Amendments for Life

Amendments for Life

As an American citizen, our forefathers wrote an outline for our governmental laws that would rule our nation. Because of the United States Constitution and its Amendments, I am afforded certain rights as its citizen. I have the right to practice religion in my own way, vote as a woman, and I cannot be denied certain unenumerated rights.

According to the First Amendment: 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. (US Const. Amend. I) The First Amendment's free exercise clause allows a person to hold whatever religious beliefs he or she wants, and to exercise that belief by attending religious services, praying in public or in private, proselytizing or wearing religious clothing, such as yarmulkes or headscarves. Freedom of religion also gives you the right to not practice a religious faith and to freely express your views about why you’ve chosen not to. The U.S. Constitution protects atheism and agnosticism. You don’t have to believe if you don’t want to believe. Most importantly, unlike in some other countries, you don’t have to pretend that you believe.  On the other hand, I have the right to believe whatever I want. I don’t have to follow mainstream beliefs and can worship any way I see fit. But, I don’t have the right to force my beliefs on anyone. The forefathers wrote the First Amendment to provide the freedom of religion, or lack thereof.  They also wrote an amendment just for women: the right to vote.

The Sixth Amendment: The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. (US Const. Amend. VI) For much of American history, certain groups of people, including African Americans and women, did not have the right to vote. The struggle for women’s voting rights—also known as the women’s suffrage movement—was a fight of our foremothers for a voice in choosing our leadership.  Although some states permitted women to vote and to hold office prior to the adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment, the ratification of Amendment XIX on August 18, 1920, extended voting rights to all women. I am thankful to have this “voice” in a voting capacity. Because of this right, I am able to choose who will best represent my interest. I do feel my vote counts and I am able to be an active participant within my community, state, and nation. According to one-time editor of the Woman’s Journal, Alice Stone Blackwell believed women need to vote “because it is fair and right that those who must obey the laws should have a voice in making them, and that those who must pay taxes should have a vote as to the size of the tax and the way it shall be spent.” We’ve come a long way from woman’s suffrage because of our right to vote for things that matter to us. It is important for our constitution to give everyone above 18 to vote, there are many rights that cannot be listed and all inclusive.

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