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.