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Constitution Quotes

“The last time I checked, the Constitution said, 'of the people, by the people and for the people.' That's what the Declaration of Independence says.”

People Said Lasts Stupid Humorous Constitution Independence Last Time Declaration Declaration Of Independence

Author:William J. Clinton

“To live under the American Constitution is the greatest political privilege that was ever accorded to the human race.”

Humans Political Race Democracy Constitution Historical Privilege Human Race Patriotic Constitution Of The United States American Constitution Greatest Political

Author:Calvin Coolidge

“No treaty or international agreement can contravene the Constitution.”

Constitution International Agreement Treaties

Author:Dwight D. Eisenhower

“I think that [Obama] is a powerful leader. I think he’s a brilliant man. I think that he has an incredible devotion to our constitution, and that he is now able to flower more as the president I knew he could be.”

Thinking Men Able President Powerful Leader Flower Constitution Incredibles Brilliant Devotion Powerful Leaders

Author:Ashley Judd

“I take my marching orders from the Constitution.”

Order Constitution

Author:Ron Paul

“It’s not part of our Constitution to assume that we are the world’s policemen.”

World Constitution Assuming Policemen

Author:Ron Paul

“Our Constitution, which was intended to limit government power and abuse, has failed.”

Government Limits Abuse Constitution

Author:Ron Paul

“The notion of a rigid separation between church and state has no basis in either the text of the Constitution or the writings of our Founding Fathers. On the contrary, our Founders’ political views were strongly informed by their religious beliefs.”

“When conservative judges strike down laws, it's because of what's in the Constitution. When liberal judges strike down laws (or impose new laws), it's because of what's in the New York Times”

Law New York Judging Constitution Conservative Strikes New York Times

Author:Ann Coulter

“Now that they've finished reading the Constitution out loud, the Teabaggers must call out that group of elitist liberals whose values are so antithetical to theirs. I'm talking of course about the Founding Fathers, who the Teabaggers believe are just like them, but aren't. One is a group of exclusively white men who live in a bygone century, have bad teeth, and think of blacks as 3/5 of a person, and the other are the Founding Fathers.”

Thinking Men Believe Persons Values Courses Reading Father White Talking Groups Century Constitution Finished Teeth Loud White Man Founding Elitist

Author:Bill Maher

“Today's decision affirms what we all know to be true — the U.S. Constitution guarantees the basic civil rights of all Americans, not just some. Utah's ban on marriage equality does nothing to strengthen or protect any marriage. Instead, it singles out thousands of loving Utah families for unfair treatment simply because of who they are. Our Constitution does not allow for such blatant discrimination.”

Knows Doe Today Decision Rights Protect Constitution Discrimination Civil Rights Being True Guarantees Treatment Unfair Bans Singles Utah Marriage Equality Unfair Treatment

Author:Chad Griffin

“For those who have taken an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, both foreign and domestic, it is a call of duty to take back America from a Commander-in-Chief that is incapable of understanding the sacrifices that have been made for the values that have made America great.”

Has Beens Made America Values Understanding Enemy Taken Sacrifice Duty Constitution Chiefs Incapable Commanders Oath Commander In Chief Call Of Duty

Author:Ryan Zinke

“I am with the South in life or death, in victory or defeat. I believe the North is about to wage a brutal and unholy war on a people who have done them no wrong, in violation of the Constitution and the fundamental principles of government. They no longer acknowledge that all government derives its validity from the consent of the governed. They are about to invade our peaceful homes, destroy our property, and murder our men and dishonor our women. We propose no invasion of the North, no attack on them, and only ask to be left alone.”

“Our constitution mentions religion just twice, and both times the word 'no' are attached.”

Author:Ellery Schempp

“In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men - yes, black men as well as white men - would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness... America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked 'insufficient funds.'”

