The New Bill of Rights
Nearly everything has changed in the United States since
the Bill of Rights was written and adopted. We still see the
original words when we read those first 10 Amendments to the
Constitution, yet the meaning is vastly different now.
And no wonder. We've gone from a country of a few million
to a few hundred million. The nation's desire to band
together was replaced by revulsion of togetherness. We
exchanged a birthright of justice for a magic bullet, and
replaced the Pioneer Spirit with the Pioneer Stereo.
We're not the people who founded this country and our Bill
of Rights should reflect this.
[ For the ] the 21st Century, it's time to bring the
wording up to date showing what we are and who we are.
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law establishing religion, but shall
act as if it did; and shall make no laws abridging the
freedom of speech, unless such speech can be construed as
"commercial speech" or "irresponsible speech" or "offensive
speech;" or shall abridge the right of the people to
peaceably assemble where and when permitted; or shall
abridge the right to petition the government for a redress
of grievances, under proper procedures.
It shall be unlawful to cry "Fire!" in a theater occupied
by three or more persons, unless such persons shall belong
to a class declared Protected by one or more divisions of
Federal, State or Local government, in which case the number
of persons shall be one or more.
Amendment II
A well-regulated military force shall be maintained under
control of the President, and no political entity within the
United States shall maintain a military force beyond
Presidential control. The right of the people to keep and
bear arms shall be determined by the Congress and the States
and the Cities and the Counties and the Towns (and someone
named Fred.)
Amendment III
No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any
house without the consent of the owner, unless such house is
believed to have been used, or believed may be used, for
some purpose contrary to law or public policy.
Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons,
houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches
and seizures may not be suspended except to protect public
welfare. Any place or conveyance shall be subject to search
by law enforcement forces of any political entity, and any
such places or conveyances, or any property within them, may
be confiscated without judicial proceeding if believed to be
used in a manner contrary to law.
Amendment V
Any person may be held to answer for a crime of any kind
upon any suspicion whatever; and may be put in jeopardy of
life or liberty by the state courts, by the federal
judiciary, and while incarcerated; and may be compelled to
be a witness against himself by the forced submission of his
body or any portion thereof, and by testimony in proceedings
excluding actual trial. Private property forfeited under
judicial process shall become the exclusive property of the
judicial authority and shall be immune from seizure by
injured parties.
Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the
right to avoid prosecution by exhausting the legal process
and its practitioners. Failure to succeed shall result in
speedy plea-bargaining resulting in lesser charges.
Convicted persons shall be entitled to appeal until sentence
is completed. It shall be unlawful to bar or deter an
incompetent person from service on a jury.
Amendment VII
In civil suits, where a contesting party is a person whose
private life may interest the public, the right of trial in
the Press shall not be abridged.
Amendment VIII
Sufficient bail may be required to ensure that dangerous
persons remain in custody pending trial. There shall be no
right of the public to be afforded protection from dangerous
persons, and such protection shall be dependent upon
incarceration facilities available.
Amendment IX
The enumeration in The Constitution of certain rights shall
be construed to deny or discourage others which may from
time to time be extended by the branches of Federal, State
or Local government, unless such rights shall themselves
become enacted by Amendment.
Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the
Constitution shall be deemed to be powers residing in
persons holding appointment therein through the Civil
Service, and may be delegated to the States and local
Governments as determined by the public interest. The public
interest shall be determined by the Civil Service.
