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We Hold These Truths - Form of the Week: Cento Verse

We hold these truths

All men are created equal,
         they are endowed by their Creator
         with certain inalienable rights,
these are life,
                   liberty
                             and pursuit
                                       of happiness.

We the People
         in Order to form a more perfect Union,
establish Justice,
         insure domestic Tranquility,
                   provide common defense,
                             promote general Welfare,
and secure the Blessings of Liberty
         to ourselves and our Posterity,
         do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of America.

No laws respecting establishment of religion,
         or prohibiting free exercise thereof;
or abridging freedom of speech,
         or of press;
or the right of the people peaceably to assemble,
         and to petition for a redress of grievances.

The right of the people to keep and bear Arms,
                   shall not be infringed
No Soldier shall,
         in time of peace
                   be quartered in any house,
without the consent of the Owner

The right of the people to be secure
          in their persons, houses, papers, and effects,
          against unreasonable searches and seizures,
                   No Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause.
No person held to answer for a capital,
         or infamous crime, unless on presentment, indictment
                   except in land or naval forces, or Militia,
when in service in time of War or public danger;
nor for the same offence twice;
         nor compelled in criminal case to witness against himself,
nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property,
         without due process of law;
                   nor private property taken for public use,
                             without just compensation.

In criminal prosecutions,
         the accused shall enjoy
                   a speedy and public trial,
                             by an impartial jury.
In Suits at common law,
         the right of trial by jury shall be preserved,
                    and no fact tried by a jury,
                             shall be otherwise re-examined
         than according to rules of common law.
Excessive bail shall not be required,
         nor excessive fines,
                   nor cruel and unusual punishments.

Neither slavery
         nor involuntary servitude
                   shall exist in the United States.
All persons born or naturalized in the United States,
          and subject to the jurisdiction thereof,
                   are citizens of the United States
and of the State wherein they reside.
No State shall make or enforce any law
          which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens
                   nor any State deprive any person
                    of life, liberty, or property,
                             without due process of law;
nor deny any person equal protection of the laws.

Stanza 1 phrases from the preamble to the US Declaration of Independence.
Stanza 2 phrases from the intro to the Constitution of the United States of America
Stanza 3 phrases from Bill of Rights Amendment 1
Stanza 4 phrases from Bill of Rights Amendment 2 and 3
Stanza 5 phrases from Bill of Rights Amendment 4 and 5
Stanza 6 phrases from Bill of Rights Amendment 6,7 and 8
Stanza 7 phrases from Bill of Rights Amendment 13 and 14

Notes: ▼

68 lines
I may have gotten a little carried away with this but it all just seemed so important.
Cento Verse  
for "Form of the week: Cento"   @

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