On the occasion of Bill of Rights Day, here are the Top 5 constitutional amendments:
1. The 1st. This one benefits from being jam-packed with freedoms: Speech, press, religion, assembly, etc. Without it, you wouldn't be reading this.
2. The 14th. The importance of equal protection under the law cannot be understated. This one finished off slavery and became the foundation for other rights, including the right to choose.
3. The 4th through 8th: This could have been grouped into one mega-amendment like the 1st. Taken together, they are essential checks against government power.
4. The 19th. Women need to vote as they generally have more sense than men, and this made it happen. Too bad the follow-up Equal Rights Amendment was never ratified.
5. The 21st. Let's make a toast to the demise of Prohibition.
Now, the three worst:
3. The 3rd. Sure, forcing people to provide housing for soldiers (especially in peacetime) isn't good, but this amendment is not really relevant in the modern world.
2. The 10th. "States' rights" has become a right-wing code, most notably in the 1996 campaign, when Bob Dole rambled about the need to recognize this amendment. He lost.
1. The 2nd. This one needed another round of editing before being approved: "Well-regulated militia" and "not be infringed" seem contradictory. This amendment is also an example of unintended consequences, as Columbine and other bloody incidents show time and again.
Read about all the amendments here.
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