2007-07-27 16:36:33 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
"The Constitution is not a suicide pact" is a rhetorical phrase in American political and legal discourse. The phrase expresses the belief that constitutional restrictions on governmental power must give way to urgent practical needs. It is most often attributed to Abraham Lincoln, as a response to charges that he was violating the United States Constitution by suspending habeas corpus during the American Civil War. Although the phrase echoes statements made by Lincoln, and although the sentiment has been enunciated several other times in American history, the precise phrase "suicide pact" was first used by Justice Robert H. Jackson in his dissenting opinion in Terminiello v. Chicago, a 1949 free speech case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.
2007-07-27 16:40:30 · answer #1 · answered by lovingdaddyof2 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Check out the movie "Skokie". It's about a town in Illinois where many post-WWII Jewish people lived. The neo-Nazis wanted to do a demonstration there.
The theme was centered around freedom of speech. In this case, the neo-nazi's.
One of the characters used the phrase, "the constitution is not a suicide pact" because he felt that unchecked and unbridled speaking of hatred is exactly what got Germany in trouble.
Sometimes, even a perfectly good law can get us into a jam.
2007-07-28 00:50:46 · answer #2 · answered by Question Monster 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
There are loopholes in the constitution just lime in all documents that can actually be used to harm the country insted of help it. Lincoln was warning that we should be careful not to use the constitution against the people but always FOR the people.
2007-07-27 23:40:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
'Suicide pact' certainly doesn't sound like Lincoln. That gives it away - like the words 'financially strangle' in Ben Franklin's supposed tirade against Jews. Reprinted in English-language paper in Saudi Arabia, but Bennever said it, nor Abe this one.
2007-07-28 00:48:24 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
He meant that the document was written to create the body of a government made up of the several States and that any state which left that compact amounted to the body of the nation committing suicide.
2007-07-27 23:40:39 · answer #5 · answered by desertviking_00 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
It is just a rhetorical phrase
2007-07-31 05:46:33 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
King abe was a bipolar nut
2007-07-28 09:33:17 · answer #7 · answered by harlin42 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I've never heard that b4
2007-07-27 23:44:01 · answer #8 · answered by just me 5 · 0⤊ 5⤋