Constitutional Chats Presented By Constituting America

We are wrapping up our series on the Bill of Rights with this special episode on the 10th Amendment.  In just 28 words, it grants tremendous powers not to the federal government but to the states.  Ho...

14 Dec 202355min

The Ninth Amendment might seem a bit confusing at first glance.  To understand its massive significance requires some insight into what the Founders were thinking.  Think of the Bill of Rights not as ...

7 Dec 202356min

Once again, the Founders showed their preference for brevity with the 8th Amendment.  It is actually the shortest of all the amendments but packs a wallop in just 16 words!  In this week's chat, we ar...

1 Dec 202355min

As we discussed last week, the Sixth Amendment guarantees a trial by jury in a criminal trial, among other guarantees.  The Seventh Amendment guarantees a trial by jury in federal civil cases for disp...

17 Nov 202354min

A criminal trial has the potential to permanently alter the rest of one's life.  Punishments can range from fines to imprisonment to execution.  This gives the government tremendous ability to impose ...

9 Nov 202354min

The Fifth Amendment really packs a punch. Think about the Constitution like this: the body of the Constitution created the new government and the Bill of Rights immediately put constraints on that gov...

3 Nov 202353min

The Fourth Amendment provides two specific protections: protection against unreasonable searches and seizures and requirements for when a warrant can be issued.  At only 54 words, the amendment contin...

26 Okt 202355min

At first glance, in a contemporary view, the Third Amendment may seem like a relic from the founding era of our country.  Today, it would seem strange for the military to require homeowners to house a...

19 Okt 202354min