Revealing the Rule of Law

Audio Transcription

The everyday impact of the rule of law is so familiar that it is easy to overlook. But even a glance at American society past and present shows the rule of law operating and evolving in national news and everyday events. This panel has some examples of the rule of law in action. They are grouped into four areas. Under the Separation of Powers there are three examples: "The executive power shall be vested in a president of the United States." This quote is from Article II, U.S. Constitution and is accompanied by a picture of President Obama, who was the president when the Learning Center was built. "All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States." This quote is from Article I of the U.S. Constitution and is accompanied by a photograph of Congress in session. "The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court and in such inferior Courts..." This quote is from Article III of the U.S. Constitution and is accompanied by a photograph of the members of the US Supreme Court. Under Guaranteed Individual Rights there are three examples: "Congress shall make no law ... prohibiting.. the right of the people peaceably to assemble..." This quote is from Amendment 1, U.S. Constitution and is accompanied by a photograph of people protesting by waving signs and flags. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." This quote is from Amendment 1 of the U.S. Constitution and is accompanied by a photograph of a simple concrete block storefront church with crosses painted on the front. "The right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." This quote is from Amendment 2 of the U.S. Constitution and is accompanied by a photograph of a hunter aiming a shotgun dressed in bright orange. Under Due Process there are three examples: "In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall.. have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense." This quote is from Amendment 6 of the U.S. Constitution and is accompanied by a picture of Timothy McVeigh, a domestic terrorist who destroyed the Alfred Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City with a bomb, with his lawyer. "No person shall be ... deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law." This quote is from Amendment 5 of the U.S. Constitution and is accompanied by a photograph of a police detective holding a card that has the Miranda advisement printed on it. "We accept the fair cross-section requirement as fundamental to the jury trial guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment ... women cannot be systematically excluded from jury panels." This quote is from Taylor v. Louisiana, 419 U.S. 522, and is accompanied by a Denver Post article about the first women placed on a jury in 1944. Under Equal Protection of the Laws there are three examples: "No state shall ... deprive any person of life, liberty or property without due process of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." This quote is from Amendment 14 of the U.S. Constitution and is accompanied by a photo of a sign saying "We serve whites only, no Spanish or Mexicans." "No state shall ... deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." This quote is from Amendment 14 of the U.S. Constitution and is accompanied by a picture of a black man drinking from a water fountain labeled "Colored" next to a restroom with the same label. "Courts of justice shall be open to every person, and a speedy remedy afforded for every injury to person, property or character." This quote is from Article II, Section 6 of the Colorado Constitution and is accompanied by a photograph of an indigenous tribe member in front of a petroglyph on a rock.