The Bill of Rights

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  • The Bill of Rights
    • What is it?
      • The first 10 Amendments of the United States Constitution that are entrenched and the guaranteed  rights of US citizens.
        • Examples:
          • 2nd Amendment - The Right To Bear Arms
          • 8th Amendment - Bans cruel and unusual punishment
            • 1st Amendment - Freedom of speech, the press, religion and assembly
        • Define entrenched 8th  rights: Inalienable rights that cannot be easily changed
    • Why is it important?
      • It prevents the centralization of power by powerful leaders, so the rights of citizens can be protected against potential tyranny.
        • Requires the rigorous constitutional amendment process to be changed, which makes it difficult for new governments to change laws to their favor.
          • Requires a super majority on State level and Central level
      • Rights are upheld by the Supreme Court
        • Examples:
          • Citizens United vs Federal Elections Commission
    • UK Comparison
      • Parliamentary sovereignty allows new governments to change legislation  to their favor regardless of what preceeding governments have done
        • Define parliamentary sovereignty - The ideology that parliament is the highest and most powerful authority in government
      • Un-codified constitution makes it difficult for citizens to directly access all their rights. Compared to the US which has a huge constitutional culture that many American's take pride in.

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