Bill of Rights and Amendments

Bill of Rights and Amendments to the U.S. Constitution: Chronicling U.S. history through legislation

Constitution, known to be the bastion of freedom and individualism the United States is known for, is more than a piece of document that enumerates the laws of the land. The Constitution must also be considered as a literary document, a chronicle of the times, experiences, and history of peoples who have lived on American land. More than a legal document, it is also a cultural product, a man-made object experienced through a 'ritual,' which is accomplished by showing respect for and obedience to its laws and principles.

Oftentimes, people tend to consider the Constitution as devoid of any human element. Society treats it as an abstraction, made concrete through a piece of paper. But this abstraction, this piece of paper contains within the thoughts of the country's predecessors, chronicling important events and prevalent ideologies during their time. The Constitution is the "journal" of American heritage, wherein history if written, re-written, and created.

No other part of the Constitution reflects these aforementioned thoughts than the Bill of Rights. Framed after the creation of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights enumerates and gives credence to the rights of every individual in the country. Primarily, it is a list of things humans tend to take for granted, yet, these things are invaluable to the development of our being and the fate of our lives, culture, and history as inhabitants of the land called America.

Amendments to the Bill of Rights are, similarly, justified because they mirror the sentiments and feelings of Americans who have contemplated hard on issues that concern their society. Amendments to the Constitution marked the changes in time and history, where issues are dealt with at present, influencing the people of the future. These amendments are strings of thoughts and beliefs made possible through enactment, and a new period in history is chronicled once again.

Take as an example the First Amendment to the Constitution. This amendment directly concerns the Bill of Rights, which states that: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." This amendment justifies what the Constitution, specifically the Bill of Rights, is for: by realizing the rights that we have, we learn to value them, and assume great care and responsibility in ensuring that these rights are not curtailed.