How does the Constitution help/affect you?

Question

it's my social studies homework.. I know it ensures that I have natural rights like the freedom of speech and stuff but what else?

Answer 1

The answer about the amendments is well-taken but don't forget that the Constitution first outlines the government's structure and gives it certain responsibilities. Politics is so pervasive that it can be said absolutely everything in life has some relationship to the Constitution. The fact that you are free to speak an unpopular message in a public area is just as much a part of the Constitution as the fact that local governments are allowed to contract with private companies to provide services like trash removal. Look at the things you buy. If, for example, it's made in China the fact that you can buy it in a store near you is due to trade agreements made under the authority of the Constitution. If it is made in the U.S. it means the people who made it were subject to labor laws enacted by Congress as specified by the Constitution. And regardless of where a product is made, if it is sold in the U.S. it is subject to our saftey, envirnmental, etc., regulations which are all validated or invalidated because of their relationship to the Constitution. Consumer goods like this are only one of thousands of examples of the effects of the Constitution.

Answer 2

Quick Amendments Summary:

1) You have the right to make a religion out of preaching about free press in a public gathering.
2) You have a right to own guns
3) You have a right to tell soldiers wanting free room and board at your place to buck off.
4) You have a right to tell police officers wanting to search your place without a warrant to buck off.
5) You have a right to refuse to answer any nosy questions about you, even if the judge is telling you that you must.
6) After you've been arrested for shooting someone with that gun of yours, you have a right to have your story heard in a court, and soon.
7) You have a right to have your story heard by a jury too, if that guy you shot wants to sue you.
8) You have a right of refusing to be drawn and quartered as punishment, should the jury find you guilty, because it's too mean.
9) You have the right to any other rights you might have, even if you don't know what they are elsewhere.
10) Except in those cases where the states have the rights to do what they want to do to you.
14) Never mind 10), you still got those rights, states notwithstanding. Screw the states, you're an American first.

Answer 3

What happened to 11, 12, & 13? Oh, I remember11. It says no matter how uncivilised you act, you're still entitled to Civil Rights.