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Robert in Ohio

The Third Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

  
By:  Robert in Ohio  •  politics  •  9 months ago  •  14 comments

The Third Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
In Griswold v. Connecticut, the Court held that the right of privacy within marriage predated the Constitution. The ruling asserted that the First, Third, Fourth, and Ninth Amendments also protect a right to privacy.

Third Amendment

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

The third amendment to the constitution is not a matter much discussed in the never-ending debates about all things political debates of our time, but it is important nonetheless.

Cornell Law offers insight
Overview of Third Amendment, Quartering Soldiers | U.S. Constitution Annotated | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute (cornell.edu)

The Third Amendment limits the federal government’s ability to use private homes as lodging for soldiers. The Supreme Court has never decided a case directly implicating the Third Amendment and has cited it only in a handful of opinions.   As a result, some legal scholars consider the Amendment to be “an interesting study in constitutional obsolescence.”  When ratified, however, the Third Amendment enshrined “protections of great importance,”  reflecting the Founders’ pre-Revolutionary experiences with British soldiers and centuries of English history.

Despite the Amendment’s near-disuse as to its original protections, it took on a new dimension in the second half of the twentieth century, with courts and scholars citing it as one of the constitutional “guarantees creat[ing] zones of privacy” and for a “traditional and strong resistance of Americans to any military intrusion into civilian affairs.”

I think the most interesting and insightful points are  

“creating zones of privacy”

and

“strong resistance of Americans to any military intrusion into civilian affairs”

 

Red Box Rules

This article is not about Trump or Biden

This article is not about the 2016 or 2020 or the 2024 election

This article is not about MAGA, or the ultra-left

This article is about the 3rd Amendment extraneous and off topic comments will be deleted


 

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Robert in Ohio
Professor Guide
1  author  Robert in Ohio    9 months ago

"Despite its lack of recognition, the 3rd Amendment embodies a fundamental principle inherent in American democracy. It represents a protection of individual privacy and property rights, particularly in moments when the government may try to overreach its power. To fully understand the nuances of the 3rd Amendment and its significance in American history and law, we must explore its origins, its impact, and its differences from other countries"

Understanding the 3rd Amendment - US Constitution - LAWS.com

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
2  JohnRussell    9 months ago
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Not a word in there about "privacy" , and especially about the idea of privacy being extended beyond not having to quarter soldiers. 

Such a notion would be an interpretation of the amendment, not a reliance on the original language. Conservatives tend to pick and choose the instances where they want to strictly follow original language and when they dont. 

 
 
 
Robert in Ohio
Professor Guide
2.1  author  Robert in Ohio  replied to  JohnRussell @2    9 months ago

Good point - I had never thought of it in this way before I was getting this short blog together.  And I saw mention of it having been referenced in court as the basis for limiting government intrusion into our lives, which seems to speak to privacy in a sense.

Would you agree?

 
 
 
Greg Jones
Professor Participates
2.2  Greg Jones  replied to  JohnRussell @2    9 months ago

Try again. The right to privacy is implied in the language of the Amendment.

 
 
 
Robert in Ohio
Professor Guide
2.2.1  author  Robert in Ohio  replied to  Greg Jones @2.2    9 months ago

The right to privacy is implied in the language of the Amendment.

Privacy from the military use of the domicile is not implied it clearly stated, other implications of privacy might exist in some peoples' minds but the SCOTUS has never ruled on a privacy issue using the solely the 3rd amendment to show the "right to privacy"

Implied in the language is not enough

 
 
 
charger 383
Professor Silent
3  charger 383    9 months ago

The British quartered Soldiers in people's houses to spy as much as to have a place for them to stay

 
 
 
Robert in Ohio
Professor Guide
3.1  author  Robert in Ohio  replied to  charger 383 @3    9 months ago

I think you are correct

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Senior Expert
3.1.1  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  Robert in Ohio @3.1    9 months ago

I'm sure that intelligence gathering was a benefit, but it's wasn't the principal reason for quartering soldiers in private homes, taverns, ect.  In England there weren't separate soldiers quarters either.  Then reason was a large fear of a standing army taking control of the government and dispersing them was thought to complicate the planning and execution of a coup.  The difference was that Parliament, following the Glorious Revolution of 1688-89, forbade the government from billeting troops in private homes without the owner's permission.  The Quartering Act of 1763 applicable to their colony, didn't have that exclusion.

 
 
 
bccrane
Freshman Silent
3.2  bccrane  replied to  charger 383 @3    9 months ago

Also, one of the first things done when an army quarters, without permission, in someone's home is they search out and seize all weapons of the private citizen which is against the second amendment.  (Even with permission, I would think that the homeowner would also be compelled to turn over all weapons).  All of this then goes into privacy of one's domicile, there will be no privacy, everything will be searched. 

 
 
 
Robert in Ohio
Professor Guide
4  author  Robert in Ohio    9 months ago

What would anyone say to the point that the 3rd Amendment has modern implications in the area of government actions, for example

eminent domain

using privately owned facilities to house illegal/unauthorized immigrants 

???

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Senior Expert
4.1  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  Robert in Ohio @4    9 months ago

There might be an analogous extension if the government occupies any private property for military or quasi-military purposes without owners expressed permission.  That might include military training exercises, riot control or disaster relief.  

 
 
 
Robert in Ohio
Professor Guide
4.1.1  author  Robert in Ohio  replied to  Drinker of the Wry @4.1    9 months ago

Good points

 
 
 
Mark in Wyoming
Professor Silent
4.2  Mark in Wyoming   replied to  Robert in Ohio @4    9 months ago

Eminent domain is covered in the 5th amendment.

The 3rd after looking and consideration is more of a road block to forming a standing army, with protections for the people.

 
 
 
Mark in Wyoming
Professor Silent
5  Mark in Wyoming     9 months ago

I remember in high school questioning this particular amendment when the constitution was studied.

I understand the reasons it came about, but came away feeling it was more about 2 things, permission  and just compensation if permission was granted.