A Citizen's Quick Guide
Know Your Rights
The Constitution is not a lawyer's document. It belongs to you. Here is what it says, in plain terms, and why it matters to this campaign.
The Preamble
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." Constitution of the United States, 1787
Government in America is ordained by the people and answerable to the people. Every demand this campaign makes rests on that foundation.
The Bill of Rights
Amendments I-X
- I
- Freedom of religion, speech, and the press; the right to peaceful assembly and to petition the government.
- II
- The right to keep and bear arms.
- III
- No quartering of soldiers in private homes.
- IV
- No unreasonable searches and seizures; warrants require probable cause and particularity.
- V
- Due process of law; grand jury indictment; no double jeopardy; no compelled self-incrimination; just compensation for takings.
- VI
- A speedy and public trial, an impartial jury, the assistance of counsel, and confrontation of witnesses.
- VII
- The right to jury trial in civil cases.
- VIII
- No excessive bail or fines; no cruel and unusual punishment.
- IX
- Rights not listed in the Constitution are retained by the people.
- X
- Powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states and to the people.
The Later Amendments
Amendments XI-XXVII
- XI
- Limits certain lawsuits against states.
- XII
- Separate electoral votes for President and Vice President.
- XIII
- Abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment after conviction.
- XIV
- Citizenship, due process, and equal protection of the laws.
- XV
- The right to vote regardless of race, color, or previous servitude.
- XVI
- Authorizes the federal income tax.
- XVII
- Direct election of United States senators.
- XVIII
- Prohibition of alcohol.
- XIX
- The right to vote regardless of sex.
- XX
- Sets federal terms and session dates.
- XXI
- Repeals Prohibition.
- XXII
- Limits the President to two terms.
- XXIII
- Grants the District of Columbia presidential electors.
- XXIV
- No poll tax in federal elections.
- XXV
- Presidential succession and disability procedures.
- XXVI
- Sets the voting age at 18.
- XXVII
- Congressional pay changes take effect only after an intervening House election.
Rights Relevant to This Campaign
Three Amendments to Carry With You
First Amendment. Speak, publish, assemble, petition.
You may speak about surveillance, publish what you learn, assemble peacefully, and petition your government for change. You may record matters of public concern, subject to lawful limits. Everything this campaign does - flyers, meetings, public comment, this website - is First Amendment activity.
Fourth Amendment. No unreasonable searches and seizures.
Government searches require justification. Warrants require probable cause and particularity: they must describe the specific place to be searched and the specific things to be seized. Blanket, suspicionless collection of an entire community's movements is the opposite of particularity.
Fifth Amendment. Due process; no compelled self-incrimination.
No person may be deprived of liberty without due process of law, and no person may be compelled to be a witness against themselves. Systems that quietly build evidence files on everyone invert that protection.
Know your rights. Exercise them peacefully. Hold government accountable.