Article I of the Constitution originally contained ten sections, but Sections 9 and 10 have been removed from the annotated version on Congress's website. Section 9 includes important clauses, notably the privilege of habeas corpus, which is fundamental in ensuring individuals can challenge their detention. The deletion suggests a significant shift in how constitutional rights, particularly habeas corpus, are acknowledged by current legislative leadership. The removal raises concerns about transparency and the sake of public knowledge regarding these essential legal protections.
Section 9 includes eight different clauses, but likely the most relevant to the Republican leadership is the right of habeas corpus. "The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it," reads the Constitution.
At least the copy maintained by the non-profit National Constitution Center reads that way, because the congressional version skips it entirely. The Trump administration struggles mightily with habeas corpus, the provision descended from English legal tradition that gives people the government locks up - or exports to El Salvadoran torture camps - the right to force the government to explain why.
The deletions actually start before the end of Section 8, showing a significant alteration to how the Constitution is presented on the Congressional website.
We may need Nicholas Cage to steal the paper copy of the Constitution before it gets the Wite-Out treatment too.
Collection
[
|
...
]