Constitutional questions in the USA

The American Constitution, and our Australian counterpart. Why the Bill of Rights?

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• Ledvolta

[sendtothefunnyfarm]

Why are people talking about Britain claiming Australia. Its not the 1700s anymore.

[Ledvolta]

I suppose that fact alone is of interest, to people who don't know very much about life here... now. Don't know.

[Ledvolta]

We don't have a legally protected right to free speech, or anything like that. It makes me wonder if all of the individual liberties are protected, within the Constitution of Australia.

[reimeo]

We do. The High Court has recognised freedom of political speech in several cases, most recently in Coleman v Power (2004) and APLA v Legal Services Comm of NSW (1995). This cannot be overruled unless there was a referendum to amend the constitution to say otherwise.

[Ledvolta]

I stand corrected. Thanks for your input.

[stanthegarbageman]

I would like to think that the Bill of Rights, at the time, was more a political stab at England (Look what we let our citizens do!) than it was us securing our 'god given rights'. Now, I do believe that the Bill of Rights is a very important document, in that it does help secure many freedoms, per se; I just do not think that this was the only motive, however.

[longfootbuddy]

the bill of rights is suppose to limit the goverment on individuals rights...but obviously people can throw them away if they want with democratic interpretations...sad...for example, we are guarrenteed the right to have guns as individuals, yet the democrats have twisted it around so that only the militias have the right to bear arms...we have the right to freedom of speech....UNLESS we dont want you talking that way, see?

[sendtothefunnyfarm]

Fair enough.

[rabbitsib]

US Bill of Rights is the constitution but these first ten or the most important giving all the stated freedoms and tho the these rights some what changed during war time like now for "SUPPOSEDLY ARE SAFETY" But to simplify these rights, especially the first one,they are our "God Given Rights" as in everyone should have these rights.

[cvjucla3]

I suppose that you could start your own Bill of Rights. The American Bill of Rights, the first ten, along w/ other amendments to the American Constitution basically are amendments to the already prevailing U.S. Constitution. I should read up on Australian history. It's not exactly a course that you will find in a history or political science class at a U.S. university. I remember the traditional, archetype take of how Australia was formed: i.e. England sent all there prisoners to Australia!