How To Sound Smart This Election Cycle: A Guided Recap Of The U.S. Constitution

By Sara Mathes on June 18, 2016

Photo Credit: Architect of the Capitol (flickr.com)

The following story is fictional and does not depict any actual person or event.

Alex: Did you hear about what Joe Schmo said about the importation of fine cheeses?

Jen: I did! It’s totally unconstitutional.

Alex: Ah … yes. It definitely violates that one part: “the government shall not regulate the importation of cheese.”

Jen: What?

What with the final standoff of the presidential election season coming up, every campus across America is bound to be buzzing with political dialogues — a veritable whirlpool of quicksand that will suck you up and spit you out if you don’t know your stuff. It may feel like four score and seven years ago that you learned about the constitution in school, but don’t panic reader, I won’t let you fall flat. I’m here to give you the lowdown on that 300-year-old document that is still the most important text in our society (sorry, Twitter).

There are a number of hot button topics this election cycle ranging from immigration to gun ownership to the very concept of citizenship as we know it. The presumptive republican nominee, Donald Trump, has expressed that as president he would “put America first,” instating a number of protectionist policies on trade and immigration. These policies would include the proposed wall between the U.S. and Mexico as well as a potential ban on muslim immigrants, and even increased monitoring of muslims domestically.

Trump questions the validity of birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants born on U.S. soil. Hillary Clinton has strongly opposed these proposed policies; instead, she favors a less stringent naturalization policy than is currently in place. In regards to immigration both the first and the fourteenth amendments come into play.

The First Amendment 

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibition 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.”

Hillary Clinton supporters might argue that Trump’s policies regarding muslims would violate the free establishment and exercise of religion. Trump supporters might insist that restrictions on muslim immigration do not come under the purview of the first amendment since these immigrants are not citizens. 

The Fourteenth Amendment 

“All persons born or naturalized in the Unites States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

Mr. Trump would like to add in a clause to this amendment to establish that not all those persons born on U.S. soil should be considered citizens. Trump would like to exclude what he calls “anchor babies” or children born to illegal immigrants in the U.S.

In the wake of the atrocious tragedies, such as the mass shooting in Orlando, that have come at the hands of perpetrators using assault weapons, some lawmakers (mostly from the left) have made a push for stronger gun regulations. Trump is strongly against regulation whereas Clinton is for it.

The Second Amendment

 ”A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

Whether or not regulation on guns would infringe on this right is up to you, but now you won’t be caught clawing for information if it comes up in conversation.

And finally …

The Twenty-Second Amendment

This amendment created a term limit of two terms for the President. This means no third term for President Obama. Sorry guys. Now go out into the world with your extensive(ish) knowledge of our government, and don’t forget to vote!

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