“Gen. Tommy Franks Says That If The United States Is Hit With A Weapon Of Mass Destruction That Inflicts Large Casualties, The Constitution Will Likely Be Discarded In Favor Of A Military Form Of Government”

Ifs States Government Form United United States Military Weapons Mass Destruction Constitution Favors Weapons Of Mass Destruction Mass Destruction Forms Of Government Casualties Discarded

Author:Tommy Franks

“I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States”

States President Ability United United States Protect Office Constitution Preserves Swear Constitution Of The United States Oath Of Office

Author:George W. Bush

“A privilege may not be a right, but, under the constitution of the country, I do not gather that any broad distinction is drawn between the rights and the privileges that were enjoyed and that were taken away.”

May Country Taken Rights Constitution Privilege Enjoyed Distinction Broads Rights And Privileges

Author:Charles Tupper

“I don't believe there is a separation of church and state. I think the Constitution is very clear. The only separation is that there will not be a government church.”

Thinking Believe States Government Church Clear Constitution Don't Believe Separation Delay Church And State Separation Of Church And State

Author:Tom DeLay

“I am not a federal employee. I am a constitutional officer. My job is the Constitution of the United States, I am not a government employee. I am in the Constitution.”

States Government Jobs United United States Constitution Employee Officers Constitution Of The United States Government Employees

Author:Tom DeLay

“Thus far women have been the mere echoes of men. Our laws and constitutions, our creeds and codes, and the customs of social life are all of masculine origin. The true woman is as yet a dream of the future. A just government, a humane religion, a pure social life await her coming.”

Men Has Beens Dream Government Law Social Pure Constitution Mere Code Customs Creeds Echoes Masculine Humane Social Life True Woman

Book:History of Woman Suffrage ...: 1883-1900

Source: History of Woman Suffrage ...: 1883-1900

“Whether our feet are compressed in iron shoes, our faces hidden with veils and masks; whether yoked with cows to draw the plow through its furrows, or classed with idiots, lunatics and criminals in the laws and constitutions of the State, the principle is the same; for the humiliations of the spirit are as real as the visible badges of servitude.”

Source: The Elizabeth Cady Stanton-Susan B. Anthony reader: correspondence, writings, speeches

“My faith in the Constitution is whole, it is complete, it is total, and I am not going to sit here and be an idle spectator to the diminuation, the subversion, the destruction of the Constitution. It is reason and not passion which must guide our deliberations, guide our debate, and guide our decision.”

Reason Whole Passion Decision Destruction Constitution Guides Debate Idle Spectators Deliberation Subversion

Author:Barbara Jordan

“Isn't protecting our legal citizens from an invading army of illegal aliens who are using our services and taking our jobs, isn't that a basic notion of fairness? Isn't that in the Constitution? Where is the fairness to American citizens here?”

Jobs Citizens Constitution Army Notion Immigration Aliens Illegal Fairness American Citizens Invading Illegal Aliens

Author:Rush Limbaugh

“What's the difference between a liberal and a conservative? A liberal will interpret the constitution, a conservative will quote it!”

Differences Constitution Conservative

Author:Rush Limbaugh

“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. - Second Amendment to the Constitution An armed society is a polite society.”

“The mob is man voluntarily descending to the nature of the beast. Its fit hour of activity is night. Its actions are insane like its whole constitution. It persecutes a principle; it would whip a right; it would tar and feather justice, by inflicting fire and outrage upon the houses and persons of those who have these. It resembles the prank of boys, who run with fire-engines to put out the ruddy aurora streaming to the stars.”

Source: Essays and Lectures

“There is no reason for anyone in the country, for anyone except a police officer or a military person, to buy, to own, to have, to use, a handgun. The only way to control handguns use in this country is to prohibit the guns. And the only way to do that is to change the Constitution.”

Way Persons Country Reason Use Change Military Gun Constitution Police No Reason Officers Bans Police Officer Handguns Handgun Ban Gun Ban

Author:Michael Gartner

“The Oval Office symbolizes…the Constitution, the hopes and dreams, and I’m going to say democracy. And when you have a dress code in the Supreme Court and a dress code on the floor of the Senate, floor of the House, I think it’s appropriate to have an expectation that there will be a dress code that respects the office of the President.”

Thinking Dream House President Democracy Office Expectations Constitution Dresses Court Supreme Code Appropriate Senate Supreme Court Hopes And Dreams Oval Dress Code

Author:Andrew Card

“The Constitution is the sole source and guaranty of national freedom.”

