Bill of Rights

The Standard and Our Legislative Guide

I believe the constitution of the United States was a divinely inspired document and we need to uphold the precepts in the constitution.  Article I, Section 3 of the Utah State Constitution states: "The State of Utah is an inseparable part of the Federal Union and the Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the land."  As such there are ten amendments in the Federal constitution which are now known as the Bill of Rights and they collectively set forth a series of limitations on the proper role of government through protecting the natural rights of liberty and property including freedom of religion, freedom of speech, a free press, free assembly, and free association, as well as the right to keep and bear arms.  

The bill of rights and the application thereof I think is summed up well by George Washington who said:

"The power under the Constitution will always be in the people.  It is entrusted for certain defined purposes, and for a certain limited period, to representatives of their own choosing; and whenever it is executed contrary to their interest, or not agreeable to their wishes, their servants can, and undoubtedly will, be recalled."  -- George Washington (The Writings of George Washington, by John C. Fitzpatrick, 1931-44, Vol. 29:311)

The Constitution and the Bill of Rights is our standard and the legislative guide against which all future statutes should be measured and weighed.