Can the rights in the Bill of Rights be interpreted differently by different people?

Answer 1

everything can be interpreted differently by different people. the language of the Bill of Rights decreases that though. Thank God.

Answer 2

Yes.
Just look at some of the recent Supreme Court decisions, and you will see that 9 ostensibly intelligent judges can disagree on basic interpretation.

Read through this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelo_v._New_London

In a 5-4 decision, the court ruled that your local government can decide that your house and the land it sits on is not yours anymore. Why? Because the local government can turn it over to a private developer who will then put up more expensive buildings or a mall or something. The property tax for the new buildings will generate more revenue than your house did, which is a theoretical benefit to the public.

This is 5 judges interpreting the "public use" clause in the Bill of Rights. 4 judges disagreed. Read their opinions linked in that article. You should find them very informative. See if you are comforted that the sane majority won out, or if you are alarmed that one of our basic rights was usurped by unelected tyrants.

There are many more examples of disagreements having to do with the right to bear arms, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and abortion. There is so much more that could be discussed. This could be (and probably is somewhere) the subject of an entire course in a government class.

Answer 3

Sure, they can be interpreted differently by different people. People can have whatever opinions they want about the Bill of Rights & how it ought to apply to our lives.

That does not mean, however, that a court of law would agree with any particular individual's interpretation. In the American system of government, the laws will be enforced based on the interpretation of the courts, not on any individual's opinion.

Answer 4

All the time, even by the Supreme Court (Antonin Scalia interprets it way differently than, say, Sandra Day O'Connor did). The language of the Bill of Rights is pretty vague, especially the beloved Ninth Amendment.

Answer 5

Yes, that's why the federal courts, and ultimately the Supreme Court, can review laws and governmental practices that may adversely affect the rights given to citizens by the Bill of Rights.

The Constitution (with its Amendments) is a very flexible, general document. The intent of the framers was to allow people the most freedom possible.

Answer 6

Unfortunatly the powers that be would have you believe that they can. But if you are truely interested in the real meaning of the rights contained in the original 10 bill of rights I suggest you study the federalist, and anti-federalist papers written by the men who created the bill of rights. This will give you the BEST understanding of the rights enshrined in the orignal 10 with very little wiggle room.

Answer 7

You can interpret them any way you want but the legal interpretation is decided by the supreme court.

Answer 8

the bill of rights,and the Constitution are meant for American citizens only,non American citizens have no say in how it is to be interpreted,and it gives no protection to Americans outside of U.S. borders,so terrorist,mexicans,europeans,canadians,africans,or people of any other nation,can not claim,any rights,protection,or freedoms,under the bill of rights,or constitution,unless you are an American citizen!sorry liberals,but it is what it is,quit trying to make it a world privilege,it is not!

Answer 9

Yes, but that is why we have a Supreme Court. Many people can read it and find different meanings.

Answer 10

It depends on how you look at it. Some people may use the rights differently than others and you may consider them wrong when you are both wright.