Freedom Democracy Source Constitution Sole

Author:Calvin Coolidge

“Journalism is the only profession explicitly protected by the U.S. Constitution, because journalists are supposed to be the check and balance on government. We're supposed to be holding those in power accountable. We're not supposed to be their megaphone. That's what the corporate media have become.”

Government Power Media Balance Constitution Social Media Profession Checks Journalism Supposed To Be Corporate Journalist Accountability Protected Explicit Supposing

Author:Amy Goodman

“The Constitution they wrote was designed to protect the rights of white, male citizens. As there were no black Founding Fathers, there were no founding mothers - a great pity, on both counts. It is not too late to complete the work they left undone. Today, here, we should start to do so.”

Should Today Mother Father Left Black White Rights Citizens Protect Late Constitution Males Pity Too Late Founding Undone

Author:Shirley Chisholm

“The sum of all is, if we would most truly enjoy the gift of Heaven, let us become a virtuous people; then shall we both deserve and enjoy it. While on the other hand, if we are universally vicious and debauched in our manners, though the form of our Constitution carries the face of the most exalted freedom, we shall in reality be the most abject slaves.”

People Ifs Hands Reality Faces Form Heaven Enjoy Deserve Constitution Slave Manners Carrie Virtuous Vicious Exalted

Author:Samuel Adams

“The constitutions of most of our States assert, that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by themselves, in all cases to which they think themselves competent, or they may act by representatives, freely and equally chosen; that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed; that they are entitled to freedom of person, freedom of religion, freedom of property, and freedom of the press.”

“I believe that justice is instinct and innate, that the moral sense is as much a part of our constitution as that of feeling, seeing, or hearing; as a wise Creator must have seen to be necessary in an animal destined to live in society.”

Believe Feelings I Believe Justice Animal Moral Wise Seeing Constitution Instinct Creator Hearing Destined Innate

Book:The Essential Jefferson

Source: The Essential Jefferson

“When we come to the moral principles on which the government is to be administered, we come to what is proper for all conditions of society. Liberty, truth, probity, honor, are declared to be the four cardinal principles of society. I believe that morality, compassion, generosity, are innate elements of the human constitution; that there exists a right independent of force.”

Source: The Essential Jefferson

“All power is inherent in the people.”

Source: Memoirs, 4: Correspondence and Private Papers

“The system of banking have[for]ever reprobated. I contemplate it as a blot left in all our Constitutions, which, if not covered, will end in their destruction, which is already hit by the gamblers in corruption, and is sweeping away in its progress the fortunes and morals of our citizens.”

Ifs Ends Left Moral Progress Citizens Destruction Constitution Fortune Corruption Covered Contemplating Banking Sweeping

Book:The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence, contin

Source: The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence, contin

“But the Chief Justice says, 'There must be an ultimate arbiter somewhere.' True, there must; but does that prove it is either party? The ultimate arbiter is the people of the Union, assembled by their deputies in convention, at the call of Congress or of two-thirds of the States. Let them decide to which they mean to give an authority claimed by two of their organs. And it has been the peculiar wisdom and felicity of our Constitution, to have provided this peaceable appeal, where that of other nations is at once to force.”

Source: The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence, cont

“The question whether the judges are invested with exclusive authority to decide on the constitutionality of a law has been heretofore a subject of consideration with me in the exercise of official duties. Certainly there is not a word in the Constitution which has given that power to them more than to the Executive or Legislative branches.”

Has Beens Law Given Subjects Judging Duty Exercise Authority Constitution Officials Branches Consideration Executives Exclusive Legislative Branch

Book:The Papers of Thomas Jefferson: 1 October 1814 to 31 August 1815

Source: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson: 1 October 1814 to 31 August 1815

“It is every Americans' right and obligation to read and interpret the Constitution for himself.”

Constitution Obligation Notable

Author:Thomas Jefferson

“I had rather ask an enlargement of power from the nation, where it is found necessary, than to assume it by a construction which would make our powers boundless.”

