Peter
Junior Chimp
Posts: 6,030
Political Matrix
E: -0.77, S: -7.48
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« on: September 21, 2005, 10:52:21 AM » |
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« edited: September 21, 2005, 10:54:25 AM by Peter Bell »
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Parts do, parts don't, is, I believe the answer here.
Amendment I applies to everybody, except as to the last clause of it, which expressly mentions the "people", implying only the people of the United States (this is given further weight after considering the context provided by the Preamble: "We the People").
Any part of the Bill of Rights that gives reference to the "people" is therefore only meant for citizens, however, several parts do not make this qualifier, preferring instead "persons" or the "accused", which obviously has no implication of applying only to the people of the United States, so it applies to all.
Therefore, in the same vein as the last clause of the First, the Second and the Fourth also apply only to citizens.
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