The United States constitution comprises of the Bill of Rights which contains rights and personal freedoms that are guaranteed to all its citizens regardless of colour, gender,
One of the founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton opposed the Bill of Rights because he believed that it would be potentially dangerous. There are certain rights and freedoms which provide citizens with too much power in their hands and this has led to negative or dangerous outcomes.
The second amendment of the United States Constitution is the right to bear arms. This amendment allows Americans to obtain the licences to possess and carry fire arms. It provides a sense of individual freedom to citizens as they are able protect themselves in case they are attacked. In addition to that, American citizens have the right to join a well-regulated militia to resist any form of oppression by a tyrant government and defend the state against invasions. However, I believe that there has been an increase in cases of gun violence in America resulting in murders because of the freedom to bear arms. Mass shootings have occurred in various states and are also growing at an alarming rate. This has created a huge debate on whether gun regulations will be an infringement of the second amendment.
The sovereignty of the people’s rule is a type of governance whose authority is determined and approved by its people. The Declaration of Independence states that governments are formed among men and derive their powers from the governed. It therefore incorporates the idea of popular sovereignty. In my opinion, the rule by the people gives citizens too much power and control over government decisions and yet the president has no power to pass bills. For instance The United States Constitution provides its citizens with the power to vote for and elect senators and representatives; this is a great disadvantage as the majority usually wins or rules. Therefore, I believe the views and issues affecting the minority are not taken into consideration at all. The freedom to petition the government grants citizens the power to protest against government decisions or actions.
Additionally, there are other amendments provided in the Bill of Rights that guarantee freedom which has been abused by American citizens. The first amendment of the United States Constitution promotes freedom of religion, freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Freedom of speech guarantees citizens the power to express their thoughts and opinions on any subject with their friends, neighbours or even in a group. On the other hand freedom of the press allows Americans to express their thoughts and ideas in writing in form of books, newspapers, play, movies. However such freedoms have been abused in various forms of media. Firstly, a good example is through the publication of tabloid magazines and defamatory newspapers. Most celebrities and politicians have been subjected to public embarrassment by tabloid magazines and newspapers that spread malicious rumours about them. Secondly, government documents that are classified have been leaked to the public without the consent from authorities. Such cases expose government secrets and theft of government property. Thirdly, the unregulated use of social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram has led to the spread of hate through cyber bulling which has resulted in deaths of victims.
In conclusion, American freedom is important and necessary for enjoyment of liberty and pursuit of happiness for all its citizens; however censorship and regulations should be put in place to control the abuse of freedom. For instance, laws that regulated guns will help reduce the cases of gun violence and mass shootings by limiting the number of gun holders. Additionally, media regulation and censorship will prevent indecency and exposure of pornographic material to young viewers who have access to internet. I therefore support government initiatives that aim at regulating American freedom for peace and stability to exist.
American Freedom: A Sample Essay For Inspiration & Mimicking
Type of paper: Essay
Topic: Democracy, Freedom, Citizens, Citizenship, Government, United States, Politics, Law
Pages: 3
Words: 650
Published: 03/30/2023
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