The Fifth Amendment

"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 offense 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."


The Fifth Amendment is a part of the Bill of Rights that provides a lot of protection for an American Citizen that is either being accused of a crime or has committed a crime. The Government can't keep you captive for a crime unless they can convince a Grand Jury of your peers that they have a reason to do so. This is another very important Amendment that basically makes rules for the Judicial Branch. I have luckily never been taken to prison but if I did I would be very happy that our founding fathers included this Amendment in the Bill of Rights.

This is just a funny comedy by Dave Chapelle about the "nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself" part of the Fifth Amendment. It has become a regular saying in pop culture and our lives, "I plead the fifth". At first that saying just meant that you won't testify in a court of law against yourself, but now it has evolved into meaning you just don't want to talk about something.


http://reason.com/archives/2011/12/05/the-senates-unconstitutional-support-for


This is an article about a new topic concerning our Fifth Amendment rights, "Indefinite Detention". The Congress is trying to pass a bill giving the Government the power to hold anyone captive indefinitely if they are suspected of being involved with a terrorist organization. This new law would basically make the Fifth Amendment irrelevant in cases involving terrorism, and I think it is a step in the opposite direction of security.