The Constitution was written to give the people and the government not rules, but instead, a set of guidelines frequently misinterpreted by today’s generation. The multiple items addressed in the extremely long letter are meant to better the living environment of all citizens in their country and when dealing with oversea affairs. Police powers and civil liberties, two of the many items addressed, are meant to have positive benefits for the people of the United States but differ in what, exactly, they do.
Police power exemplifies the state’s ever present power shown in the United States’ citizens lives. The definition of police power is the“...state's constitution-granted power to govern, and to make, adopt, and enforce laws for the protection
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Civil liberties are often misconstrued as civil rights. Civil rights are the right to having freedom, equal rights and treatment in certain settings. Civil liberties are “...basic rights and freedoms that are guaranteed -- either explicitly identified in the Bill of Rights and the Constitution, or interpreted through the years by courts and lawmakers”(Findlaw 1). The rights admitted under civil liberties include the freedom of religion, the freedom of the press, the freedom of speech, the right to assemble, and the rights of the suspected, accused, and convicted. The right to avoid convicting yourself was executed in 1963 in a case called Miranda vs. Arizona when Miranda was accused of rape. While being interrogated during the case, Miranda confessed to the crime but was not told of his right to remain silent or have a lawyer. Later, on appeal, Miranda stated he should have been told his rights, to that, the government objected. The Supreme Court stepped in, disagreeing with the government and made a person’s rights be read to them after every arrest