First Amendment

First Amendment

The Importance of the First Amendment

To most US citizens, the Constitution of the United States is an old document, cased in
glass and placed on display. To them it is nothing more than an ancient relic. What they do not
know is that this relic, is very much their past and future. The amendments to the constitution are
as import as the constitution itself. I would have to say the best, in my opinion, is the First
Amendment. The First Amendment states: “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”. The Constitution and the amendments protect the
people from the power hungry government of the country.
Generally, the people do not care to read or comprehend the Constitution anymore. The
people rely on the government to take care of the complicated stuff and would rather just sail
through life and not worry. When the people are not checking the government, any interpretation
of the constitution can be passed. I see it just as it is written and do not believe that it is a parable
with many meanings to it, but strict guideline to go by. I would like to explain in detail each part
of this amendment as well as give examples to each part.
To begin with, I will go over the verse about making laws for or against religion. This
freedom in my opinion is crushed and basically destroyed from the blows it has taken from the
Engel v. Vitale and McCollum v. Board of Education cases. Jefferson did not mean for a single
religion to be forced upon the people, and I believe this is good. This intention, if upheld, would
keep the Roman Catholic Church or a similar body from ruling the people once again. This is
what Jefferson and the other drafters knew had happened and did not want this to happen again.
In Engel...