Rank the Bill of Rights

[Easy Mac]

We're Going I-X here, none of those useless other XVII. Rating from 1 to 10, 1 being most important, 10 being least important. If you want, you can explain why and or add percentages to show your work. No 1a/1b prissiness.

Included here for your perusal (taken from the national archives for preservation of punctuation):

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment III

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

Amendment VII

In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

[ISiddiqui]

Just real quickly:

1, 6, 4, 8, 5, 7, 3, 9, 10, 2

[JonInMiddleGA]

2,10,1,5,6,4,7,9,8,3

First three and last two were easiest.
The middle probably has some degree of interchangeability with me, especially if I'd had more patience with the exercise.

[RainMaker]

1, 5, 4, 6, 2, 8, 9, 10, 7, 3

[Radii]

1, 4, 6, 8, 7, 10, 5, 2, 9, 3

Also pretty quickly done.

[stevew]

Big fan of number 3

[digamma]

5, 1, 4, 6, 8, 7, 10, 9, 2, 3

[larrymcg421]

1. I (The most important to a functioning society.)
2. V (Put this over IV because it encompasses so many important aspects, particularly the due process clause that would be crucial for individual rights.)
3. IV (Important tool against overbearing law enforcement)
4. VIII (See above)
5. VI (See above)
6. IX (Too often ignored, this was added because people anticipated the argument that unmentioned rights didn't exist)
7. VII (Interesting that they didn't think of inflation when they wrote this, but I like the reiteration of trial rights for civil cases.)
8. II (Vague and open to misinterpretation.)
9. III (Outdated)
10. X (Also open to misinterpretation and used to justify discrimination by the states.)

[ISiddiqui]

The 3rd Amendment isn't necessarily "outdated" - National Guardsmen fit under the definition, and there has been discussion that the 3rd Amendment could come into play during an emergency. Basically, National Guardsmen couldn't be housed in private property to deal with the emergency (think of college dorms, etc).

May not be super important, but definitely could come up.

[RainMaker]

No one likes roommates

[BYU 14]

1, 4, 6, 5, 8, 2, 7, 9, 10, 3

[nol]

8, 6, 7, 5, 3, 0, 9

[Grammaticus]

Originally Posted by nol

8, 6, 7, 5, 3, 0, 9

Jenny Jenny

[Easy Mac]

Originally Posted by nol

8, 6, 7, 5, 3, 0, 9

but whats the area code?

[molson]

"Amendment Zero" would be a good name for CBS prime-time drama staring Kiefer Sutherland, but I'm not sure what the premise would be exactly.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by molson

"Amendment Zero" would be a good name for CBS prime-time drama staring Kiefer Sutherland, but I'm not sure what the premise would be exactly.

Some sort of agreement with aliens. Maybe V mixed with Highlander mixed with True Blood or something. Thinking high concept.

[Butter]

Secret amendment, on a secret document. Think National Treasure, but trying to find that document instead.

It writes itself.

[QuikSand]

You could go full Asimov and have it be about robots/AI.

[QuikSand]

1, 5, 4, 6, 8, 7, 10, 2, 9, 3

[albionmoonlight]

1, 5 [gap] 4, 6 [gap] 7, 8 [gap] 2, 3, 9, 10

5 and 6 are tricky because there is a lot of stuff crammed into each one.

[albionmoonlight]

Also, here's the only 3rd Amendment case of any note:

Engblom v. Carey - Wikipedia

[albionmoonlight]

Oh, and I'd probably put the 14th Amendment after the 1st. It's the one that allows the other amendments to apply to the States.

[larrymcg421]

Quickly calculated the combined rankings of everyone who responded...

1. 1st (87)
2. 4th (71)
3. 5th (70)
4. 6th (65)
5. 8th (51)
6. 7th (41)
7. 2nd (37)
8. 10th (31)
9. 9th (27)
10. 3rd (15)

[Easy Mac]

I'd be interested to see what an informal poll on a right leaning forum would lead to.

[AENeuman]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

Oh, and I'd probably put the 14th Amendment after the 1st. It's the one that allows the other amendments to apply to the States.

When I have my students write a paper on most important amendments I learned I have to say choose 1 or 14 or else they will all be the same paper.

[JediKooter]

Originally Posted by Easy Mac

I'd be interested to see what an informal poll on a right leaning forum would lead to.

It would probably be something like:

1. 2nd
2. 2nd
3. 2nd
4. 2nd
5. 2nd
6. 2nd
7. 2nd
8. 2nd
9. 2nd
10. 2nd