “common defense” in Preamble

  militias, 119

  Second Amendment, 60–61, 160–61

  mob rule, 50, 142

  monetary policy, 80, 113, 115–20

  “more perfect Union” in Preamble, 40–48

  balancing federal and state powers, 44–46

  dangers of an imperfect union, 46–48

  escaping the details trap, 42–44

  preserving the union, 48

  Morris, Gouverneur, 12–13

  Morris, Robert, 16–17

  national debt, 46, 80, 84–87, 113, 153, 176–77

  National Guard, 119, 160

  National Security Agency (NSA), 162–63

  National Trial Lawyers, 144

  “necessary and proper” clause, 112, 120

  New Jersey Plan, 23

  Ninth Amendment, 168, 214

  Nineteenth Amendment, 180–81, 220

  notice of accusation, 166

  number of representatives, 101–2

  Obama, Barack, 99, 110, 125

  open primaries, 186

  Opportunity Village, in Las Vegas, 76

  Paine, Thomas, 192–93

  partisanship, 70–71

  “perfect Union” in Preamble, 40–48

  balancing federal and state powers, 44–46

  dangers of an imperfect union, 46–48

  escaping the details trap, 42–44

  preserving the union, 48

  Pierce, William, 15, 23

  Pinckney, Charles, 20

  “pleading the Fifth,” 165

  police force, 51–53

  political conventions, 129–30

  political correctness (PC) police, 34–37, 158, 192

  political parties, 70–71, 129–31

  poll taxes, 185–86

  Poor Richard’s Almanack, 21

  popular vote, 128–29

  postal system, 116

  Preamble to the U.S. Constitution, 27–96, 197

  “we the People of the United States,” 27, 29–39

  “in Order to form a more perfect Union,” 40–48

  “establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility,” 49–55

  “provide for the common defense,” 56–66

  “promote the general Welfare,” 67–82

  “and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity,” 83–93

  president (presidency), 125–39

  position and staff of, 127

  powers of, 132–37

  qualifications, successors, and salary of, 131–32

  responsibility and accountability of, 137–39

  today, 139

  presidential cabinet, 136–37

  presidential elections, 128–31, 172–73

  presidential overreach and abuse, 111, 126, 139

  limits on, 98–99, 125–27, 197–205

  presidential pardons, 133

  presidential succession, 131–32, 187

  presidential veto, 111

  president pro tempore, 106, 131, 223, 224

  privacy

  Fourth Amendment, 65, 162–64, 213

  security vs., 64–65, 162–63

  private charity, 75–78

  privileges clause, 174–75

  Prohibition, 180, 181–82

  property rights, 165, 214

  proportional income-tax system, 72–73

  protecting innocent life, 89–92

  Rand, Ayn, 36

  ratification (Article VII), 154–55, 212

  Read, George, 13

  Reagan, Ronald, 38

  recapitulation, 168

  Reid, Harry, 110

  religion (religious liberty)

  First Amendment, 156–60, 213

  role at Constitutional Convention, 14

  separation of church and state, 154, 157

  residency requirements, 148–49, 185

  rights, exercising power by knowing your, 30–31

  right to bear arms, 60–61, 160–61

  Roe v. Wade, 91

  Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, 133, 183

  “royalty,” limits on, 123

  Rush, Benjamin, 18

  salaries

  of congressmen, 110, 189–90

  of judi
cial officials, 142

  of the president, 132

  searches and seizures, 65, 162–64

  Second Amendment, 56–57, 60–61, 62, 63, 160–61, 213

  “secure the blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity,” 83–93

  segregation, 50–51

  self-incrimination, 165

  self-representation, 166

  self-sufficiency, 74, 76–77, 87

  Senate, U.S., 104–7

  congressional order, 108–10

  congressional sessions, 108

  limits on power, 120–23

  passing bills, 110–11

  specific powers, 112–20

  Senate Journal, 109

  separation of church and state, 154, 157

  Fourteenth Amendment, 217–18

  separation of powers, 95, 110–11, 120, 126

  September 11 attacks (2001), 118

  Seventh Amendment, 166–67, 214

  Seventeenth Amendment, 105, 179–80, 219

  sex slavery, 173

  Sherman, Roger, 15

  Sixth Amendment, 165–66, 214

  Sixteenth Amendment, 178–79, 218

  slaves and slavery, 50, 53, 102, 120–21, 149, 173, 174–76, 177–78

  soldiers

  at Constitutional Convention, 17

  quartering of (Third Amendment), 161–62, 213

  rules of ethical warfare, 59–60

  sovereignty of the Constitution (Article VI), 152–54, 212

  Speaker of the House, 103, 131, 223, 224

  speaking up, exercising power by, 34–38

  special-interest groups, 68–69

  special sessions, 108, 138

  speedy trials, 165–66

  state elections, 148–49

  state militias, 119

  Second Amendment, 60–61, 160–61

  State of the Union address, 137–38

  state sovereignty, 168–69

  states’ rights

  balancing federal power and, 44–46, 148–50, 168–69

  benefits of local rule, 54–55

  limits of, 124

  threats to, 44–46

  succession, presidential, 131–32, 187

  Supreme Court of the United States, 117, 141–42, 143

  abortion and, 91

  Affordable Care Act and, 99, 110

  presidential appointments, 134–35

  surveillance, 64–65, 162–63

  Takings Clause, 165, 214

  taxation, 45, 46, 84–85

  dangers of unfair, 71–73

  fairness of flat tax, 72

  limits on, 122–23

  role of Congress, 112, 122–23, 178–79, 201–2, 218

  Sixteenth Amendment, 178–79, 218

  Tenth Amendment, 168–69, 215

  term duration and limits

 

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