Securing Individual Rights

Like any blueprint, a constitution sets forth a design for the accomplishment of an objective​—in this case the government of a people. As stated in the United States Declaration of Independence, governments are instituted among men to secure for the governed certain “unalienable Rights.”

The Preamble to the U.S. Constitution picks up this theme and states that the Constitution was ordained and established to secure “the Blessings of Liberty” for the people. The final draft of the Constitution was completed at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 17, 1787. This Constitution is unusual because it is the oldest written constitution still in effect.

The U.S. Constitution is noted for its distrust of overly powerful government and its elevation of individual liberties above the reach of governmental interference. Among the best-known features of the Constitution are its guarantees of freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press. These freedoms were not stated in the Constitution as first drafted and ratified. They were added in 1791 as the first of ten initial amendments, commonly known as the Bill of Rights.

The freedoms expressly stated in the Bill of Rights belong to individuals and are neither dependent upon governmental permission nor subject to government curtailment. Why, then, should people have to fight for their rights through the courts? Because at times legislative bodies, acting in what they considered to be the interests of the majority, have passed laws that restricted those rights.

As one federal court in the United States observed: “The tyranny of majorities over the rights of individuals or helpless minorities has always been recognized as one of the great dangers of popular government.” It was just such tyranny that confronted Jehovah’s Witnesses in the United States during the 1930’s and 1940’s.

[Picture on page 25]

Independence Hall, Philadelphia, where the Constitution was formulated

[Credit Line]

Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau

[Picture on page 26]

The original Constitution is kept in the National Archives

[Credit Line]

U.S. National Archives

[Picture Credit Line on page 24]

Architect of the Capitol, Washington, D.C.