Thankful Slade

                                          This week I'm shaking it up a bit by posting a relevant essay that I wrote in my English  class  last year. “…to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men,  deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. ” This is a powerful  statement written in the Declaration Of Independence. All of the citizens still have  this power, because this country is built upon the fact that all of mankind are  created equal. We can do many things in our government, but in this essay I’ll only  be talking about our involvement in the legislative branch, which is the branch that  makes the laws. We can write letters, make phone calls, send e-mails, etc.  We can  encourage, inform, and discourage our legisla...

     "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free  exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to  peaceably assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."  - Amendment I The U.S. Constitution This week we're looking at the final right in the first amendment- the right to petition the government. This right may be a little confusing because of the uncommon words, so I'll break it down bit by bit. First, " petition" is " something asked or requested" -Merriam Webster Dictionary. By the same  source, "Redress"  is a "relief from  d istress". Lastly, "grievance" is defined by Dictionary.com as  " a wrong considered as grounds for complaint, or something believed to cause distress". So, in  different words, this right is the right to request for relief from wrong or d...

Congress shall make no law... abridging... the right of the people to peaceably assemble.. .  -Amendment I of the U.S.  Constitution.  This is the right to peaceably assemble. We can meet with people and talk about politics if we want to. We can  organize a parade. We can gather and worship in the way we choose. You may have noticed that this right is tied to  others I've already discussed such as the freedoms of religion and expression. We can assemble and speak our minds  and choose to worship or not to worship, it's all constitutional. However, it's unlawful to gather a mob and go   fire BB guns at your local courthouse. Notice the word "peaceably"in the quote! There are  many possibilities secured  by this right, and I'm thankful it's included in the Constitution. 

"Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;... -Amendment I of the U.S. Constitution The freedom of speech and the press is the second right in the Constitution. These are known collectively as the freedom of expression. Like the freedom of religion, it has two points: 1.The right to speak one's opinions and ideas openly without being hindered by the government 2.The freedom to write and publish your opinions and ideas openly The only exception to the freedom to speak your mind is  a deceitful call to action, like shouting "fire, run  for your life!" in a theater when there's no actual danger. In this case, the freedom of speech is not on your  side and you can get in trouble with the law. In conclusion, if you avoid this action, you can write and talk  about your beliefs, ideas, and thoughts without hinderance from the government because the Constitution  secures this right.