Chapter X the Government and the Individual

Under the philosophy of government held by the founders of this nation, the individual was looked upon as the possessor of certain supreme rights and competent to participate in the determination of his political destiny. Pursuant to this conception the Constitution and the bill of rights, added soon after its adoption, definitely named certain rights which it is one of the highest duties of the federal government to protect. Among these are the right to be immune from punishment by any bill of attainder or ex post facto law, religious liberty, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, security of person and home against unreasonable search and seizure, security against being twice placed in jeopardy for the same offense, the right to a speedy and public trial by jury and the right to due process of law in general.

The right to be protected in life, liberty and property and to have the equal protection of the laws extends, of course, to every part of the Union, although some of the rights enumerated above will be protected by the federal government only against federal encroachment.

The individual has a right to pass freely from state to state, to acquire a residence wherever he pleases, to own property and to carry on any legitimate business.

Of course, the individual also has his obligations to the government. He may be called upon, for instance, to serve on a jury or to bear arms for his country’s defense.