In the Declaration of Independence, our founding fathers set forth the grievances against the King of England that precipitated the American Revolution. With respect to trial by jury, they specifically complained that English troops committed crimes while subjugating the colonists at the behest of the King but were protected from punishment by …
Constitution
The Generality of Liberty
At some point, most Americans have had exposure to the Constitutional concept known as due process. It is referenced in both the fifth and fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The respective texts are as follows: Fifth Amendment: “[Nor] shall any person... be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law...” This …
Kansas City Law Firm Breaks Down the Fifth Amendment: Understanding Private Property and Your Rights
The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution has so much meaningful content that it cannot be addressed in just one treatment or even two. In this article we will deal with the part of the amendment that says “…private property [shall not] be taken for public use, without just compensation”. That sounds simple enough, but when you drill down a …
A LONG SHOT
Too often, news headlines detail tragic mass shootings, whether premeditated or committed in the heat of a terrible moment. Inevitably, there is a subsequent discussion of our nation’s gun rights, among the most liberal in the world. Most adults, and many children, can recite the substance of the Second Amendment of the Constitution, the primary …
Magruder Report: Democracy at Work?
After the U.S. government shutdown this fall, there is plenty of accusation and blame going back and forth across the aisle in Washington. The crisis led to furloughs of hundreds of thousands of federal workers, canceled military training missions and slowed economic growth. Clearly, regardless of who or what is at fault, it has had a negative …
Our Right To Privacy?
Sixty-four years ago, George Orwell, a British author, penned the classic book 1984. Along with the book came the notion of government surveillance and the concept that “Big Brother is watching you.” The book was on best seller and required reading lists for years as an example of what government (and privacy) might become. It has recently surged …
