The US Constitution - in Layman's Terms

Earlier this week, I mentioned reading the Constitution, to understand more about the secular government that's supposed to be running the country. Then, it dawned on me....some of you might not be able to comprehend what you're reading! And, that's ok!

In this blog, I'll attempt to break it down for you. I need to warn you, though; this one's pretty long....


The Preamble

• We the People - ALL citizens regardless of race, social status, sexual orientation, gender identification, employment status, age, ability, political affiliation, etc.
• Establish - to set up (an organization, system, or set of rules) on a firm or permanent basis
• Justice - fairness, justness, fair play, fair-mindedness, equity, impartiality, objectivity, neutrality, honesty, morality
• Tranquility - peace, peacefulness, restfulness, repose, calmness, quietness
• an example of tranquility would be no gangs, no mass shootings, no discrimination (of any kind), no wars
• Common defense - the government has a sworn duty to protect every citizen in the country, from foreign and domestic enemies
• Promote - to further the progress of a cause, venture or claim
• General welfare - government concern for the health, safety, peace and morality of its citizens
• Secure - to fix, or attach firmly, so that it cannot be moved or lost
• Blessings - a thing conducive to happiness or welfare
• Liberty - the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views
• Posterity - all future generations of people (that means us, and our descendants!)
• Ordain - officially order, or decree

For the last 100+ years, our government has been doing the exact opposite of what the Preamble says it should do; they're trying to render the Constitution invalid, so they have control over how the citizens of this country get treated. And what they want is absolute power, over We the People.

The Articles

Article 1 - Explains who can be elected to each part of Congress, and how they are elected. Congress will make the laws; it also lays out the types of laws Congress is allowed to make, and which ones they're not allowed to make. Article One also makes rules for Congress to impeach and remove from office the President, Vice President, judges, and other government officers

Article 2 - The President, Vice President and Executive Branch carry out the laws made by Congress; the President is also the Commander-in-Chief of the military. Article Two also explains how the POTUS and VPOTUS are elected.

Article 3 - The nation will have a court system. Congress can decide which federal courts (besides the Supreme Court) are needed, what kinds of "cases and controversies" these courts can decide. Article Three also requires trial by jury in all criminal cases, and defines the crime of treason.

Article 4 - All states must give "full faith and credit" to the laws of the other states. State governments must treat citizens of other states as fairly as they treat their own citizens, and must send arrested people back if they have been charged with a crime in another state and fled. Congress can make new states, and rules for Federal property; and can govern territories that have not yet been made into states. Article Four also states that the United States must make sure that each state has a republican (a form of government, constitution, etc. belonging to, or characteristic of a republic) form of government, and protect the states from invasion and violence

Article 5 - Lists two ways to amend, or change, the Constitution. Article Five states an amendment can change any part of the Constitution, except one….no amendment can change the rule that each state has an equal number of Senators in the United States Senate

Article 6 - The Constitution, and the laws and treaties of the United States, are higher than any other laws; also, Article Six clearly states all federal and state officers must swear to support the Constitution. And there is to be no "religious test" to qualify for any political office.

Article 7 - Article Seven is the establishment of the United States Constitution

Most people, these days, are so Amendment-minded, they've forgotten about the Articles. All the Amendments are for, is to alter the rules, and make things more equitable for We the People.

The Amendments

First - Congress must protect the rights of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and freedom of petition. Congress cannot create a national religion.

Second - We the People have the right to own, and use, firearms

Third - Soldiers can't live in other people's homes, without permission from the owners

Fourth - The government can’t get a warrant to arrest a person, or search their property, unless there is "probable cause" to believe a crime has been committed

Fifth - Jury trial by indictment only; due process. A person can't be tried for the same crime twice, if found not guilty the first time. A person on trial doesn't have to testify against themselves

Sixth - Any person who is accused of a crime should get a speedy trial by a jury; they can have a lawyer during the trial, must be told what they are charged with, can question the witnesses against them, and can get their own witnesses to testify

Seventh - Trial by jury, for civil cases

Eighth - The government cannot require excessive bail or fines, or any cruel and unusual punishment.

Ninth - We the People have more rights than those listed in the Constitution

Tenth - Anything that the Constitution does not say Congress can do, should be left up to the states, or We the People

Eleventh - Citizens cannot sue states in federal courts; but, there are some exceptions

Twelfth - Changed the way the President and Vice President are elected

Thirteenth - Ended slavery in the United States

Fourteenth - Every person born in the United States is a citizen. States must follow due process of law before taking away any citizen's rights or property

Fifteenth - A citizen's right to vote cannot be taken away because of race, skin color, or because they used to be slaves

Sixteenth - The birth of the Income Tax, and it's subsequent laws

Seventeenth - Senators now get elected by We the People

Eighteenth - Prohibition of alcohol

Nineteenth - Secured a woman's right to vote

Twentieth - Changed the days for meetings of Congress and for the start of the President's term of office

Twenty-first - Ended the prohibition of alcohol. States can make laws concerning use and consumption

Twenty-second - The POTUS can serve no more than two terms

Twenty-third - The District of Columbia has the right to vote for President

Twenty-fourth - Voters tax (aka: poll tax) is illegal

Twenty-fifth - Changes what happens if a President dies, resigns, or is not able to do the job; also what happens if a Vice President dies or resigns

Twenty-sixth - Minimum voting age is 18

Twenty-seventh - Limits Congressional pay raises

And, in my humble opinion, these should also be added as Amendments...

• End the prohibition of marijuana
• Bodily autonomy is a human right; no human being should be treated like property; not by other human beings, businesses, or the government
• Marginalized people are to have the same rights, privileges, responsibilities, etc as regular folks (Equity for all citizens)
• No more religion in politics. Nobody's god should ever be used for political gain, or to oppress the citizens of a nation
• Corporate America needs to get out of politics
• No more politics in politics (the end of party affiliations). All branches of government work together to make life better for We the People, according to the Constitution
• The Electoral College should be abolished, as should gerrymandering. All votes count equally! Majority vote is the deciding vote
• Corporations are no longer considered people; they are businesses run by people
• Anyone who has a documented history of violence (rageaholics) should be prohibited from owning, or gaining access to, any type of firearms
• All members of Congress should be subject to term limits, just like the POTUS and VP
• No more Congressional pay raises!