1.0The Sourcehttp://the-source.netrich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="kMzlZ3zDJk"><a href="http://the-source.net/what-the-u-s-constitution-means-to-me/">What the U.S. Constitution means to me</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="http://the-source.net/what-the-u-s-constitution-means-to-me/embed/#?secret=kMzlZ3zDJk" width="600" height="338" title="“What the U.S. Constitution means to me” — The Source" data-secret="kMzlZ3zDJk" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript"> /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(c,l){"use strict";var e=!1,o=!1;if(l.querySelector)if(c.addEventListener)e=!0;if(c.wp=c.wp||{},c.wp.receiveEmbedMessage);else if(c.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if(!t);else if(!(t.secret||t.message||t.value));else if(/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret));else{for(var r,s,a,i=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),n=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=0;o<n.length;o++)n[o].style.display="none";for(o=0;o<i.length;o++)if(r=i[o],e.source!==r.contentWindow);else{if(r.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message){if(1e3<(s=parseInt(t.value,10)))s=1e3;else if(~~s<200)s=200;r.height=s}if("link"===t.message)if(s=l.createElement("a"),a=l.createElement("a"),s.href=r.getAttribute("src"),a.href=t.value,a.host===s.host)if(l.activeElement===r)c.top.location.href=t.value}}},e)c.addEventListener("message",c.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",t,!1),c.addEventListener("load",t,!1);function t(){if(o);else{o=!0;for(var e,t,r,s=-1!==navigator.appVersion.indexOf("MSIE 10"),a=!!navigator.userAgent.match(/Trident.*rv:11\./),i=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),n=0;n<i.length;n++){if(!(r=(t=i[n]).getAttribute("data-secret")))r=Math.random().toString(36).substr(2,10),t.src+="#?secret="+r,t.setAttribute("data-secret",r);if(s||a)(e=t.cloneNode(!0)).removeAttribute("security"),t.parentNode.replaceChild(e,t);t.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:r},"*")}}}}(window,document); </script> By: Brooke Brannan (first place) • Rachel Lay (second place) • Emily Brimer (third place) Brooke Brannan Jerry Bauer, Vice President of the Morgan County Bar Association, Brooke Brannan, Bobby Bonjean, Essay Contest Committee Chairman (left to right). The U.S. Constitution is the greatest writing arrangement ever to be composed in the U.S and ranks high up on the list around the world. Modeled after the English Bill of Rights and the infamous Magna Carta, a charter of liberties presented to King John to guarantee the rights and privileges of the English citizens, the U.S. Constitution is the foundation to America. Philosopher John Rawls explained the “basic liberties” in his book A Theory of Justice. He explained all citizens must have these rights; political liberty to vote and run for office, freedom of speech and assembly, liberty of thought and conscience, freedom of personal property, and freedom from arbitrary arrest, all of which the constitution protects. That being said, the constitution is also full of contradictions. It states “all men are created equal” but viewed slaves as ⅗ a person, and similarly forgot to include women until 1920. The second amendment is another controversial piece of the constitution. It protects the right to bear arms, but the amendment was written almost two hundred thirty years ago, when a gun can provide safety from the wilderness. Today, that protection is not needed. We have driven the wild from most parts of our country and replaced it with concrete cities. Yes, there are still places in America where a gun might be needed if the owner lives in the country or the forest, but an automatic rifle would not be a necessity in those situations, a simple shotgun would suffice. In addition, the second amendment was drafted when the only gun available was a single shot musket. The weapons available today are much more technologically advanced, the Founding Fathers would not have allowed American citizens to have possession of such killing machines. Furthermore, a revision in this amendment would not take away guns, just provide a more thorough background check to those wanting to purchase one. The constitution has provided a strong foundation for our country for over two hundred years, don’t fix what isn’t broken, right? It has administered protection to America and is doing its job, but everything else is improving, developing more and changing for the better in the U.S, shouldn’t the set of laws we all live by move forward as well? Nonetheless, one thing that should never change is the first amendment. The First Amendment protects people’s right to freedom of speech and expression. It is what makes America so different, we can practice any religion we choose, and are entitled to our own opinions. Citizens of America are able to feel protected and safe inside the country, but also feel as if they are free. Many times, we hear new stories from around the world where people punished and maybe even killed for being a part of a certain religion, or voicing their opinion. This just highlights how lucky we are to live in a country where we can be our own person. In conclusion, the U.S. Constitution is a very important component to our country, and serves as the foundation to this very nation who strives for greatness. The citizens of this society are eminently fortunate to live where their “Basic Liberties” will be protected and will always be involved in their everyday life. There are some disputed aspects of The Constitution, like the second amendment, which gives the right to bear arms. But overall The Constitution has guaranteed our safety and made sure our rights will forever be protected under its law. Rachel Lay The Constitution was established by our founding fathers on September 17, 1787. The Constitution guarantees basic rights for all American citizens. The Constitution gives me freedom of speech, freedom to choose my religion, and the opportunity to vote and be the greatest person I can be. The Constitution helps America today by guiding the government and the citizens of America. Our country has benefited greatly because the Constitution gives freedom and opportunities to all Americans. The right to freedom of speech has let me express my opinions. In other countries, citizens can be punished if they express their own opinions. Being able to express my opinions is a wonderful opportunity to have. People are able to write to newspapers and have their opinions printed. Having these rights today has let many people express who they are and what they agree and disagree on. The right to choose my religion has let me be a part of an amazing faith. Religion is big part of my life. Choosing my own faith and talking about it with others is very important to me. Religion is a time spent with God and my family. I am allowed to go to church every Sunday and be proud of who I am and the religion that I am a part of. Another way the Constitution is important to me, is that I will have the right to vote. Having the right to vote in the future will allow me to have my say on government matters. I can’t wait to vote for the first time! In other countries, women and girls are not allowed to have a job, go to school, vote and have basic rights that American women have. Being a teenage girl and seeing how the Constitution has let women vote is very empowering to me. The Constitution has also given me many opportunities. In the future I will be able to bear arms, if I choose to do so. Being able to bear arms will allow me to protect myself from possible danger. I will also be able to have a job where I can be treated equally to all other men and women. I will be allowed to speak up and join organizations that are important to me. These are...http://the-source.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Brooke-Brannan-1st-Picture.jpg