Asks Found Nations Constitution Assuming Construction Notable Boundless Enlargement

Book:Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies: From the Papers of Thomas Jefferson

Source: Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies: From the Papers of Thomas Jefferson

“I have so much faith in the general government of the world by Providence that I can hardly conceive a transaction of such momentous importance [as the framing of the Constitution] ... should be suffered to pass without being in some degree influenced, guided, and governed by that omnipotent, omnipresent, and beneficent Ruler in whom all inferior spirits live and move and have their being.”

World Should I Can Government Moving Spirit Degrees Importance Constitution Rulers Providence Inferiors Transactions Omnipotent Framing

Author:Benjamin Franklin

“The complete independence of the courts of justice is peculiarly essential in a limited Constitution. By a limited Constitution, I understand one which contains certain specified exceptions to the legislative authority. Limitations of this kind can be preserved in practice no other way than through the medium of courts of justice, whose duty it must be to declare all acts contrary to the manifest tenor of the Constitution void. Without this, all the reservations of particular rights or privileges would amount to nothing.”

“The only constitutional exception to the power of making treaties is, that it shall not change the Constitution.… On natural principles, a treaty, which should manifestly betray or sacrifice primary interests of the state, would be null.”

Should States Would Be Interest Natural Principles Sacrifice Constitution Primaries Exception Betray Treaties Null

Author:Alexander Hamilton

“There is no position which depends on clearer principles than that every act of a delegated authority, contrary to the commission under which it is exercised, is void. No legislative act, therefore, contrary to the Constitution, can be valid.”

Principles Position Depends Authority Constitution Contrary Void

Book:The federalist papers

Source: The federalist papers

“If I could have entertained the slightest apprehension that the Constitution framed in the Convention where I had the honor to preside might possibly endanger the religious rights of any ecclesiastical society, certainly I would never have placed my signature to it.”

Ifs Might Religious Rights Honor Constitution If I Could Conventions Signatures Apprehension Framed Religious Rights

Book:pt. V. Speeches and messages to Congress, proclamations, and addresses

Source: pt. V. Speeches and messages to Congress, proclamations, and addresses

“Precedents are dangerous things; let the reins of government then be braced and held with a steady hand, and every violation of the Constitution be reprehended: If defective let it be amended, but not suffered to be trampled upon whilst it has an existence.”

Ifs Hands Government Existence Dangerous Constitution Steady Violation Dangerous Things Reins Precedent Defective Steady Hands

Book:The Life of General Washington: First President of the United States

Source: The Life of General Washington: First President of the United States

“The Constitution is said to have beautiful features; but when I come to examine these features, Sir, they appear to me horribly frightful. Among other deformities, it has an awful squinting - it squints towards monarchy. And does not this raise indignation in the breast of every true American? Your president may easily become king. Where are your checks in this government? I would rather infinitely - and I am sure most of this convention are of the same opinion - have a king, lords, and commons than a government so replete with such insupportable evils.”

May Doe Said Government Beautiful Evil President Lord Opinion Kings Constitution Raises Checks Awful Features Breasts Conventions Monarchy Indignation Very True Deformity Squinting

Author:Patrick Henry

“And as a man, who is attached to a prostitute, is unfitted to choose or judge of a wife, so any prepossession in favour of a rotten constitution of government will disable us from discerning a good one.”

Men Government Wife Judging Constitution Favour Rotten Discerning

Book:THOMAS PAINE Ultimate Collection: Political Works, Philosophical Writings, Speeches, Letters & Biography (Including Common Sense, The Rights of Man & The Age of Reason): The American Crisis, The Constitution of 1795, Declaration of Rights, Agrarian Justice, The Republican Proclamation, Anti-Monarchal Essay, Letters to Thomas Jefferson and George Washington…

Source: THOMAS PAINE Ultimate Collection: Political Works, Philosophical Writings, Speeches, Letters & Biography (Including Common Sense, The Rights of Man & The Age of Reason): The American Crisis, The Constitution of 1795, Declaration of Rights, Agrarian Justice, The Republican Proclamation, Anti-Monarchal Essay, Letters to Thomas Jefferson and George Washington…